Onyszchuk says once the floor is in, there are key things to keep in mind.
"Furniture has to be protected by felt pads. For people with pianos, there are special castors. As for home offices, rather than a plastic mat, we recommend changing wheels from plastic to neoprene or rubber."
Divine Hardwood's Carlos Soares says once hardwood has been damaged, it is often still salvageable.
"Solid hardwood can be refinished," he says, adding pre-finished hardwood can have single boards replaced.
The best way to avoid repairing flooring, however, is to choose the right one to begin with.
"Hardness really shouldn't come into play when it comes to hardwood flooring," Soares says.
"If you go with oak, it has natural character that hides scratches."
And, Soares says many homeowners will still choose hardwood over carpet, despite the threat of dents and scratches.
"The lifespan of solid hardwood flooring is 45 years. Carpet will be turned over seven times before hardwood."
