BR4 · A232 · 3 mi from Bromley
Fix Pet Damage on Wood Floors — West Wickham
Cat scratches are different from dog scratches — usually deeper, more concentrated, and often near door frames or a favourite sun spot. In West Wickham we treat the two differently. Cats: spot-repair the deepest gouges and blend. Dogs: full-area screen-and-recoat because the damage is even.
From £480 · Screen-and-recoat from £22/m²; full sand-and-refinish from £34/m². Free depth survey.
Typical turnaround: 1–3 days on site; 24-hour walk-on, 7-day full cure.
What's actually happening
The likely root causes in West Wickham's 1930s semi homes and along A232:
- 1
Cat scratching behaviour near preferred vertical surfaces
- 2
High-traffic runs that would wear regardless — dog just accelerates it
- 3
Soft factory-finish lacquers designed for showrooms, not real homes
- 4
Slippery finishes causing dogs to scrabble for grip on turns
- 5
Untrimmed dog claws — the single biggest driver of scratched wood floors
What you're seeing in West Wickham
Common signs we diagnose in BR4 pet scratch repair calls:
- Fine surface scratches you can feel with a fingernail but not see clearly — lacquer wear
- Cloudy or matt patches where finish has been worn thin, not scratched off
- Pee-stain darkening on solid wood — needs bleaching or replacement, not just refinish
- Concentrated damage on 'runway' areas: hallways, doorways, favourite spots
- Cat corner-scratches near door frames or vertical furniture edges
Materials & method
Exactly what we use on West Wickham pet scratch repair jobs — no vague "trade-quality" waffle.
- Bona Traffic HD — commercial-grade water-based lacquer, best for dog-heavy homes
- Osmo Polyx Hardwax Oil 3062 — hides scratches, easy to spot-repair
- Loba WS EasyFinish — mid-market water-based with good claw resistance
- Colour-matched wax stick and burn-in kit for spot repairs on deep gouges
Timeline: 1–3 days on site; 24-hour walk-on, 7-day full cure. · Price: from £480 · Screen-and-recoat from £22/m²; full sand-and-refinish from £34/m². Free depth survey.
Our repair process in West Wickham
Step 1
Depth survey
We test-scrape a small area to see if scratches are in the finish only or into the wood. That decides screen-and-recoat vs sand-and-refinish. 5-minute test, honest answer.
Step 2
Screen-and-recoat OR full sand
Screen-and-recoat: 120-grit mesh screen, dust extraction, then two coats of a pet-suitable finish (Bona Traffic HD or Osmo Polyx). Full sand: 40-grit through to 120, then stain-match and finish.
Step 3
Spot repair for deep gouges
Individual deep scratches get colour-matched wax fill or a burn-in stick, blended flush before the final coat goes on.
Step 4
Pet-resistant finish upgrade
This is the important bit. We won't refinish with the same product that failed. We recommend a harder wear-layer for pet homes and explain the trade-offs on sheen and repair-ability.
Step 5
48-hour dry & handover
Water-based finishes cure enough to walk on in 24 hours, full cure in 7 days. We give you a schedule for when the dog can be back in each room.
Why West Wickham clients pick us
- We test-scrape before we quote — no surprise upsells to full sanding
- BR4 covered weekly — local references available
- We test-scrape before we quote — no surprise upsells to full sanding
- BR4 covered weekly — local references available
The straight answer for West Wickham
Pet floors are our bread and butter in West Wickham. Not because we love dogs (we do), but because a properly-finished floor in a pet home is one of the most rewarding jobs — big improvement, fair price, real longevity.
Pet Scratch Repair in West Wickham — common questions
- Do you cover West Wickham for pet-scratch work?
- Regularly — West Wickham (BR4) is on our Bromley route. Free depth survey during the same visit as your quote.
- What finish is best for a house with dogs in West Wickham?
- We usually recommend Bona Traffic HD water-based for dog homes — 3–4x the wear resistance of standard lacquers, and it doesn't yellow over time. Osmo Polyx is our second choice if you prefer a matt oil finish.
- Can you fix cat scratches on the door frames as well as the floor?
- The floor is our specialism — for door frames a good decorator can spot-repair. We can recommend one in Bromley if useful.
- Can you recommend a finish that hides scratches better?
- Yes — matt and satin finishes hide light scratches far better than gloss. We steer most pet-home customers to a satin or matt water-based, or an Osmo hardwax oil where spot-repair is easy.
- Do I need a full sand or just a re-coat for pet scratches in West Wickham?
- Most pet damage in BR4 is fixable with a screen-and-recoat — much cheaper than a full sand. But we test-scrape first: if scratches go into the wood, only sanding removes them.
- How long will a re-coat last with a dog in the house?
- In West Wickham we typically see 3–5 years from a Bona Traffic HD recoat with a well-behaved dog. Less if claws aren't trimmed. Full sand-and-refinish with the same product lasts 8–12 years.
Book a pet-scratch survey in West Wickham
Free depth check — screen-and-recoat vs full sand.
Nearby BR areas we cover
Not all combinations are live yet — where a nearby link 404s, the same team still covers that area.