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Wood Floors in the Kitchen
Wood floors in the kitchen are a good choice because of their durability and ease of cleaning. Other benefits of wood flooring include ease of maintenance, ease on your knees and back because it gives more than ceramic tiles, and longevity. Wood floors for kitchen settings are great because they look good and last a long time. Don't let water stand on your wood kitchen floors and they'll last a long time. Are wood floors good for a kitchen? Yes!
Would you like wood floors in the kitchen? Wood floors for kitchen use are possible. Are wood floors good for a kitchen? Although hardwoods were not previously considered appropriate for kitchen use because of the potential for water damage, with proper sealing you can use them in any room in your home. There are two main choices for you if you like the look of wood. You can either go with hardwood flooring or laminate flooring for the kitchen. Either one will give you a floor that will instantly make the kitchen feel warmer and more welcoming.
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Hardwoods cannot be matched for the beauty and warmth they add to a kitchen. The only drawback may be the cost of the flooring, but the value that you add to your home may well be worth the price difference between hardwood flooring and other types of flooring. Hardwood flooring comes in many different wood choices as well as finish choices so you are sure to find the exact look that you are searching for. Keeping the floors clean does not take a great amount of time either; just regular sweeping and damp mopping will help keep your floors clean and shiny.
Laminate flooring is a great alternative for wood flooring if the hardwoods are out of your budget. Besides being less expensive, laminate flooring is easy to install, partially because the finish is already on the flooring planks. Some manufacturers of laminate flooring take care of the off-gassing process in the factory, so by the time it gets to you there is no more worry. That's a great feature for chemically sensitive people. A good installation of laminate floors makes it difficult to tell the difference between it and wood flooring. That is why so many households are drawn to them. Between the lower cost, durability, and ease of installation, laminate flooring is a very popular choice for every room in the home -- even the kitchen.
One of the benefits of wood flooring in the kitchen that both hardwood flooring and laminate flooring share is that they are a great for families with allergies. Hard flooring helps keep your home free of dust mites, mold, and other allergens. The allergens cannot get trapped in hard flooring like it does in carpeting, and that makes the air quality in your home much better. The fact that the allergens sit on top of the flooring makes it much easier to remove the particulates from the room, which helps decrease allergy problems and asthma attacks.
Whether you choose hardwood flooring or laminate flooring for your kitchen, you need to make sure that you get the flooring that is right for your family. The kitchen of most homes is the central hub of activity. That means that you need to choose flooring that is durable and easy to take care of. Choose the wood kitchen flooring that makes you feel good about your kitchen. If the floor makes you feel warm, happy, and safe then you will be happy with it for many years. Install wood floors in your kitchen and you will have a kitchen to be proud of.
Comments
Hi there,
By hardwood do you mean solid wood?
I am new to the interior design game having just bought a house but want solid wooden flooring in the kitchen. What type of wood would you recommend?
Thanks
awena at January 16, 2009 02:10 PM
Hello Awena, There are so many hardwoods available and I don't know what qualities are most important to you. Things to consider are hardness (look up "Janka scale" at google), color, how much/little grain you like, whether you want something exotic, if you plan on buying an environmentally friendly flooring product (cork, bamboo, etc.), your budget, etc. I think you're going to have to do your own homework on this one! ;~)
The Flooring Lady at January 19, 2009 09:54 AM
Hi, my wife wants me to install hardwood flooring in my kitchen. how would I nail the planks that go next to the under the sink cabinets and dishwasher? thanks
jack at April 12, 2009 06:13 PM
Hi Jack, Heh, tricky situation, isn't it? If you can't get to the area with a hammer, it is considered ok to glue that piece down. ;~) Simple, eh? You can also take out the cabinets and dishwasher so you can install the new flooring under those if you wish. Yes, it's a lot more work, but some people like this approach so that it can all be nailed down.
The Flooring Lady at April 14, 2009 02:15 AM
Hello,
I am ready to stain the wood floors of my 1890s Victorian in Milwaukee, WI. Half is original and other is new red oak. I have a blend of white oak, maple, and new red oak. My kitchen cabinets will be installed next--they are a cinnaman cherry color. What are my options on color of stain to use on the floor? I really wanted to go darker than lighter, but I worry about contrasting dark stains between cabinets and floors. I also worry about the over darkening experience I could create. There are windows everywhere, big ones, so light is not a problem. what are your thoughts? Thankfully in WI,
Kevin
Kevin Festerling at July 15, 2009 05:58 AM
Hi Kevin, It really depends on the look that you are going for. If you have plenty of light coming in, then I really wouldn't worry about the room being to dark if you add a dark stain to the flooring.
The Flooring Lady at July 16, 2009 12:52 PM
What about concrete? I'm interested in the possibility of concrete in my kitchen. We have a ranch home and i like the idea of durability because we have two dogs. Your thoughts??
jody at July 30, 2009 07:36 PM
Their are several posts here online You can see more information HERE on concrete flooring and HERE for stained concrete flooring
The Flooring Lady at July 31, 2009 01:16 PM
Are wood floors for the kitchen a good idea with 2 kids and 2 dogs? I worry about scratches. Are there cetain top coats that hold up better?
Leanne at August 20, 2009 12:20 PM
Leanne,
I refer back to the article "The only drawback may be the cost of the flooring, but the value that you add to your home may well be worth the price difference between hardwood flooring and other types of flooring."
Contact a local professional in your area to find the right floors for you.
The Flooring Lady at August 21, 2009 08:20 AM
