Wood Floors in the Kitchen

We are reflooring our kitchen. We have two active dogs-average about 50 pounds. We have considered wood but have been told that the dogs will scratch both wood and laminate. I feel tile is too hard on my joints - can you give us an opinion about a flooring that will stand up to medium to heavy use in the kitchen.
Thanks

You have entered the double-bind zone. Tiles and stone, which are durable and dog-proof, are hard on your joints. Wood can scratch, but maybe if you used a hard finish, such as Diamond Urethane Polyurethane, it might help it survive dogs.

Another option is linoleum. You can make fun patterns with different colors -- either in tiles or have a professional installer lay rolls that are cut in curving patterns or angles. It's natural, doesn't offgas and the color goes all the way through the material. Don't get linoleum confused with vinyl, they are very different.

I have seen wide plank cedar boards at the home improvement store. Could they be used for flooring in my kitchen and dining room? I have been told cedar is very soft, but we live in an old farmhouse and don't mind imperfections.

If you don't think cedar is appropriate, could you suggest an alternative for a floor that is in an old country house - something plain and simple, but authentic looking and beautiful in a rustic way?

Thank you.

Cedar is exceedingly soft. It ranges from 350-720 on the Janka scale, a rating of hardness for woods. Soft wood indicates it will dent easily and won't wear well in the long run. But if you are looking for something rustic it will fit the bill. Pine can be soft, some softer than others, and pine has been used for years -- centuries even -- as flooring. You can get the rustic look without the softness by using pine heartwood, oak, or walnut. If you can find them in wide plank you really have it covered with the old and rustic look. And beautiful.

would red oak flooring be ok for the kitchen about 2 inch's or is the wider hardwood more apropriate?

Anthony, red oak flooring would be good in the kitchen. There are pros and cons to any board dimension you use in your house, but visual preference is probably the most important determining "factor". The narrower boards can lend a look of long and narrow to a room, and it might not matter a bit. I was worried about that look when I installed bamboo in my house and chose the horizontal cut instead of vertical to keep an already long/narrow house from seeming more so.

If the wood is quality and you like it, go for it. And be sure to finish it, if it's raw, with a low VOC water-based polyurethane like Diamond Coat Varathane Polyurethane for floors.

I have original oak wood floors in my living and dining room. I would like to put wood flooring in my kitchen and adjoining family room. Do I have to use the same wood in these rooms? Thanks for any ideas you may have.

Hi Barb,
No, you don't have to use the same species of wood for the flooring project you have in mind. You can use any kind of wood that you desire! ;~)

We are having to remove our kitchen tile due to a lot of cracking from settling of our house. We have hardwood in the adjoining living room that and it is a little higher than our kitchen. I was thinking possibly about just continuing the wood on top of the tile so we wouldn't have to chip up the tile. That would also make the floors the same heighth and be easier on my joints in the kitchen. Some have discouraged having tile in the kitchen because of possible water damage. What are your thoughts. Thanks, Dianne

Diane,
Lots of people have tile in their kitchen area - if there's water damage, you're going to have water damage regardless what kind of flooring you have (well, except maybe epoxy or concrete!). Actually, so long as there's no way for the water to get under the tile, there should be no damage - in other words, so long as everything is sealed well.......... I guess I just don't understand the reasoning of ceramic tile being damaged by water more easily than wood.

If you're really set on hardwood floors, I'd suggest removing the tile. It's going to be less weight on your joists if the tile is removed and a new subfloor put down before you put down hardwood.

Hi,
We are trying to decide between an already finished red oak (pickle barrel) engineered wood floor and a hardwood floor that would require staining. WE are putting the floor in the kitchen.

Which is the better choice? The engineered does have a 30 year warranty and is made by anderson. It is very pricey about 9.00 a sq foot.

Thanks for any suggestions.
rich

Hi Richard,
I've got a couple of articles on the site to help you decide:

Engineered vs Solid Hardwood Flooring

and

Engineered or Non-engineered Hardwood Flooring

Hope they help to answer any questions you may have!

After reading several of the articles on this site I have concluded that the fewer chemicals you use the better your health is going to be. Richard, I'd go for the red oak because it's more environmentally friendly (recycling and pre-finished). And it'll be faster and neater for your home.

Hello-

I already have oak floors throughout my house except for the kitchen. I was thinking about getting wood floors installed in my kitchen. The kitchen, of course, would not match the wood floors in the rest of my house. Have you seen this look before? I am unsure of the final outcome.
Thanks for your advice. Maurine

I think it would look fine Maurine. It really boils down to whether you want a closer-match or not; since it's in a whole different room the flooring can be different. If you decide you want the floors to match better, you can always use a stain to try to get a closer match.

We have glued hardwood floors in kitchen, entrance, half bath, and family room. After 16 years, the wood is detaching from glue. My husband wants stone (and extend to dining room which is not a separate room off entrance)in all areas. We will take up the floors we have, of course. I lean towards hard wood again in all areas. One thing that is a disadvantage to hardwood is traffic of moving chairs in and out have worn the floors. I have put pads on chair legs, but just did not save flooring. In Houston, is the stone the preferred choice? What is the most popular choice today?

Hi Valerie,
I'm not quite sure what you mean by *worn out* the flooring. Any kind of flooring needs to be maintained to look it's best - regularly applying finishes to protect the coating. If you like hardwood and want to go with that again, they I'd say that you should do it if you're positive that this is what you'll be happiest with.

I'm not anywhere near Houston, but any kind of stone, brick, tile, etc. would be good choices. Saltillo seems to be pretty popular in southern states. Same thing though - any of these flooring types require regular maintenance.

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

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! ;~)

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

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.

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

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.

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??

Their are several posts here online You can see more information HERE on concrete flooring and HERE for stained concrete flooring

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,

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.