Wood flooring provides an exceptionally beautiful environment for your kitchen. It’s one of the most luxurious considered floorings. Wood flooring is one of the traditional kitchen flooring options. Yet, it isn’t considered an appropriate flooring option because of water damage.
Look at wood flooring before you consider this beautiful floor out of your options. Yes, wood flooring can provide one of the best floorings for your kitchen. Below are some pros and cons to consider.
Kitchen Wood Flooring
A lot of things go on in the kitchen that can damage your wooden flooring. Due to this, many assume that wooden flooring wouldn’t be good for the kitchen. Surprisingly, wood flooring when sealed and taken care off, it can be a great option that lasts as long as the house. Yes, water can damage your wood flooring and thus requires a lot of care which makes it not for everyone.
Below we dive to the pros and cons of kitchen wooden flooring. The wood floor is beautiful and blends in with any design style. If you got wooden flooring in your kitchen that you consider replacing, you may have to go for equally durable flooring. However, weigh below pro and cons before finalizing on your decision.
Pros of Wooden Kitchen Flooring
Beautiful Appearance
All wood floors are gorgeous and beautiful with a variety of colors and grains. Wood flooring is available as unfinished or prefinished.
They come in with a wide range of different hues, making it easy to get a finish that correlates with any kitchen design. In case you have the desired color, you may sand and refinish it with a better color that coordinates with your kitchen.
Durability
Wooden floor is second or third from concrete or tiles. Different wood species either natural (hardwood or softwood) or even engineered wood. The species have different durability. Consider choosing wood that ranks high on the Janka hardness chart. That said, wooden floor calls for careful handling. You got to clean water spills immediately and avoid water leakages in your kitchen.
Leakages and spills that are not mopped up quickly will cause damage that may require replacement. Wood flooring also thick and solid that makes it easy to sand and refinish anytime due to wear and tear. Consider using rubber pads on your furniture legs to prevent scratches and dents. Using mats and rugs may be a good idea especially in high traffic areas, they will add a layer of protection and care to your kitchen flooring.
Warmth on your feet
If your feet warmth is key in a list of need for your kitchen flooring, look no further. A wood floor will keep your feet warmer and have a soft feel on your feet. Unlike concrete and tiles that are hard and cold on your feet. You may consider yellow undertones that can provide visual warmth too.
Variety
You have lots of multiple species and styles of options to choose from for your kitchen flooring. All these species are naturally beautiful when installed professionally.
Refinishing Options
Properly sealed wooden floor is less problematic. But one has to finish it with highly durable polyurethane. Especially those designed to hold spills and prevent it from penetrating the wood floor.
This help in reducing the chances of water damage and dirt or food stains. Polyurethane finish also make s the wood flooring easy to wipe or clean.
Consistent and Unique
The wood floor in your kitchen may help maintain consistency in your home. Wood grains and stains may make your kitchen unique, unlike tiles and concrete.
Relatively deficient in hardness
In case you mistakenly drop the breakable items like glass, the wooden floor is much softer, unlike ceramic. Although not guaranteed, your glass may get a second chance.
Has value addition
Wood flooring in your kitchen adds or increase the house value. Wood flooring makes the house attractive and can be sold easily and quickly.
Eco-Friendly
Wood flooring doesn’t trap dirt and debris like carpet flooring. This makes your kitchen cleaner and free of allergens that lead to respiratory problems.
Cons of Wood Flooring Kitchen
Prone to Water damage
Lengthy exposure to water moisture or spillage and leakages from pipes can damage your wood kitchen floor. This is unlike tiles and concrete that are water/ moisture resistance.
Requires Regular Maintenance
Kitchen wood flooring requires regular maintenance to avoid extensive damages. For 4-7 years, it will need resanding and recoating for moisture protection.
Refinishing for between 12-17 years considering wear and tear or if beauty has diminished.
Expensive and Costly to Maintain
Installing wood flooring in your kitchen ain’t a cheap undertaking. It is often expensive than ceramic tiles or luxury vinyl flooring. In addition, the wood floor needs regular maintenance, to protect it from wear and tear. Refinishing and sanding need to be done on a 10-year basis which ain’t a simple undertaking.
Things to Consider
1. Use site finished wood rather than prefinished. What this means is that you get raw timber, install it using nails, etc and then apply stains and sealers is desired. Site finished wood kitchen floor will have or get a very thin cohesive layer of sealant that cut across the whole floor
2. Place small rugs in front of the kitchen sink, stove and under the fridge. You may use mats for areas with high traffic.
3. Maintain your sinks, pipes to avoid water leaks that can severely damage your kitchen wood flooring.
4. Choose the high ranking wood in the Janka chart.
5. Select your floor cleaning tools carefully. Choose cleaners fitted with brush rolls with rubber wheels and soft bristles. This will help to avoid scratching and damaging your wooden floor surface. Avoid using a steam cleaner, it can force moisture into joints.
6. Invest in a stain suitable for the type of wood flooring used. Select the best stain especially if you have kids, as they may spill food and drinks when eating.
7. Mop the spills immediately to avoid floor damage.
8. Consider an oil-based polyurethane sealer.
9. Use pads on your furniture legs to prevent unnecessary scratches and dents.
Kitchen Wood Flooring Alternatives
If the wooden floor is expensive for you, consider the following engineered wood floor:
Wood-looks ceramic tiles.
Wood-look vinyl sheet.
Wood-look luxury vinyl plank.
Wood-look laminate.
