Is Hardwood Flooring in the Kitchen Right for You?
This is the best form of hardwood for kitchens, though increasingly rare.
Prefinished flooring has increasingly replaced unfinished flooring as the favorite.
The Spruce / Christopher Lee
This makes it possible to install it as a “floating floor” with no attachment to the subfloor.
This form of hardwood is the easiest for DIYers to install.
This option is very appealing to anyone interested in eco-friendly building practices since it uses recycled materials.
Most larger communities have retailers who specialize in repurposed building materials, such as Habitat for Humanity’sReStoreoutlets.
Surprisingly, there is not a huge difference between costs for solid hardwoods and engineered hardwoods.
Although engineered woods use less actual hardwood, this is offset by manufacturing that is more complicated and costly.
And these products provide an easier installation process that people are willing to pay for.
Tropical hardwoods (mahogany, Brazilian walnut) cost $8 and up.
The wide range of labor costs is affected by local labor standards and the complexity of the job.
However, if these conditions aren’t met, hardwood in a kitchen can create a much different experience.
And certain forms of flooring are less suited to kitchens.
Many prefinished hardwood flooring products have beveled edges that create grooves that channel water down between the boards.
verify to choose hardwood flooring that can be sanded down and refinished.
This means that solid hardwood will be a better choice than most engineered hardwood flooring.
There are, however, some upper-end engineered products with very thick veneers that can be refinished.
Either way, a fresh coat of varnish is then applied.
It offers visual warmth and texture and creates an earthy naturalness that can work with virtually any architectural style.
The installation process for hardwood flooring varies according to different product types.
Solid hardwood planks are usually milled with a tongue-and-groove design that allows the boards to lock at the edges.
The interlocking edges allow the flooring to float as a large mat over the underlayment.
This protective surface finish should be renewed every few years, especially for kitchen floors.
Solid hardwood flooring planks are usually installed by professionals since the installation is difficult and requires special tools.
For unfinished hardwood, your best bet is to seek out a local specialty flooring store.
Hardwood will also feel warmer underfoot than ceramic or stone tile, though not as comfortable as vinyl.
Hardwood vs. Moisture in basements: causes and solutions.
University of Minnesota Extension.
Diamond Certified Experts: All About Hardwood Flooring.
