Tile is usually the go-to choice for kitchen flooring, but in recent years, more and more homeowners are foregoing tile and opting for lindenhurst hardwood flooring installation.

It’s understandable, too. Hardwood flooring is extremely versatile, and it creates a warm, welcoming appearance. And, in homes that have open floor plans, hardwood flooring long island ties rooms together, creating a cohesive look and allowing one room to flow into another.

Is hardwood the right choice for your kitchen flooring? Read on to find out if it’s the best option for you.

A Timeless Design

Most interior designers are advocates for hardwood floors in the kitchen. By installing it throughout the home, instead of just in select areas, this flooring creates continuity, allowing one room to flow into the next. What’s more, unlike tile, hardwood is much less subject to fads and trends. Get new shades for your windows at shades North Fork. This means that the hardwood flooring you install in your kitchen today will still be in style for years to come. Plus, you can refinish the floors to give them a fresh, new look, if you decide you want to. Switching out tile, on the other hand, is a much more complex, time-consuming, and costly task.

The Durability

You might be concerned if hardwood flooring will be durable enough to withstand the traffic and moisture in your kitchen. That’s an understandable concern, as hardwood is a softer, more porous material than tile. However, the truth is that all flooring long island can be damaged in a kitchen. Even tile can stain, crack, scratch and warp.

With a few basic precautions, you can easily avoid damaging hardwood floors in your kitchen.

Choose the Right Wood

It’s in your best interest to choose one of the harder types of hardwood, ash or oak. While there are exotic woods that are much harder than these two options, being that they originate in tropical locations, they are a bit more prone to moisture damage.

You should also carefully determine if you want to install solid or engineered wood. Both offer advantages. Solid flooring can be refinished several times, extending the lifespan and versatility of the floors. But, because their grain ones in a single direction, solid wood is more likely to expand as a result of exposure to moisture. Engineered wood, on the other hand, can withstand moisture better; however, the amount of times it can be refinished is limited.

The Finish

The finish on your hardwoods acts as a protective layer, shielding your floors from moisture, scratches, dings and dents. For the kitchen, your best bet is to choose a water-based polyurethane finish, as it repels water the best.

You should also consider whether you want to have your floors finished onsite, or if you want to use floorboards that are prefinished in the factory. Finishes that are applied onsite are applied to the entire floor, sealing up seams and making them less susceptible to water and other spills. However, the finishes applied in a factory are the most durable finishes available, though there will be seams in the floor, which leave them more vulnerable to moisture damage.

The Color

Interior designers and hardwood flooring experts agree that lighter colored hardwood flooring is the best choice for a kitchen. For a variety of colors for your blinds, go see blinds St James. It shows less scratches and dents than darker woods. The dent left behind after dropping a pan, for example, will be much less visible on a lighter floor than it would be on a darker one.

The Maintenance

In order for any flooring to stay in the best condition possible, proper maintenance is vital. For hardwood flooring in the kitchen, the following maintenance tips will help keep your floors looking great for years to come.

Regular Cleaning

A few times a week, wipe the floor down with a dust mop or run a vacuum that is designed for use on hardwood floors over it. Once a week, use a high-quality hardwood cleaner to keep the floors fresh and clean.

Spot Cleaning

Make sure to clean up any spills as soon as they occur. The longer you leave sauce on the floor, for example, the more likely it is that a stain will be left behind and warping may occur. Wipe up liquid spills with a soft, clean cloth and wash it down with a hardwood floor cleaner. For other spills, such as sugar or salt, sweep them up right away. If those grains are left to sit on the floor, should they be walked on, they can scratch the surface of the wood. Use a soft-bristled broom and a dustpan or a hardwood floor vacuum cleaner to take care of these spills.

Apply Mats

In areas that are more likely to be exposed to moisture, put down some waterproof mats. This includes in front of the sink and the dishwasher. The mats will absorb any drips or spills, protecting your hardwoods from damage.

To learn more about the advantages of hardwood in the kitchen and for help making the best selection, give us a call! We’ll help you choose huntington wood floor refinishing that will make your kitchen look incredible.