Hardwood Flooring in the Kitchen
Hardwood floors have a timeless warmth and beauty that adds a rustic old-world quality to any room. But how do they hold up in the kitchen? Let’s find out.
What type of a hardwood floor is best for your kitchen?
Common Wood Species
The term hardwood is a bit of a misnomer because it doesn’t refer to how hard or strong the wood is, it refers to the molecular structure of the wood itself. In some cases, there are softwoods that are actually harder than hardwood. In order for a hardwood to be suitable to the kitchen area, it must have two qualities in abundance. The first quality is that it must be very hard, since kitchens are an area of the home with a lot of foot traffic. Secondly, it must be moisture resistant, because for obvious reasons, the kitchen gets a lot of moisture. So for kitchens, we recommend the hardest species of wood you can find. Ash and Oak are top candidates, as are some of the more expensive exotics like Snakewood. Ash and Oak are domestic wood species, which makes them slightly more affordable. They both have a magnificent texture and graining pattern, which makes their use in any room of the house stunning and unique.
Photo by © Hardwood Floors Magazine 2016
Another consideration you’ll have to bear in mind is that the kitchen is also prone to getting a lot of natural light. You’re going to want a wood that won’t discolor unevenly which is why woods like Mahogany are not ideal choices for the kitchen. Woods that are sensitive to heat and moisture also will not be candidates for the kitchen. Frequent expansion and contraction of the wood can cause cracking on the surface.
The Surface Texture
The kitchen is not an ideal room for a polished finish. The reason for that is that shinier finishes tend to show dents and blemishes from the sort of wear and tear a kitchen can get. While it may look beautiful in the living room, you’re unlikely to drop any pots and pans in that area either. This is why natural oils work better for hardwood finishes in the kitchen, as well as textured wood species.
The Surface Finish
For surface finish in the kitchen you have two options. Those are Lacquers or Oils.
Lacquers: These products are exceptionally strong and protect the wood from damage caused by dropped objects.
Oils: Natural Oils and UV-cured oil finishes are not as ding resistant as lacquers, but restoring them is a simple process.
Depending on your needs, either can be a good choice.
For hardwood in the kitchen, you’re going to want to be diligent with your routine maintenance. Sweeping and vacuuming regularly will help prolong the life of your hardwood kitchen floor. Cleaning up spills immediately and avoiding harsh chemicals and scrubs when cleaning and mopping the floor are also a must.
Contact T&G Flooring to get more information and cleaning solutions to restore the original shine and beauty of your floor in Denver.
