cabbie
Posts:58
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| 09/26/2008 12:21 PM |
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Does anyone have any firsthand experience with SOLID hardwood floors in their kitchen?
I am debating this idea...
to assist with peace of mind, I have considered a mix of tile or marble & wood in the kitchen, an area designed specifically of tile for heat & water accidents.
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showboat
Posts:67
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| 09/26/2008 1:19 PM |
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| Yes, and it is a very, very bad idea! The former owner of our house had put solid wood floors in the kitchen and in 10 years it was a disaster! I wish I had taken pictures before I pulled it out, but it had warped up, discolored and even softened due to the water damage. It was nasty. Don't do it. Even stone needs to be sealed very often in the kitchen area to avoid stains. Ceramic/porcelain is the best IMHO. |
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wilson
Posts:541
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| 09/26/2008 2:14 PM |
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| Tile and solid hardwood have different thicknesses it will be a challenge for them to flush out even. Resanding the wood next to tile (when necessary) will be a challenge. As an architect, I like wood floors in kitchens and have seen it work well but it does require the homeowner to be more conscientous. More maintenance to keep them looking good. If you have kids, probably better to do something other than wood. ...........and and remember who your potential future buyer may be. |
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airplanedad
Posts:131
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| 09/26/2008 3:28 PM |
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I have solid hardwood floors in my kitchen. It is excellent quality maple--clear, close grain. It wears like iron if properly cared for and thoroughly sealed. Water on the floor isn't a problem unless you let it stand. Then it can seep between the cracks of the boards if the sealer is not thick and eventually warp and discolor the wood.
One of the advantages is a wood floor is good for your back if you stand in the kitchen a lot. Another benefit, if you drop things, such as dishes, they tend not to break like like they do if you have tile.
Our floor is very old. One advantage we discovered when doing remodelling is that a good floor contractor can get matching wood to replace boards that have been damaged or even if you move walls or cabinets. You cannot tell where the boards have been replaced in my floor. Try doing that with tile: It is almost impossible to find matching tile if any crack or if you want to remodel at all (unless you buy surplus in advance and store it.) Another advantage is that wood tends to be timeless. IMO, with tile or cork or whatever, your choice becomes very dated in as little as 15 years.
I would not say that hardwood floors are the perfect choice: But they are worth consideration. |
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househunter73
Posts:10
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| 09/26/2008 5:22 PM |
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Airplanedad, funny that you say that things tend not to break when dropped on hardwood floors. I dropped a beautiful (and extremely heavy!) Waterford crystal vase on the hardwood floors in my dining room and you're right...it did not shatter. In fact, it almost bounced! But even though there was no damage to the vase, there was a nice chip in my new hardwood floors!
Cabbie- I agree with showboat. Hardwood floors in the kitchen is a very bad idea. You'll end up covering them with area rugs and destroying their beauty anyway. I like a natural rough textured stone floor like tumbled travertine in a kitchen (though you do have to wash them to keep them clean). Unlike polished stone and hardwood, they aren't slippery when wet (which will be often especially if you have kids!) NOW, all that said, if you have an older home and would like to maintain the integrity of the architecture, I would consider wood, but you will need to wipe up spills immediately and hope and pray that you never have a leaky dishwasher or refrigerator! |
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cabbie
Posts:58
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| 10/02/2008 3:23 PM |
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Okay...it sounds like hardwood may not be choice #1 for the kitchen. I was recently turned on to acid stained concrete...looks really nice on-line. Assuming the concrete is in good shape, the design possibilities are almost endless......
Any feedback, stories, recommendations?? |
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Brian
Posts:2210
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| 10/02/2008 3:50 PM |
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Whatever material you use, there's one design principle I would recommend. Keep it simple.
Don't break up the spaces in the house with different types of flooring in each room. Keep it uniform and free-flowing.
It would be Ok to use travertine/marble/granite/tile in the kitchen and baths and wood in other parts of the house. But don't use multiple materials/colors for each room. Use the same material in the kitchen and in the baths.
2 colors maximum for paint for the house. Don't do kaleidoscopic treatments.
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cabbie
Posts:58
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| 10/03/2008 1:38 PM |
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| Any referrals for acid washed concrete flooring?? Someone told me of Life Decks....any feedback...anyone?? |
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