Your kitchen can have the natural beauty of a hardwood floor too! Read on for some things to look out for.
A kitchen might seem like the last place you would want to consider installing a hardwood floor. Your kitchen is one of the most highly trafficked areas of your home and is subject to all kinds of wear. Spilled drinks, muddy paw prints from the family dog, even kids’ play time can make the kitchen floor one of the most abused floors of your home. However, you can get the naturally beautiful look that hardwood floors provide in your kitchen if you stick to a few basic principles.
Choose the Right Finish
Most wood finishes today are suitable for usage on a kitchen floor. The best kind to use is a clear water-based finish because it retains the natural color of the wood and can be touched up or recoated fairly easily. A factory-applied, acrylic-impregnated finish that penetrates the wood will provide the strongest protection and require less maintenance. Oil-base finishes, on the other hand, fade to an amber color as time goes on and is more difficult to upkeep – especially for a high traffic area like a kitchen.
Best Wood Species for the Kitchen
You’ll want to avoid softwoods like pine for your kitchen floor because they dent very easily. Choosing a stronger hardwood species such as oak, cherry, or maple will have better durability and last longer. You may also want to consider the grain patterning when choosing a species. A wood with graining similar to oak may hide dirt and dents better than wood with a less pronounced grain.
Keep up with the Upkeep!
Taking care of a hardwood floor in the kitchen is a little more involved than with other types of flooring. In general, you’ll want to wipe spills up immediately in order to prevent staining. Deep cleaning the floor at regular intervals will ensure its longevity. Take precautions against wear and sand and grit damage by placing throw rugs at outside entrances and in front of the kitchen appliances and sinks. Use protective pads under furniture to prevent scratching. Although your kitchen’s hardwood floor requires a little more basic upkeep, the natural beauty it can affect more than makes up for it!
Give Your Kitchen a Natural Look with John K. Eareckson & Co!
When you work with John K Eareckson & Co. Flooring, we will ensure your hardwood floors fight fading for decades to come. From a seamless and beautiful installation to years of maintenance, John K Eareckson & Co. Flooring has the expertise to care for your home’s hardwood floors. For a consultation and more information visit us online or give us a call at 410-788-4200. You can also follow us on Facebook, Google+,Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.