Is it Safe to Use Hardwood Flooring in a Kitchen?

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Hardwood flooring is desirable for many people when renovating or moving into a new home; you might even have hardwood flooring as a “must-have” item when purchasing a home. But is hardwood flooring safe? The answer to that question is yes, but there are some considerations when putting hardwood flooring into your home that you may want to think about. 

Hardwood Flooring: Water-Proof or Water-Resistant?

The truth of the matter is that hardwood flooring is water-resistant but not waterproof. Therefore, having hardwood flooring in the kitchen, which is a semi-moist area, may or may not be ideal for you. Having hardwood flooring in the kitchen may be ideal for you if you do not have kids who are prone to spilling things on the floor. Having hardwood flooring may also be ideal if your kitchen does not lead to the pool outside or from the garage, where people can track water when it rains outside. So, hardwood flooring is safe and ideal for certain families, but in other cases, you may want to think about choosing another type of flooring. 

Hardwood Flooring: Breakage 

An ideal reason that hardwood flooring is safe is that it is soft enough that if you were to drop a dish on the floor, it might not break. This feature makes hardwood flooring different from tile, stone, or ceramic flooring. So, there is a good chance that if someone accidentally drops a dish, no one will get stuck with glass, or the dog will not cut their paws. 

Now that you know two critical features in deciding if hardwood flooring would be safe for your home, it is good to know your options when choosing hardwood flooring types. 

1) Solid Unfinished Hardwood Flooring

One of the best options is installing solid unfinished hardwood flooring and staining it afterward. Installing the hardwood floor helps ensure all the flooring is tight and sealed to keep it water-resistant. Solid hardwood flooring has been known to last over a century. It may be because you can continuously sand it down and refinish it as much as you like. 

2) Solid Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Solid prefinished hardwood flooring is a favorite among many because everything is done for you and all you do is install. However, this hardwood flooring can come slanted, so it is not ideal for kitchens. 

3) Engineered Hardwood Flooring

These planks lock together, and the edges are pre-finished. The locking planks make it easier to install for DIYers. 

4) Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring

If you are an eco-friendly type of person, this may be the hardwood flooring for you. Reclaimed hardwood flooring consists of wood that office buildings or factories no longer use after going out of business. Reclaimed hardwood flooring is an excellent choice for your kitchen as long as you install it properly. 

Picking your flooring may be easy, but installing it is another thing entirely. Be sure to call professionals to help you install your flooring and get it done the right way!