Hardwood Flooring For Your Kitchen

Bare wood floors have enjoyed increased popularity recently. Solid parquet and wide, close-laid floorboards were always intended to be bare, but now even the humble old floorboard has been liberated from its covering of linoleum and fitted carpet and is being stripped, varnished or painted.

A wood floor in a kitchen is kind to the feet and, if well finished will be water-resistant and easy to clean. Use a just damp mop to avoid water staining. Gap between old floorboards will attract kitchen dust and dirt, so fill them in with thin strips of wood (or cork if the is not in a noticeable place).

New wood floors can often be laid on top of an existing wood floor but nail-down boards will need a solid sub-floor. They give a uniform, clean look and according to the type of wood it will bring warmth and patina to an otherwise functional space. Reclaimed floorboards add instant character but can be expensive and there is no guarantee of uniformity.

Hygiene and safety are obviously essential in a kitchen, so ensure that any varnish, lacquer or paint finish is waterproof but not slippery. For a non-shiny, natural look, wood floors can be simply finished with wax or oil and resin but remember that these will need to be reapplied every couple of months. All solid wood floors are fairly expensive (but should last a lifetime). Cheaper, though less durable option include wood-strip flooring or plywood sheets, which if varnished can make an attractive modern floor.

• Revamp a tired wood floor with a wood stain or paint finish. They are generally easy to apply to any sanded floor and if topped with a sealant then it should last well. A covering of diluted whitewash can give a limed-oak look to darker boards.
• Solid wood floors are not recommended for use I basements because of potential moisture problems. It is better to use engineered wood flooring here (parquet or strip flooring).
• If a patch of your floor does become stained, sand it back as soon as you can and re-lacquer.
• If you had a scratch, first use rough grit sandpaper #120 then use #240 for final sanding before reapplying lacquer. (Note: when sand scratched area, you must also sand the surrounding scratched area as to prevent a big dent on your floor.)