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Hardwood

Wood Flooring

Olson Photographic, LLC

Hardwood flooring is one of the most durable choices for your kitchen. Designed by Northeast Cabinet Design, Ridgefield, CT.

Oak and maple are common choices for kitchen flooring; pine is often used to give a worn effect. The wood is typically installed prior to the cabinets and laid in planks, narrow strips, or patterned parquet squares.

 

A floor finished on-site with penetrating oil and wax gives you the classic look of hardwood floors and an even surface. However, it will need to be waxed annually. This type of treatment is more appropriate for the drawing room than a high-traffic, high-spill zone like the kitchen.

A floor treated on-site or at the factory with a penetrating sealer like polyurethane won’t need to be waxed regularly. It can be kept fresh with a vacuum or broom and with a recoating every five or six years.

Don’t get stuck with a bad finish job. Look for bubbles, paper, and dust that may have been trapped in the finish; a wavy look or feel along the strips; deep swirls or sander marks; and splotchy areas. While you may see some imperfections in isolated areas, they shouldn’t appear throughout the flooring.

Recommended flooring support
Plywood.

 

Pros

  • You can keep a polyurethane-coated wood floor clean with a vacuum or broom.
  • Wood provides a variety of looks.
  • Long-lasting and durable.

 

Cons

  • If water seeps between the boards, it may cause warping and buckling.
  • Floors with wax finishes require maintenance and may not be practical for the kitchen. They can be slippery too.
  • You may need to refinish the entire floor to get rid of scratches.
  • You have to guard against fading and be careful where you place throw rugs and mats—the sun could fade the floor around them, leaving a darker area underneath.

 

Price
About $7-$100 per square foot.