Wood Floors In The Kitchen
Q: What kind of floor do you recommend in my kitchen? I really want hardwood floors.
A: There are a few different kinds of hardwood floors. The 4 main kinds can be organized into these categories:
1) engineered and prefinished
2) engineered and unfinished
3) solid and prefinished
4) solid and unfinished
Engineered wood floors can easily be glued directly to a concrete foundation, making the overall look of the floor very thin; about as thin as a standard tile installation; as well as making it an easy and convenient installation. Then there is the solid wood floor which will require the installation of a plywood as a sub-floor so the solid wood floor can be nailed in.
Why is this part of the topic? This is part of the topic because the point is, the thickness of the floor introduces the possibility of issues with cabinetry and appliances. Some kitchen floors are fine with any of the 4 types of wood floor above. Others are not. If you are remodeling the entire kitchen including the replacement of cabinets, counter-tops, etc., then this will not matter at all.
Here are some very important factors that might help eliminate some of the options I have stated above:
For the fridge: If you have a built-in fridge, check to see if you have 1.25 inches of clearance above it. Most do not. Blocking in your fridge is a no-no.
For the dishwasher: The dishwasher will be sitting on the floor and they usually do not have an extra 1.25 inches between the top of the appliance and the bottom of the counter-top. You will need a little wiggle room so if it is too tight, then a decision must be made. You can block in a dishwasher, which means that servicing it might require a service call from a wood floor technician to remove and reinstall the wood planks.
For your range: Some kitchens have cook tops and some have ranges. If your kitchen uses a range, examine it to see what it would look like if you raised it up 1.25 inches.
If any of the above issues I have addressed are present in your kitchen, then an engineered floor is going to be your best option because they will not add much of any height to the floor.
You can find articles online discussing about the benefits and disadvantages of prefinished wood vs. unfinished solid wood floors to know more about the two distinction.
About the Author:
HSW Floors is a Dallas Wood Flooring company specializing in the finest Hand Scraped Hardwood Floors in Dallas, Texas. Contact them for information at http://www.hswfloors.com.
Article Marketing
20 people like this article
