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Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular types of flooring to have in a home. Since it looks great, is highly durable, and easy to clean, it’s no wonder that it makes its way into so many homes. Besides these benefits, it is also excellent for those who suffer from allergies and need flooring that won’t trap dander and dust the way that carpet will.
What about kitchens though? There is a potential for more spills and drops in the kitchen than anywhere else so is hardwood a good choice for this area of the house?
Having hardwood in your kitchen is fine if you are cautious and take extra care of it since this area is prone to spills and drops. It offers benefits over other floor types and is easy to clean. Floor mats and area rugs can be used to help protect the most vulnerable areas.
My home has white oak hardwood flooring throughout the entire living area of my downstairs. This is a durable hardwood but not quite as durable as something like maple or hickory would be. The flooring was installed in 2010 and today, it’s still in great shape but does show a little more wear and tear than anywhere else in my house.
This is due to our family dropping items onto the floor creating dings and dents. It has also seen its share of spilled liquids, and pots on the stove that have overflowed.
If you take a close look at the floor in my kitchen, although still in great shape, you will find many examples of such problems throughout. I have dropped glasses and broke them accidentally while putting them into the cabinet. I’ve dropped knives, forks, plates, heavy bowls, and who knows what else. You could say my floor has taken a beating over the years but it does still look great for the use and abuse it often sees.
I have also had spills over the years that I’ve had to clean up to ensure that no liquid seeped into the cracks between planks. Although the floor is sealed, I always have a fear of spilled liquid finding its way into a small crack somewhere.
The kitchen area is where most of the action happens in a home. No matter what kind of flooring you have, you’ll need to take extra care of it in this area. This is especially true if you have children or pets running and playing in the house.
Children make messes and drop things on a regular basis. It should be expected that there will be many spills and damaging activities going on in this area. The only way to ward off potential damage is to prepare for it and take some simple precautions.
Let’s look at some ways that you can protect your kitchen flooring.
How to Protect Hardwood Flooring in the Kitchen
If you are going to install hardwood flooring in a kitchen, there are a few things to consider. First and foremost, you will want to select a hardwood that will withstand the abuse that your kitchen area is likely to be exposed to.
Some common options for durable hardwood flooring include:
Any of these hardwoods are going to provide a very durable flooring that will withstand many years of use.
Ensure the Flooring Has an Adequate Finish On It
The flooring should be properly finished if you expect it to resist water and maintain its beauty over the years. A durable polyurethane or other finish is necessary to not only protect the floor but also bring out the natural beauty, give it a nice sheen, and give an easily cleanable surface.
Place Area Rugs in Key Areas
Rugs give you an added layer of protection, comfort, and can also look great if chosen properly. There are some key areas in the kitchen where damage is most often likely to happen. These areas might include the area in front of the refrigerator, stove, and sink area.
Most of the dings on the floor in my kitchen have happened in one of these three locations. Having a small area rug covering these areas would go a long way in helping to avoid this.
Use a Rubber Anti-Fatigue Mat in Front of Sink
A rubber anti-fatigue mat can be placed in front of your sink area that solves a couple of problems.
- It provides comfort. Hardwood flooring isn’t the most comfortable flooring to stand on for long periods. A comfortable anti-fatigue mat will help to add comfort when doing dishes or working over the sink area.
- It protects the floor in front of the sink area. There’s a lot of action that takes place around the sink. Dishes go in and out and inevitably fall to the floor. This mat will help protect the floor when this happens.
We have a mat that sits in front of our sink and extends underneath the dishwasher area. It has saved our floor from numerous objects that have fallen while moving them from the sink to the dishwasher. Without the rubber mat, there would be quite a few dings on the floor in this area of our kitchen.
Besides helping protect our floor, ours has handy kitchen conversions written on it so it is often used as a reference when cooking.
Hardwood Flooring Alternatives for Kitchen Areas
If not hardwood flooring, what else is there to use? Well, there are different choices but for those who are set on hardwood flooring or have it throughout the rest of their house, it will be hard to settle on anything else. Nevertheless, here are a few options that are often used.
- Tile – A very rigid and strong flooring that isn’t as prone to damage as much as hardwood is. It is also resistant to water damage and easy to clean up when something falls or spills onto it as long as the grout is installed correctly and is kept up over time.
- Vinyl Plank – This flooring simulates the look of wood but also is a very durable material that doesn’t ding as much as wood will. This type of flooring is great for basements, RVs, and other areas. Unless your home is completely furnished with this type of flooring, it will look out of place if only installed in your kitchen.
- Vinyl – An alternative to tile and makes a great waterproof flooring that won’t allow liquids to seep through. However, it is easily damaged if a sharp object falls onto it and it doesn’t give a high-end look that a real hardwood or tile floor can provide.
I have also seen wall-to-wall carpet used throughout homes and also included in the kitchen. Is there a worse option of flooring in a kitchen? I doubt it and I’m sure it doesn’t get used much in kitchens nowadays but since I have seen it in homes before, there must be people who somehow think it’s a good idea. Carpet will get pretty disgusting in a kitchen in a short amount of time.
Bottom Line
Hardwood flooring is a great idea if you take care of it and prepare for any possible damage. You can do this by utilizing some of the suggestions above. I have often said that I wish we didn’t have hardwood flooring in the kitchen. This was always said after dropping something and adding another ding to the floor. However, in the end, I don’t think I’d want anything else in the kitchen. It just looks so good and completes the entire look of the house by keeping it uniform throughout.
It all comes down to the type of wood you have in your kitchen and your ability to be cautious with it and treat it well. Hardwood flooring is durable and easy to clean. It will last a lifetime while building character in the process. If all else fails, it can always be refinished down the road and brought back to a state that makes it look brand new again. Just be sure to take care of it, be cautious, make use of rugs and mats in key areas and you should have no problems.
