Choosing the right “Wood” flooring for your kitchen

Wood flooring is a very popular choice for many homeowners planning a kitchen remodel. It’s long lasting, comfortable, easy to maintain and comes in a variety of colors and styles. Here are some suggestions to help you select the right “wood” product for your remodeling project.

Hardwood Floors

Solid hardwood floors are very durable and have a timeless quality. You can choose from species like Walnut, Maple, Birch and hundreds of others, including many exotic species. Because trees are unique in nature, no two floors will ever be exactly the same. The drawbacks are that solid hardwood floors cannot be installed straight on concrete or over an existing floor. Hardwoods do however add to the resale value of your home, even if they are more expensive initially.

Engineered Wood Floors

Engineered wood floors are composite floors; they are a mixture of two different substances. The top layer is hardwood over 3-12 layers of plywood, high density fiberboard or a lesser grade of hardwood. It resists damage from moisture and humidity better than solid hardwood due to its layered structure. It is also more adaptable in application because it can be installed directly on concrete or a wood sub-floor. Engineered wood comes in a variety of wood species and also increase the resale value of your home.

Wood Simulated Ceramic Tile

A totally different option is tile that looks like wood. Many lengths, colors and wood grains are available. Using this product gives you the look of a wood floor but with the durability and ease of care that tile is known for. The ceramic tiles come in board-like lengths and are installed the same as any tile would be installed. The picture shown above is an example of an Interceramic Tile Timberlands tile floor.

Luxury Vinyl Wood Floors

Luxury Vinyl Wood Floors combine the most recent advances in technology with the artistic nature of real wood. These Vinyl floors come in a range of colors, sizes and textures that realistically mimic hardwood floors. The top layer is an enhance urethane which is easy to clean and resists scratches and other damage. The next layer is a protective clear film which resists rips and adds durability. The next layer down is the layer with the printed design, which can be found in a multitude of colors and level of detail. They can be installed on any surface. Luxury Vinyl Wood Floors are easy to maintain, and water-resistant and usually less expensive.

Wood Laminate Floors

Wood Laminate is a simulation of wood that looks similar to solid hardwood flooring at a lower cost. They are made of again several layers of materials. The core is usually high density fiberboard with the decorative layer, a photograph of real wood, fused to its surface. These floors are easy to clean and durable and can be installed many different ways.