If you're currently thinking about a kitchen redesign, you've probably considered tile flooring as one option. Tile is an extremely popular choice for kitchen flooring since it stands up to moisture well and is easy to clean.
However, wood flooring should definitely be a part of your consideration too. Many homeowners neglect wood as a flooring choice for kitchens because it's extremely porous. Thankfully, you can minimize the risk of water damage through careful maintenance. In order to understand the benefits of wood flooring for your kitchen, read on for a comparison between it and tile.
Wood Is a Warmer Choice
One of the biggest benefits of wood flooring is that it has a warm, natural appearance. Wood floors pair particularly well with white cabinetry and stone countertops. The neutral color of the cabinets allows the grain of the wood floors to become a visually striking focal point in your kitchen, and stone is another natural material that complements wood well.
With tile flooring, you have numerous colors and styles to choose from. However, they will all lack the natural variation in grain that makes wood floors so striking. Tile flooring tends to be colder and much less inviting when compared to wood floors.
Wood Floors Are Softer
Wood floors have a slight give to them, whereas tile is much harder. When you're in the kitchen, you'll typically be standing all the time. After a long enough period of time, hard tile floors can cause your feet, your hips, and your back to hurt. Wood floors have more cushioning, which makes cooking in your kitchen more comfortable.
Water Damage Can Be Prevented With Some Upkeep
Water and moisture will damage wood flooring quicker than it will damage tile flooring. Without the layer of protection provided by a water-resistant finish, wood begins to swell as it collects moisture. This can lead to bowing or cupping in your wood flooring. However, you can keep the possibility of damage to a minimum by cleaning up spills immediately and reapplying the finish every few years to keep the wood protected. As long as the wood is prevented from becoming damp, you don't have to worry about the wood bowing or splitting apart.
In addition, tile flooring isn't completely waterproof. A major plumbing leak can destroy a tile floor just as easily as it would a wood floor. Water can seep through the tile into the wooden subfloor underneath, where it will cause the subfloor to expand. The expanding subfloor puts pressure on the tile floor from underneath, and the pressure can cause tiles to crack or pop up from the floor.
Wood Has Superior Longevity
Another benefit of wood flooring is that it can be sanded down and refinished numerous times. Removing the top layer of wood and applying another layer of finish will erase any scratches in the surface, making the floor look like it has been newly installed.
While tile is very durable, the adhesive used to install it will eventually degrade. You'll need to replace the floor when this happens. Tile flooring is also susceptible to cracking or chipping when heavy objects are dropped on it. As long as it's protected from water damage, wood flooring will typically last much longer than tile flooring.
Overall, wood flooring is an excellent choice for your kitchen. While tile may have traditionally been a more popular choice due to its increased ability to resist water damage, wood floors will perform just as well when you clean up spills immediately and keep the finish in good condition. If you want to design a kitchen with a warm, inviting look, strongly consider using wood as your flooring choice.
Reach out to a company like New York Hardwood Floors that works with wood flooring for more information.