Choosing the Best Species for Kitchen Hardwood Flooring

Choosing the Best Species for Kitchen Hardwood Flooring

Are you looking for the perfect species of hardwood flooring for your kitchen? It’s important to consider factors that will make your space both beautiful and functional. These include durability, colour, grain, and maintenance. Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind your budget when making a choice.

That may seem like a lot to take into account. However, with expert guidance, you can choose the perfect hardwood species to take your kitchen to the next level.

Let’s learn how to create your dream kitchen by choosing the hardwood species that is most aesthetically pleasing and useful to you.

Factors to Consider When Selecting Kitchen Hardwood Flooring

These are the features you should look for when choosing hardwood flooring for your kitchen.

1. Examine Its Durability

When selecting kitchen hardwood flooring, consider its durability. Your choice should be able to resist frequent wear & tear and foot traffic, which are typical in a kitchen setting.

Fortunately, the Janka hardness rating measures wood’s resistance to dents, scratches and other types of wear. Brazilian cherry, hickory, and white oak have some of the highest Janka scores and are well-known for their durability.

In addition, stability is required to maintain its shape and form in different environmental conditions. Hardwoods like oak and maple are renowned for being highly stable.

2. Consider Colour and Grain

The colour of the wood you select will affect the overall feel and appearance of your kitchen.

Start by selecting a range of colours that complements your decor. Lighter species like oak and maple can brighten your space, make small rooms appear larger, and work well with modern interior styles. Darker wood species like cherry and walnut can be used for more traditional decor.

Wood grain also affects your floor’s durability and appearance. A species with a tight, closed grain like hickory is an excellent option for a high-traffic kitchen because it is known for its durability and resistance to wear and tear. On the other hand, a species with an open grain, like white oak, can give a kitchen more personality and visual interest.

3. Maintain Your Kitchen Flooring

Maintenance is another factor to consider when choosing a hardwood flooring species for your kitchen. This is because some species are more resilient to moisture and wear than others.

For instance, while pine and maple are more vulnerable to damage, species like Brazilian cherry and hickory are celebrated for their toughness and resistance to dents and scratches.

Maintenance is also essential to ensure your safety and comfort. So, if you are installing solid hardwood in your kitchen, remember that it needs to be wiped regularly. That means cleaning up any spills right away using a soft, clean rag. Otherwise, they can seep into the wood and cause staining or discolouration. Hardwood floors are also prone to warping or buckling which can be avoided by likewise immediately cleaning up spills.

To retain the look and charm of the wood for a long time, refer to the manufacturer’s directions for maintenance tips. Use dry mops, non-abrasive brooms, approved cleaning products, and the methods stated by the manufacturer to keep your floor looking its best.

4. Don’t Forget About Cost

How much you spend on your flooring will vary depending in part on the species and finish you choose as well as the thickness of the wood. Hardwood species like pine and maple are less expensive than Brazilian cherry and hickory for instance. You also pay per square foot, so how much you spend on flooring will depend in part on the size of your kitchen.

The cost of the flooring can also differ depending on the grade of wood, with select and clear grades being more expensive. The complexity of the installation can also add to our bill.

Wood flooring can be damaged by moisture, so many homeowners stay away from installing it in their kitchen. But, in reality, the right type of wood flooring can stand up well to the traffic and conditions of even the busiest kitchen. Consider these different factors to find the best hardwood species for your dream kitchen.