Installing Natural Wood Flooring in Your Toronto-Area Kitchen: Dos and Don’ts

Installing Natural Wood Flooring in Your Toronto-Area Kitchen: Dos and Don’ts

Installing natural wood flooring in your kitchen can be exciting and satisfying. There is nothing quite like the coziness and warmth of a kitchen with wood floors. However, navigating the process requires careful consideration.

Kitchens are high-moisture areas, and wooden flooring is not waterproof. But you can install it if you take proper precautions and consider these dos and don’ts. At AA Floors, we want to share how you can install natural wood flooring in your kitchen.

Let’s get started.

Tips to Follow When Installing Natural Wood Flooring in Kitchens

There are essential pros and cons to installing hardwood flooring that you need to be aware of. So, before you install natural wood flooring in your Toronto kitchen, here are some tips to keep in mind to help you maintain it.

Dos

Here are some things you ought to do when considering wood flooring.

1. Choose the right species of wood

When you walk into any flooring store in Toronto, the sheer number of options can be daunting. There are many species of hardwood flooring, each with its unique qualities and advantages.

So, choosing the right kind is essential. Always prioritize the hardness of the species when installing it in your kitchen. These woods withstand kitchen traffic and spills to ensure their longevity.

2. Make sure to acclimatize your flooring

The acclimatization process is not optional when installing natural wood flooring. Whether you hire a professional installer or do it yourself, always ensure you acclimate the hardwood.

Most wood flooring is stored in boxes in an unheated warehouse where the climate is understandably different from the temperature and humidity in your home. It is critical then that you allow your hardwood planks to adjust to their new surroundings. Ignoring instructions or omitting important steps like this can lead to long-term problems.

3. Prioritize sealing for waterproofing

Here’s the thing: water and wood don’t mix. And while that’s true, kitchens are exposed to water all the time. This means hardwood kitchen floors can sustain significant damage from small spills, a sink leak, or a broken dishwasher.

Invest in high-quality sealants to (mostly) waterproof your natural wood flooring. Proper sealing minimizes damage caused by kitchen accidents, including moisture damage, and keeps your floors looking gorgeous.

4. Choose expert installers

Hardwood is an incredibly durable flooring material, but it must be installed properly. Since kitchen flooring has special requirements, such as sealing, hiring professional installers makes the most sense. They guarantee precise workmanship, minimizing the risk of issues like warping and uneven flooring.

5. Ensure proper maintenance

Following the installation of your kitchen’s natural wood flooring, remember to follow up with routine cleaning and maintenance. To maintain spotless kitchen floors, sweep, mop, and use wood-friendly cleaners. A regular cleaning routine will enable you to watch for early signs of flooring issues so that you can address them before they worsen.

Don’ts

Make sure to avoid making these mistakes when you install natural wood flooring in your kitchen.

1. Avoid installing hardwood flooring in basements

Basements are high-moisture areas, so they require waterproof flooring. If you have a kitchen in your basement, avoid installing natural wood flooring there.

Installing hardwood flooring is a significant investment that requires careful consideration of the factors that can damage it. Therefore, the area of installation is very important. Given the nature of solid hardwood, it is unsuitable for below-grade installations.

2. Do not use excessive water

While regular cleaning and maintenance are very important for the long-term longevity of hardwood floors, it is important to do it correctly. Avoid using too much water when cleaning the natural wood flooring in your kitchen.

If water sits unattended on your kitchen floor for a long time, it will seep into the wood, causing flooring issues. Therefore, make sure to clean your wood flooring promptly.

3. Always consider your lifestyle

Take into account your way of life. How you use your kitchen is very personal and varies from person to person. Think about your family’s habits. Is cleaning up immediately after a spill or other incident difficult in your busy household?

Or is it easy to clean up right away and spills are rare? Your hardwood flooring should be fine as long as you can maintain it. However, being realistic about your lifestyle enables you to choose the right flooring for your kitchen.

 
Installing natural wood flooring is a rewarding project to transform your kitchen. You can create a timeless and functional space by following these dos and avoid the don’ts, looking into durable and waterproof options, and considering Toronto’s flooring market. Embrace the warmth of natural wood and enjoy a stylish and functional kitchen.