While we are talking about Home Improvements

[so lucky]

I didn't want to hijack Collector's thread, so I thought I would start another one. We are in the process of doing some remodeling, too, and I would like to know what you all think about wood floors in the kitchen. We have had leaks before, from dishwasher, so DH is not thrilled with the idea of wood there. But I really like the idea of the same flooring throughout the living room, dining room and kitchen. We have even looked at porcelain tile that looks just like wood. But is harder, of course.
I was surprised that DH actually liked one of the regular porcelain tiles that I liked. We sometimes are paralyzed into not doing anything because we can't agree on anything.

The counter tops are not in bad shape, but are not a nice color. A generic tannish yellow scribbly pattern. I was thinking of keeping it, since we have a lot of counter top space, about 37 linear feet, counting the cutouts for the sink and cooktop. (Includes a 9ft by 3ft bar area) So I think marble, granite or quartz is out of our budget. But a laminate I would be OK with.

I'm just rambling here. I've been looking for ideas on pinterest and other places, but have a hard time visualizing what a particular thing will look like, with the cabinets I have to keep, etc.

This will be an area that gets used a whole lot. I cook a lot and the kitchen is kind of the hub. The floor needs to be able to withstand all the sand and dirt that DH and dog bring in, so glossy surface is not practical. There are some nice textured matte surfaces, though.

Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

 

[journey11]

I am wanting to put hardwood flooring in my kitchen too. I think using the same flooring throughout the house can help make the area look more spacious and tied together. If the rooms are not divided by doors, I would be hesitant to break it up.

Hardwood can take some temporary moisture alright, definitely better than laminate. The polyurethane keeps it from getting soaked too easily. A leaking dishwasher is a rare occurance hopefully anyway! Hardwood or ceramic tile will increase your home's value, so that's good too.

Might consider refinishing or painting your kitchen cabinets and get some new hardware to give it a face-lift. I'm planning to paint mine off-white (properly) to brighten up my kitchen. I have tired of the run-of-the-mill oak finish.

 

[Nyboy]

I put hardwood in country house because I wanted the ground floor to have sane flooring. I have had water leaks and the floor is fine ( leaks where fixed immediately) While I don't cook my kitchen door is one used all the time. The flooring in front of door does have lots of small dents. I have a gravel walkway to door my nephew wears work boots, he was never taught to wipe his feet before entering a home. Small stones get stuck in his boots and mark up the floors. Good thing about hardwood is they can be refinished when showing lots of wear. I don't believe floors should be prefect so have not refinish to take out dents. In White plains because I have 5 old dogs I went with tile and love the easy clean up of it. You do need a rug in winter if you walk bare foot, it can be cold 1st thing in the am. In the Westport House the hardwood floor was to badly stained to refinish it was painted in a 2 part apoxy which held up well, but again no one cooked so room got little use

 

[Nyboy]

Lucky don't rule out granite. Used granite counters are on craig list all the time for only a couple hundred dollars. People rip them out with remodels, my friend bought a beautiful piece for $100 and spent $200 having it cut to size. For $300 she has a counter that would cost a few thousand. Stay away from laminate floors if they starch there is no way to repair.

 

[baymule]

I put down wood floors through out our double wide, except the 2 bathrooms and utility room. I used white pine tongue and groove planks. The wood has taken a beating, my mistake was to use water base polyurethane, should have used oil based. Oh well, lesson learned. I intended for it to acquire that beat up farm house look and it does. The 104 pound dog has scratched it up with his toenails. I think the oil based polyurethane would have held up much better.

The wood floors are in the kitchen and are doing fine, no worse for wear than the rest of the house. If wood floors are what you want, then by all means go for it.

Here's some shots of how the kitchen floor, dining and living area floor connect. I took these when I was laying the floors, the wood in unfinished. If I had used a different flooring for the kitchen, it would have made this small space look much smaller.

 

[catjac1975]

I am wanting to put hardwood flooring in my kitchen too. I think using the same flooring throughout the house can help make the area look more spacious and tied together. If the rooms are not divided by doors, I would be hesitant to break it up.

Hardwood can take some temporary moisture alright, definitely better than laminate. The polyurethane keeps it from getting soaked too easily. A leaking dishwasher is a rare occurance hopefully anyway! Hardwood or ceramic tile will increase your home's value, so that's good too.

Might consider refinishing or painting your kitchen cabinets and get some new hardware to give it a face-lift. I'm planning to paint mine off-white (properly) to brighten up my kitchen. I have tired of the run-of-the-mill oak finish.

I love the look of hardwood continuing throughout. I must be the worst sloppy dish washer. I need to wipe the floor with a towel after doing the pots and pans. I think I would quickly ruin a hardwood floor, though many people I know have used it successfully.

 

[Collector]

The first thing we did at this house is put down laminate on the entire main floor. In our last place I did half of the house carpet rest laminate including kitchen. In last house it held up well for many years, this house it seems to be doing good so far even with the dishwasher leak. You just need to dry it asap. After saying that I would like to put wood flooring in everything but bedrooms and bathrooms. We just did the bathroom with tile. My brother put red fir flooring in his entire main floor. They beat it with chains and a grinder before finishing, it looks great. I think you would be fine putting wood or laminate in your kitchen, what ever you like.

 

[valley ranch]

Both you and your brother are industrious~ Collector~ good```

 

[bobm]

One of our neighbors on our cul de sac installed all house high grade laminate floors last year. A week later the wife started the dishwasher, got her kids in her car to go grocery shopping. About an hour later she came home to find the dishwasher had leaked water all over the laminate floor. She mopped the water up, but the laminate started to buckle by the next day. They replaced it with ceramic tile in the kitchen and dining area. I have built 4 new homes and now 5 existing homes that I remodeled. I come accross a large number of contractors and tradesmen and when i ask them what they did or will do for their own home for kitchen floors , they all say either ceramic or stone. All of my homes, I install ceramic for the kitchen , bathrooms , and laundry rooms. Carpeting or hardwoods in living room and bedrooms. Best for long term use as well as resale value.

 

[Nyboy]

In my sister's new house all floors are hardwood stained black. No one and I mean no one is allowed to wear shoes in house. She worries more about the floors then her china.