There’s a bit of controversy over whether or not hardwood belongs in the kitchen or bathroom. It used to be thought an unfavourable idea because the floors in the kitchen, laundry room, mudroom, front entrance or washrooms, are all exposed to elements that could damage hardwood.
But there are several good reasons why hardwood throughout your home should be considered:
New ways to protect and clean your floor
Countless innovations now make it easy to protect, maintain, preserve and clean your floor. For example, the contractors and and installers recommend Bostik moisture cure polyurethane adhesive and water-based hardwood floor polishes every two-three months will keep your floors in tip-top shape.
Hardwood never goes out of style
While flooring choices provide an infinite amount of styles, patterns, textures, shapes, sizes, colors and designs; they can get tired very quickly in your bathroom and kitchen, and can easily become outdated in just two or three years.
But hardwood will always remain a classic and there are so many new styles, colours and options to choose from.
Wood planks don’t crack as easily as ceramic tiles
It takes much more effort to crack a wood plank than it does a ceramic tile, especially if you’re using recycled hardwood, which is much stronger than new wood. Choose hardwood flooring over ceramics for long-lasting durability.
Tiles are harder to clean than hardwood
Grout gets stained and dirty very fast. Cleaning it can become a tedious, labour intensive process that requires additional time. It’s easy to sweep, swiffer and mop hardwood without using any harsh chemicals.
Health benefits come with hardwoods
Ceramic or stone floors can cause a condition known as fatigue when standing for extended periods of time. These surfaces provide no shock absorbency and put far too much strain on the body.
Hardwood allows for better shock-absorbency than tile, making it easier on the body. Dance studio floors were constructed for this reason and were further upgraded to sprung flooring. If you have small children, hardwood can reduce the severity of injuries because it has more give if someone were to fall.
A home with hardwood throughout is feng shui
If your home design is an open spaced concept, breaking the space with tiles in one area and hardwood in the other can compartmentalize your space and disrupt the continuous flow of “Chi” energy that can cause anxiety.
Kitchens and bathrooms are top usage areas of the home and with many new types of durable hardwood flooring available today, homeowners should consider hardwood flooring as a top decorating choice when installing, renovating or upgrading these rooms.
By Orly Leaman
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