Is Solid oak flooring OK for kitchens?
Solid oak wood can be used for kitchen flooring as it gives warmth and aesthetic appeal to your kitchen area.
Also, it is exceptionally hard-wearing if kept in suitable conditions, and it’s said to improve as it ages.
This means that the solid oak’s color will get richer as it ages.
Is Solid Oak Flooring OK For Kitchens? Pros and Cons
Wood flooring has always been considered a favorite.
Especially when it comes to giving a luxurious touch to a space without warmth.
Though wooden flooring is always susceptible to water damage, there are still many benefits of having it.
In the following table, there is a complete pros and cons table for solid oak flooring;
| Pros | Cons |
| Aesthetic Appeal: Solid Oak flooring gives any room a warm and elegant look. It comes in various hues, so one can always match the flooring with the interior. It also gives your kitchen an expensive look. | Water Damage: Prolonged exposure to water can damage a wooden flooring leading to swelling, warping, or splits in worst cases. A leak from the dishwasher or sink can lead to repairing or replacing the wooden floors. |
| Longevity: Wood is a durable material if taken the proper care of, like using pads under the table, chair, and stool legs. You can always refinish it if there are any signs of wear and tear. | Expensive: It’s no secret that solid wood flooring, as considered among luxuries, will cost more than carpeted or engineered flooring. Also, the installation of wooden floors is high because they require expert skills. |
| Softer and Warmer: Hardwood flooring is softer than ceramic tiles and gives a warm underfoot experience opposite, unlike ceramic tiles, which get extremely cold in winters. This makes them easy to walk on. | Vulnerability: Wooden floors are more prone to denting and scratching than ceramic flooring, and one section of splits or molds can lead to an entire area of torn and ripped floors. |
| Refinishing: Solid wooden oak floors are some of the most extended living floors around the world because of their refinishing quality. Any scratches or dents that may be building up over the years can be easily removed from a wooden floor. | Louder Footsteps: Hardwood floors cannot absorb noise, unlike other floorings. However, this problem can be countered by using rugs in some areas. |
| Value Addition: Wooden flooring is considered a sign of luxury and quality. Using it throughout the home will be a great value addition to your property. You can demand a higher price just by adding wooden flooring to your home if you plan to sell it. It’s a worthwhile investment. | Not suitable for underfloor heating: If you are planning to use underfloor heating, wooden flooring is not something you should consider. The temperature change can cause warping and damage to the solid wood. |
| Easy to Clean: To clean off your wooden flooring, occasional wiping, vacuuming and mopping are enough. Any spills can be wiped off easily without causing any damage to the floor. |
Types of Oak Flooring
There are two types of Oak flooring
- Red Oak flooring and
- White Oak flooring
Both of them can be used for flooring, but there are some differences in their properties which you should consider;
1. Colour
The most obvious difference is color. The red oak is brighter and has a pinkish tint.
While the white oak has more of a warm brown undertone.
2. Stain
Staining is done more evenly on white Oaks because of their denser structure.
Because of the different colors, certain stains will look better on red, and others will come out better on white.
3. Grain Texture
Looking closely, you can see that the grains of both the Oaks are different.
The White Oak has long, straight, and tightly packed grains.
While the Red Oak has wider grains with more wavy patterns.
4. Density
White Oak is denser and more stable than Red Oak.
5. Durability
White Oak has more resistance to rot which is the reason most interior floorings are made of it.
It can also be used for outdoor furniture. Red Oak is better suitable for interiors.
What are Some Top Oak Flooring Brands?
Due to the dominance of engineered wood flooring options, only a few brands are offering Solid Wooden Floorings,
here we are discussing a few;
Bruce
If you need it quick, Bruce is the one to go for.
It offers solid hardwood floorings made of oak.
Check them out here.
Carlisle
This one is best for planks.
While planks are expensive and not everyone can afford them.
Carlisle aspires to change this status of plank and wants to make it accessible to everyone who wants it.
Check them out here.
Hearne Hardwoods
It’s known for its high quality.
Hardwood flooring is their specialty; they regularly source wood from South America.
Check them out here.
Is Solid Oak Flooring OK For Kitchens? FAQs
We are answering some of the most frequently asked questions about Oak flooring in the following;
Is oak flooring same as hardwood flooring?
The wood that comes from an Oak tree is solid oak.
Hardwood flooring is the one that is made of solid wood. So, Solid Oak flooring is the same as Hardwood flooring.
Is it OK to have hardwood floors in a kitchen?
Yes, you can use solid wood floors in your kitchen.
Hardwood floors are pretty desirable for floorings due to their durability and beauty. However, you need to be careful with spills and humidity.
Learn more about protecting the hardwood floors here.
What flooring is best for kitchen?
It is entirely subjective and depends mainly on your likes and dislikes.
Some of the most popular options include;
- Hardwood
- Tiles
- Vinyl
- Laminate
- Cork
- Concrete
- Chips
Do you put hardwood floors under kitchen cabinets?
Yes, hardwood floorings can be installed under kitchen cabinets.
It is suggested to install the cabinets first and then the flooring.
Should I put engineered hardwood in my kitchen?
Yes, engineered wood can be used in a kitchen.
A thin top layer of hardwood is used in engineered wood to make it look like natural hardwood.
It has a core of plywood.
What is the best flooring for a kitchen UK?
It depends on which part of the UK you are in.
If you live in an area with a humid atmosphere, you would not like to go with wooden floorings, and ceramic floorings would go well.
But in colder regions, wooden flooring is a good option as they offer a warm underfoot experience.
What is the easiest kitchen floor to maintain?
Ceramic tiles are the easiest to maintain, as they are resistant to water, easy to clean, and don’t get dents quickly.
What flooring goes well with hardwood?
If you want to mix two types of floorings for a room, ceramic tiles can go well with hardwood.
Hardwood offers a luxurious look, and Ceramic has durability and water resistance. Both of these combined can be a good value addition to your home.
Which type of flooring is best?
It depends on your preferences and the region you live in.
Popular flooring choices include; Hardwood, Ceramic, and Vinyl.
Should kitchen and living room floor be the same?
Yes, the kitchen and living room flooring can be the same.
You can have the same flooring throughout the home.
Should flooring go under kitchen cabinets?
It’s a choice, you can choose to put floors under the cabinets, but it’s not necessary as it won’t show.
Also, installing floors under the kitchen cabinets wastes flooring materials.
Does a kitchen island go on top of flooring?
Yes, you can install Kitchen Island on top of the flooring, but it’s not necessary.
Which flooring option is most economical?
Sheet Vinyl is among the most affordable flooring options.
It costs $0.5 to $2 for a square foot.
What color flooring shows the least dirt?
Light hardwood floors show the least amount of dirt. Read more about the best floor color for espresso cabinets here.
How much does it cost to put in a new kitchen floor?
It ranges from $3 to $22 per square foot and depends on the type of material and space to be covered {Source}.
How much does it cost to install 1500 square feet of hardwood floors?
Hardwood floorings are expensive, and you can expect to pay between $4500 to $30,000 for a 1500 square foot of solid wood floorings {Source}.
How much does it cost to put hardwood floors in kitchen?
It depends on the area of your kitchen. The cost per square foot ranges between $6 to $12 {Source}.
How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?
There are a variety of hardwoods, and each has a different rate.
On average, 1000 square foot hardwood floorings ranges between $6115 to $10140 {Source}.
What color of hardwood floors is popular?
Over the past decade, the grey hardwood flooring has grown exponentially in demand, as the grey tone gives the home a cool and contemporary look.
What is the least expensive wood flooring?
Bamboo flooring is the cheapest option for wooden floorings, which is why its popularity has grown over the years.
How can I save money on flooring?
- Sacrifice on the quality of flooring.
- Do the moving and lifting work yourself.
- Don’t install floorings where it won’t be seen, like under the cabinets.
Can you fit a kitchen on top of laminate flooring?
Yes, Laminate can be used in kitchen floorings.
But it’s recommended not to install cabinets or any hardware on it that is to be permanently fixed there.
How do you install hardwood around kitchen cabinets?
It requires attention to detail, precise measurements, and expertise to install hardwood around the cabinets.
Start by removing the appliances, removing the old, and installing the new hardwood flooring.
What comes first floor or cabinets?
As per standard procedure, cabinets come before the floorings.
Summing Up
After the above discussion, it is clear that solid oak flooring is OK for kitchens.
