Wood floors are more popular today than they've ever been before, so it makes sense that more and more builders and contractors are installing them in the homes and businesses of their consumers. After all, consumers love wood floors for their elegant look, toughness and ease in maintaining them. However, while most people associate hardwood floors as an ideal flooring option throughout the likes of lobbies and dining areas, some business owners are hesitant about installing wood floors in their kitchens.
But despite what many business owners have heard or may think when it comes to kitchen flooring, hardwood is also an ideal style for this area - hands down. This is despite the myths that regularly circuit message boards and Internet forums these days, not to mention from the mouths of the so-called experts themselves. In a better effort to help your customers understand just how good of a fit hardwood floors are in kitchens, we've put together this handy guide where we debunk five of the most common myths that we hear.
Myth 1: Hardwood Floors Can't Handle Spills
Many people hear about how kitchens and hardwood floors aren't an ideal fit because they're not as resistant to water as other options. We'll admit, this is true - wood floors can be damaged by water and may cup over time due to excess moisture exposure from spills and sink spray. But there's also a very easy way to manage this. For starters, all people have to do is take a more proactive approach to spills and spray and work to clean them up quickly before they have a chance to do any damage. For those that want to take additional measures in guarding against spills and spray, putting rugs in front of sinks and other areas can capture the moisture and prevent it from seeping into the floor. Bottom line - the threat of damage from spills is a really bad reason to not install wood floors in a kitchen.
Myth 2: Hardwood Floors Don't Stand Up Well to Traffic
This is perhaps the most egregious myth associated with wood floors, as wood floors, such as those from Nydree, are 300% more durable and scratch- and dent-resistant than other wood flooring. It's one of the biggest reasons as to why wood floors are ideal for kitchen environments- because they can stand up to the constant traffic in the room.
Myth 3: Hardwood Floors Don't Stand Up Well to Stains
This is another popular myth that we hear all the time. Again, it's worth noting that hardwood flooring isn't stain-resistant, but then again very few types of floors are. Just as is the case with spills and moisture on wood floors, the best way to minimize or eliminate stains is simply to clean up the source of them as quick as possible. Saying that hardwood flooring doesn't hold up well to stains isn't true. It holds up just fine to stains, but consumers need to be proactive in treating said stains too. For the most part, it's common sense stuff.
Myth 4: Hardwood Floors Are Difficult to Clean
Wood floors are among the easiest types of flooring to care for on a regular basis. All it takes is a simple regular sweeping and damp mopping. That's really all that there is to it - pretty simple. Occasionally, refurbishing or refinishing the floor may be necessary, but generally speaking the day-to-day maintenance of caring for wood floors is about as easy as you can get.
Myth 5: Hardwood Floors Don't Last That Long
We already debunked the myth that hardwood floors don't stand up well to traffic. Noting that, we can also debunk the common myth that they don't last long. In fact, if cared for properly, hardwood floors have the potential to last for up to several generations worth of time. That's significantly longer than the 20 years or so that tile and various styles of engineered flooring typically last. Obviously, the more a consumer puts into caring for their hardwood floors, the longer they will last. But these types of floors are designed to last for many, many years - whether they're installed in the kitchen, bedroom or dining room.
As you can see, hardwood floors have a place in kitchens - and you shouldn't let one's opinions get in the way of the facts when it comes to the properties that make hardwood floors such a desirable flooring option.
