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Oak Flooring in a Kitchen? Yes You Can!

PeakOakFlooring | Jan 12, 2012 |

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One of the most common questions asked regarding oak flooring, and wood flooring in general, is "can I or should I install wooden flooring in my kitchen or bathroom?

Now if the wooden flooring in question is completely solid, typically the answer would be a simple no. The key reason for this is because of the effect that changes in humidity have on solid oak flooring.

As humidity changes, solid wood flooring will often expand and contract which, in extreme cases, can lead to more serious problems such as gapping and cupping.

Areas such as the kitchen are therefore not at all appropriate for solid oak flooring as these will feature big changes in humidity caused by activities such as cooking, boiling kettles, mopping floors, etc.

Surely this means it is impossible to have oak flooring in your kitchen?

Luckily there is an alternative solution, in the form of engineered oak flooring.

Unlike solid oak flooring, engineered oak is made up of a combination of layers.

Typically the top of the board is formed from a veneer of up to 6mm of solid oak, with the rest of the board consisting of around 15mm of ply board. Each of the ply layers is bonded at right angles to the previous layer, giving the finished boards their extra strength.

Usually, the ply layers incorporate a tongue and groove system, which connects each board together.

Once laid, an engineered oak floor is almost indistinguishable from a solid oak floor making it the perfect alternative.

Whilst solid oak flooring is highly susceptible to changes in humidity, engineered is much less so.

This means that engineered flooring has a much lower chance of suffering from problems such as gapping and cupping to the extent that engineered flooring can even be used over the top of underfloor heating which will regularly rise and fall in temperature.

In conditions where there are greater changes in humidity, such as the kitchen, an engineered oak floor board will therefore b perfect for those who want oak flooring inside their kitchen.

Although engineered oak flooring has a much greater chance of coping under these conditions, there are still a few simple procedures that should be followed in order to maintain the floor in top order.

First, be sure to clean up any large liquid spillages as soon as they occur. This will reduce the chance of the liquid soaking into the wood and causing ongoing problems with expansion of the wood in the future.

Second, regular cleaning of the floor will help to prevent any permanent stains or damage to the wood caused by caustic materials or fats and oils.

Lastly, apply a protective coating of appropriate oil or wax after cleaning to act as a barrier to food and liquid spills.

As you can see, engineered oak flooring offers a great solution when choosing kitchen flooring.