Renovating custom kitchens involves using diverse materials on surfaces such as the splashback, counters and cabinetry. One surface that covers ample space and dramatically influences the room's ambience is the flooring. If you love the look of timber, you have a few choices. Here are several possibilities.
Timber Floorboards
Solid wood planks are a good choice if you want a completely authentic look and feel. These are carved from various species, such as Tasmanian oak, jarrah, and blackbutt, offering multiple tones and patterns. For example, select blonde, pink, red or honey-toned planks. However, timber can adversely react to moisture and humidity changes. It tends to expand and contract, which can affect the evenness and smoothness of the boards. Plus, pooling water can cause wood to rot or warp. So it's not always the best option for kitchens, especially if children use the space.
Engineered Flooring
Engineered wood planks address the shortcomings of solid boards, thanks to their unique structure. They're constructed out of an inner board of plywood made up of glued thin wood slices with the grains placed at different angles on each layer. Plywood is more stable than solid wood because the criss-cross grain design limits plank shrinkage and expansion. To make sure the engineered planks look beautiful, they're covered with an especially appealing layer of hardwood. This top veneer is what you'll see when the planks cover the floor. Engineered boards offer the beauty of timber with added steadiness, making them more appropriate for kitchens.
Laminate Planks
Another possibility is faux wood laminate planks. This flooring gives a realistic impression of natural timber. The planks feature a decorative paper layer with a photograph of wood. This photo is then protected by a strong plastic wear layer, which gives the boards a durable surface to endure walking. Inside, the laminate planks use a board such as HDF (high-density fibreboard).
Laminate planks may be water-resistant, but they're usually not waterproof. Thus, don't leave water sitting on the surface to seep between the boards and cause damage. So long as you wipe up spills promptly and only use a damp rather than wet mop, laminate flooring withstands the kitchen environment.
Vinyl Planks
Vinyl planks are another option. To imitate the look of wood, they use advanced photographic technology. Vinyl planks feature a thin vinyl layer embossed with a timber photo. This topmost layer is backed by a thick vinyl core. These planks give a spongy feel underfoot, which you may prefer, but they feel less like genuine floorboards than harder laminate planks. Vinyl is highly water-resistant, so you won't have to worry so much about water spills in the kitchen.
Contact a custom kitchens contractor to learn more.