Can We Use Wood Flooring For Kitchen Or Bathroom?

Can wood flooring be used for the kitchen or bathroom? This is a very common debate that pops up when homeowners in Singapore decide to modify the flooring of their bathroom and/or kitchen in order to perform some home improvement. When shopping for bathroom and/or flooring, there are a variety of choices, but hardwood and laminate floors are two options that offer durability, look, and quality. However, Singaporeans are often stuck wonder whether they can even use wood flooring or not.

Can Wood Flooring Be Used?
Hardwood is actually one of the most popular choices for household flooring, and the bathroom and kitchen are no exception.
Many kitchens of today are being remodeled with a wood floor in order to increase the comfort, charm, and value of a home. Lots of hardwood is being seen in the kitchen.

The fact that open kitchen floor plans are becoming more prevalent is one reason that wood has returned to favor. Wood makes it possible to blend family rooms and kitchens together. A seamless, warm look is also offered by wood floors for these room designs. For kitchens, the better-engineered wood floors available today are an even more practical choice.

If a couple of extra precautions are taken, then wood floors can also be installed in bathrooms without any concerns. In fact, unlike most other flooring choices, it becomes possible to refinish and reseal wood flooring periodically, which increases their practicality in the bathroom. The use of wood in the bathroom can make it fit the feel and look of a house that already has wood floors everywhere else.

Water can be prevented from seeping in between and/or under the boards with the use of wood putty.
However, even though wood flooring can be used for bathrooms and kitchens does not mean that it is the only ideal option, rather laminate flooring is also worth considering.

Hardwood Flooring Versus Laminate Flooring For Bathrooms &/Or Kitchens

Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors as their name suggests are made of real wood. These floors comprise solid wood through and through. The entire 3/4 thickness of these floors are natural solid finished wood. Natural hardwood floors tend to be quite versatile and almost any color palette can be complemented by hardwood floors by giving them an appropriate finishing.

For instance, an elegant look can be created by choosing mahogany wood planks or a rustic look can be created by using rustic pine or oak. To maintain their brilliance, hardwood floors need to be regularly swept, and occasionally they also need to be waxed or oiled. There are two ways of installing hardwood flooring, either an interlocking feature can be used or they can be glued down to the surface of the floor. This way, a floating floor can be created, which is easier to replace whenever needed.

Installing hardwood floors is also very easy. Another cost-effective alternative to hardwood floors for the bathroom and kitchen is engineered hardwood floors, which have the same refined quality along with similar textures and grains.

Laminate Flooring
Unlike natural hardwood floors, laminate floors are not made of real wood. High-density fiberboard or wood chip composite is the material used to make laminate floors and a melamine-infused paper to add the topmost layer over the flooring. Laminate floors are also 3/4 inches thick just like hardwood floors.

Aluminum oxide is also included in the top layer of laminate floors. This is the reason that laminate floors happen to be far more resistant to scratches in comparison to hardwood floors since it is very easy to scratch real wood. The durability of laminate floors also tends to be greater. These days, a wide range of laminate flooring is available, including those that have the same appearance and texture as real wood.

Although laminate floors are not made of real wood they can still wear out after some time. They can also become less fresh, dull and lifeless if they are not properly maintained. Like hardwood floors, laminate floors can also be glued or interlocked when being installed.

Conclusion
Thus, it is apparent that both hardwood and laminate floors have their own independent qualities. Nonetheless, it is much better if either wood flooring or laminate flooring is selected for a bathroom and/or kitchen. Of course, the final choice depends on your preference and taste.