Hardwood vs. tile floors in the kitchen??

Ok everyone. I need your help!

We are going to remodel our kitchen and I am torn on what kind of flooring to put down. I currently have tiled floor and I do think it is really easy to clean. But, I do love the look of hardwood floors. Just wondering if it will be a pain to keep clean with kids and a dog. Will the floors be trashed from everyday living??

Any advice is really appreciated!!
:flowerforyou:

Replies

maiaroman18

They do have ceramic tiles that look like wood.

I have wood floors throughout my entire house and tiled my bathrooms and kitchen. My dog tore up my old wood floor, and my cats scratch my wood floors now (not declawed). I have to sweet up hair and dry dust my floors every couple days.

Cre8veLifeR

Our new place has dark wood and they are a PAIN in the butt!! Tile, IMHO!

PaleoChocolateBear

Hardwood

I do like how it floor ads show up on my computer in this thread

LeeshLove

I'm all for tile! I had hardwood floors in my kitchen in my last house, they were hard to take care of and were damaged easily if something was dropped. for me tile is less maintenance and less worry.

Shetchncn1

We have hard wood in the kitchen no big UNLESS you drop a can on it and dent it. >( I have actually had both and they both have their ups and downs. Good Luck

myohana4

Thanks for everyone's help! We did have hardwood in our last house in the foyer. I do remember all of the scratches and dents from everyday living.

mwbulechek

I used Bamboo in my Kitchen I love it! I remodeled about a year ago and it still looks like new!

myohana4

I used Bamboo in my Kitchen I love it! I remodeled about a year ago and it still looks like new!

Beautiful! I love your kitchen! You don't have problems with dents and scratches. It is so interesting that I posted this same question on my facebook page and everyone but one person said wood floors. I definitely can see both sides on this which makes my decision even harder. Really appreciate everyone's input!!!

mwbulechek

No dents, bamboo is harder than most wood but the finish will scratch. We use felt pads under all the appliances and chairs.

myohana4

Hardwood

I do like how it floor ads show up on my computer in this thread

I am getting those same ads now, too!

stepheatscake

Tile has always felt and looked cold to me. I would personally put a hardwood in, but not a dark hardwood because it shows dirt way too easily. I like medium tones with contrast.

jeardawg

If you have dogs and or Kids go Ceramic or Laminate, hardwood takes a beating

stepheatscake

This is exactly the floor I love!!!

I used Bamboo in my Kitchen I love it! I remodeled about a year ago and it still looks like new!

simplydelish2

Remember that water is the nemesis of wood floors. In the kitchen you spill things, dishwashers leak, the ice maker springs a leak. I'd never put wood floors in a kitchen (had them once, ruined within a few years and replaced with tile!

388gigi

hardwood :-)

ashlbubba

Be careful with hardwood -- they're not all made to tolerate the moisture found in the kitchen!

kms1320

I have cherry hardwood.. it matches the cabinets. Granite counter tops, stainless appliances, and a custom tile/marble back splash. I love my kitchen!

2credneck208

Remember that water is the nemesis of wood floors. In the kitchen you spill things, dishwashers leak, the ice maker springs a leak. I'd never put wood floors in a kitchen (had them once, ruined within a few years and replaced with tile!

^^^^^^^^^
This!!!

ddipert

Good question. I'm getting ready to get my kitchen remodeled. I'm leaning toward laminate tile, but I can't make up my mind between the darker tile or the lighter version that that looks more like travertine.

Glassgal01

We have Laminate flooring (Looks like Hardwood) in the Dining room and Living room and I really do like it. I have to dry sweep the floors a couple times a week and wet mop once a week to clean up the dog hair and dust We have dogs, 2 corgis so when they walk on the floor their nails on their little paws make noise,LOL. It took a bit of time to get use to hearing their nails on the floor

jillyk89

I have hardwood in my kitchen and I don't really like it. First of all whenever doing the dishes you get water on the floor, even from putting the dishes from the sink to the dishwasher. And if water leaks from the dishwasher you're screwed. Also carrying things to the garbage can stuff can fall an it goes on my hardwood. I am constantly cleaning the floors in the kitchen cause you have to take care of hardwood!
And another tip if you decide. Go for a lighter colour wood. I she dark hardwood floors shows EVERYTHING. Every little piece of diet and dust.

jillyk89

ALSO I dropped a jar of pickles and it dented the floor :-(

ContraryMaryMary

I have had both wood and tile and prefer wood - yes it does dent over time but if you drop your china/crockery onto it it's more like to bounce - everything smashes when dropped onto tile. Oh, and when I dropped a bottle of vodka onto tile, not only did it break, but the tile did too.

faceoff4

I have had both. Hardwood in two of my homes and tile in the other. I tend to prefer the hardwood. If you do hardwood go with the distressed kind so you are not freaking out every time someone's heal scratches or animals scratching, etc. tile looks great and is hearty. But unless you go with the heated options they get really really cold in the winter and make your house cold. In the end you are getting a new floor so no matter what you choose you win! Good luck!

ninerbuff

I have hardwood and prefer it over tile. IMO, it's actually easier to clean.

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Grasshopper3n3

We put in a cherry stained laminate over 9 years ago when our kids were young in our entry, kitchen, pantry, dining room, living room and on the four steps going up to the living room. We had a med-large black lab dog when we installed them. He passed away 4yrs ago, but 3 fully-clawed cats have since come to live with us. I can hear their nails on the floors, but they have never damaged them; we have but accident. The good. We put in high-end laminate, because the salesman warned us that our dog would destroy real wood over time. I've seen what my brother's dog has done to his once beautiful floors and have never regretted going with our single-planking laminate that people swear is hardwood, but isn't. It cleans easily and yes, tumble weeds of hair with three cats is the norm by day three (Swiffer is my friend). Now the bad. Wood and laminate are slippery. Our dog took awhile getting used to wood. That it can chip/dent or scratch? Well, so can tile. And none of them are fun to fix. I'd go with another high-end laminate again in heartbeat, but whatever you decide, how well you like it will depend on quality (for durability) and how well the color and texture hides the day to day living that goes on in that busy, busy room, cuz lets face it - no one loves to clean (or am I alone on this one?)

JusticeGirl25

My parents put down oak flooring in the living room, dining room, and kitchen and boy did it need it BADLY. It looks really nice.

myohana4

Thank you everyone for your comments! I am still confused but you have given me a lot to think about!

ammyjorden

If it were me, I would leave the hardwood in the kitchen. Wood kitchen floors are something that many people are looking for. Tile is very clean and functional, but since the space is adjacent to hardwood already, I think you might lose a little bit of flow in tiling the kitchen even if the wood is a bit different.

http://www.thertastore.com

ilovedeadlifts

We have 18x18 stone tiles in the kitchen and I like them.

My kitchen floors get dirty a lot and I like being able to steam mop them. I've always felt iffy about heavily mopping hardwood, and my kitchen needs a heavy scrubbing from time to time.

Cleaning the grout in between tiles is a pain in the butt though.