Q: I am on the fence about wood flooring vs. tile in my kitchen. Is there a type you would recommend? We live in South Texas, it gets crazy hot; solid foundation for the house. I worry about spills with kids.
A: I’m rather partial to quarter sawn white oak for durability and stability. I would not install factory finish in a kitchen setting because all the board edges are exposed to liquid seepage between boards. Square edged, site finish is the better way to go in a kitchen setting. No flooring type is perfect. Tiles are better in a wet environment, which hopefully your kitchen isn’t. But they can chip if something heavy is dropped on them. Wood will dent. But over long periods of time with constant pounding, wood floors can be re-finished. Tile would have to be replaced.
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