Tile Vs Hardwood – Which Floor Would You Choose?

When you’re either building or renovating your Lehigh Valley Home, choosing the right kind of Flooring Material is a big decision, one that depends on a variety of factors. Most people prefer to go with hardwood for their entire home, except the kitchen and breakfast area, of course, places where there are bound to be spills of water and other liquid. But then, depending on your personal preference for either material, and taking into consideration the following pros and cons of each material, the choice is yours to make, because it is your home and you should go with what you like and are comfortable with.

The advantages of a hardwood kitchen floor include:

· It is easy on your knees and other joints if you spend long hours on your feet, either standing or walking around.

· It is easier to clean because there are no grout lines to deal with.

· Wood looks more elegant and has a more formal feel to it than tile.

· Dropped items are less likely to break on a hardwood floor whereas they would splinter to pieces on a tiled floor because the former has more give than the latter.

· It is not cold on your feet unlike a tile floor where you need to wear slippers or other footwear if you live in places that have cold climates.

· One way to get around scuffs and scratches on hardwood floors is to go with a natural finish and color. The scuffs and scratches show up as part of the natural décor.

· Avoid using a semi gloss or glossy polyurethane finish for your wood floor because the nicks and scratches show up prominently.

· Use mops that don’t need a lot of water to clean up if you have a hardwood floor.

· Hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished for about 7 or 8 times if they look scuffed and worn.

The advantages of a tile kitchen floor are:

· If you spill water or any other liquid on a hardwood floor, you must clean the mess immediately to avoid stains on the wood. But with a tile floor, even if your kids spill their milk, you know you don’t have to worry about the stains and that it can easily be wiped or washed away.

· When your usage is too rough and hard, a hardwood floor tends to show scuff marks. Tile floors on the other hand are suitable for any kind of use.

· You can use water or a wet cloth to mop up sticky spills on your tile floor without worrying about causing damage to your floor.

· Use foam ant-fatigue mats to stand on if you’re going to be spending a long time in the kitchen to minimize wear and tear on your knees and leg muscles.

· If you have pets and kids, you’re better off going with a tile floor that can be cleaned at any time without having to worry about the stains. But do remember that spills on the floor can cause you and your kids to take spills, so get them cleaned at the earliest.

· If you are worried about grout, get tile with very thin grout lines.

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This guest article was written by Elizabeth Johnson, who regularly writes on the topic of construction management degrees . She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: elizabeth.johnson1@rediffmail.com