Your Experience - Kitchen flooring - engineered wood or tile?

[Marakith]

Hello!

We're in the middle of a refurb and we're looking at flooring options for a large combined kitchen living room space (8x8m). The entire area will have underfloor heating, so we can't use "real" wooden flooring. So we're considering either tiles or engineered wood flooring. We prefer the look and feel of engineered wood, but have heard there are potential issues with denting, water penetration and swelling that would make it unsuitable for a kitchen. A search on the web offers super conflicting advice so would really appreciate knowing what your views are. What did you have installed? What would you change?

And if you went engineered wood - can you mop it? Did you go for a super thick top layer?

Thanks!

 

[SoliD]

Got engineered wood in our kitchen and not suffered any issues with swelling etc but it has suffered with oil etc around the cooker and has faded significantly in the areas fhat get the light. It was installed when we moved in but probably coming to 10 years old. Reckon it could do with a good sand and refinish, but we're replacing it soon as putting in ufh and want a change of colour.

 

[sovietspybob]

We've got engineered oak most of our downstairs, 100% would never get it again, It's been a big mistake.

It was great to start with and looks amazing, way nicer than tiles IMO but once you've had a few spills or god forbid a leak from anything you're screwed. You can't get it properly wet no so you can't mop it, you can use a damp cloth but that's about it.

We had a leak from our washing machine in our utility room so it got wet and seeped underneath as i was out at work, it all dried out but it's never looked the same since, it slightly swelled i think so it just looks a big off now.

Also we had a small leak by our front door we didn't know about probably for a month or so, it got under it and looks terrible now and needs replacing.

Finally if you've got young kids its a pain too, it dents fairly easily when they drop stuff on it and scratches the top coat when they're dragging stuff around on it.

 

[Marakith]

We've got engineered oak most of our downstairs, 100% would never get it again, It's been a big mistake.

It was great to start with and looks amazing, way nicer than tiles IMO but once you've had a few spills or god forbid a leak from anything you're screwed. You can't get it properly wet no so you can't mop it, you can use a damp cloth but that's about it.

We had a leak from our washing machine in our utility room so it got wet and seeped underneath as i was out at work, it all dried out but it's never looked the same since, it slightly swelled i think so it just looks a big off now.

Also we had a small leak by our front door we didn't know about probably for a month or so, it got under it and looks terrible now and needs replacing.

Finally if you've got young kids its a pain too, it dents fairly easily when they drop stuff on it and scratches the top coat when they're dragging stuff around on it.

Thanks - that was our worry tbh. And we have small kids who will 100% damage something. Will think again.

 

[dlockers]

Check out Floor Street. It's been one of the few websites that explains the different models reasonably effectively.

 

[Semple]

This is why you go LVT for the best of both worlds. It's waterproof, has a hard wearing layer, looks just like wood, and can be used with UFH.

 

[Reuben klang]

This is why you go LVT for the best of both worlds. It's waterproof, has a hard wearing layer, looks just like wood, and can be used with UFH.

But scratches easily as ****. Mine has scratches all over it and I’ve no idea how.

It looks the bees knees though. I’ve got karndean throughout.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Our engineered looks just as good, was cheaper than many alternatives and so far has barely a mark on it after years of use.

 

[964rs]

Have you looked at the tiles that look like wood.
You would get the look and the durability you are after

 

[fastwunz]

Herringbone pattern porcelain wood effect tiles look smashing. Damn expensive though - laminate and all that nonesense looks like a cheap B&Q refurb for student rentals. Avoid.

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

We have mainly wood floor but have porcelain wood effect in kitchen and bathroom and that would be my suggestion

 

[wsurfa]

We have mainly wood floor but have porcelain wood effect in kitchen and bathroom and that would be my suggestion

Friends have this and it's had high traffic ( 2 boys & dog) and looks good. Pic is during instalation a few years ago.

It runs from front door through hall into kitchen/diner