Wide-plank floors
The look: The new machines of the Industrial Revolution
gave owners of Italianate and Gothic Revival homes some
of the first
uniformly milled tongue-and-groove wood
floors. Hardwood has ranked high on the charm list ever
since, but the real thing isn't always a sensible choice in
hardworking kitchens.
The shortcut: Planks of porcelain tile shrug off scratches
and spills and owe their realistic wood look to an ink-jet
printer that uses two or three layers of glazing (depending
on the wood species) to mimic flatsawn boards.
To create the
natural look
of random-
length wood planks, be sure to
stagger the joints at least 12
inches course to course.
The right species is important!
• Some species are more
dimensionally stable than
others. For example, hickory
moves more than oak.
• Hickory planks don't sell
wider than 5".
Tip:
