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Thank you. Next step will be more hairy. I plan to replace the vinyl tile floor with cork flooring. When my son renovated my bathroom he found I think 8 layers of various floorings under the ugly ceramic tile. I expect the kitchen will be equally endowed. Also, the house was built before 1900 and there's not a single straight floor or wall in it!

I am considering an induction range. Anyone have one?

Cat

I don't know anyone who does. Tell me all about it if you find someone who has, Cat. (Not that I'm looking to replace my stove any time soon, LOL>)

Do NOT do cork flooring. It is way too fragile and non-resistant to water in a kitchen environment.

Hmmmm....yet the stores are marketing it for kitchens, noting that it must be sealed to avoid warping in potential spillage areas. From everything I've read--and I researched a lot before coming to this decision--cork is very easy on the back and legs (my main reason #1) and ecologically sound (main reason #2).

http://www.thekitchn.com/all-about-cork-flooring-kitchen-spotlight-172765

Stores marketed asbestos too.

Apples and oranges, melons and figs. I'm listening mostly to people who have had the floors for a while.

I looked at that style a lot when we were doing our kitchen! I love the little upper oven. We ended up with something different, but that little oven seems so darn logical!

I'm staying out of the cork battle!

Apples and oranges, melons and figs. I'm listening mostly to people who have had the floors for a while.

Okeydokey. YMMV.

What to consider:

Although cork is durable, be prepared to put in some maintenance. Crumbs, dirt and other detritus can scar its surface over time, so don’t go more than a week without sweeping or vacuuming.

Cork also needs to be re-sealed with protective coats of polyurethane every few years. Alternatively, you can seal it with wax, which is less likely to scratch but must be stripped and reapplied more frequently. Some cork flooring comes pre-finished, although it still will need periodic doctoring to keep it in shape.

Cork can bounce back from small nicks, but major dings—for example, sliding a table across the floor and taking a chunk of cork with it—are tougher to fix. Furniture eventually will leave permanent dents unless you place it on protective coasters to offset the pressure. As with carpeting, sunlight will fade it over time.

Also, cork doesn’t always work well in damp areas. Although its natural waxiness repels moisture,standing water can permeate the joints and cause damage. If you really want cork in a bathroom, basement or laundry area, it’s worth consulting with a pro about how to ward off water leakage and infiltration.

[This message edited by TrulyReconciled at 11:11 AM, September 13th (Friday)]

TR, I've viewed hundreds of samples. They seem pretty sturdy. But I'm interested in why you are against them. Do you have friends in the building trade who don't recommend?

Uh ... just a few

I wouldn't put cork in a bathroom or laundry room for sure. I don't have a table in my kitchen but I do have a vegetable bin and open shelving (both on coasters) that might cause permanent indents.

[This message edited by lynnm1947 at 2:40 PM, September 13th (Friday)]