I'd especially appreciate answers from people who have done this and can tell me of any potential benefits/pitfalls.
As long as the floors are sealed, they will be just fine in the kitchen. Good luck!
Like what is engineered wood never heard of it?
By engineered do you mean, not real wood such as laminate? I have laminate wood flooring in my kitchen and real oak hard wood floors in the rest of my home and the kitchen floors are much easier to maintain, pricey, but well worth it!! Mine are also put down over laminate and are a floating floor wide planks w/ an aged effect. The great thins is IF damage ever occurs to a certain piece, it can be removed and another one put down in its place. The brand is Alloc
I have engineered floors in my library and hallway and it looks nice when it's new but I would definitely NOT recommend it to anyone. (especially in a kitchen) Anytime something is dropped on it, it will chip the top layer of veneer off and it will show the exposed particle board underneath. I know this because it has happened to me and when my floor was first installed it was beautiful but when they were installing the doors on the hall closet, they dropped one of them and it took a chunk out of the floor. This cannot be fixed. When you drop something on a regular wood floor it might dent it but it will not take the top layer off or the stain color. Also, it scratches really easy and it is much more noticible than on a regular wood floor. I would not use it again and I am single and live alone and a very neat person but accidents do happen. If money is an issue for you I think you would be much happier going with a laminate floor. But then again, If your dishwasher leaks it will ruin the laminate too. I bought my engineered wood on clearance at Lowes because it was discontinued and I got it at a very cheap price. Now I know why. Good luck whatever you decide!
wood is good but i chose slate it cleans up teriffic and is not slippery when wet wood can buckle when it gets wet
