On Jul 6, 11:40�am, "Janet Bostwick" > wrote:
>
> A friend had a hardwood floor installed in her kitchen (I can't remember for
> sure, maybe 7-8 years ago). �I know that they had the hard duty finish
> applied to it. �In the spots where she usually stands to prep food, there is
> an ugly grey worn spot. �This isn't water spillage, it is simply worn
> through the finish. �The spot began to be noticeable about 18 months ago and
> now it can't be missed.

That will occur with any flooring. Your friend obviously doesn't
believe in floor mats or cleaning her floor... even with floor mats if
sand/grit is permitted to accumulate it will erode the floor. My wood
floor is five years old and you'd need to look very hard to find even
a very small scratch/blemish... and in fact the two that exist are not
anywhere near work stations, both are from dropped food tins, would
likely have cracked tile or cut vinyl. Both were my own fault for
leaving the tins at the edge of the counter when I know that two of my
cats think it's great fun to knock things to the floor. Those dents
are practically invisable, only I know they're there... you kinda have
to feel them as you can't see them unless you get down on the floor
with a flashlight... in summer when there's a bit more humidity the
wood swells and they disappear completely. I can have them removed
but it doesn't pay to have the floor installer come for ten minutes
work (he has a machine that sucks dents out and "puffs" the area with
floor finish.

I use floor mats, mostly because they protect the floor from grease
spatter in front of the stove, they are easy on the feet, and just
look nice.

I don't worry about blemishes, with age I've acquired plenty myself.