Shilpsb - Overall I like them (Garrison French Connection Provence), I like the natural color and the low sheen...but there are some areas where it does seem like there's a haze although it blends into the different planks. I probably am the only one that can tell! I haven't had problems yet with staining, I just wipe up water as soon as I see it and then clean with the Woca spray whenever I spill anything. I have done the refresher a couple times but have not done the re-oiling... is that a product you can buy? For the rugs, I have put a couple World Market small 2'x3" with the rug mat underneath... they were inexpensive and I just wanted to get something until I can do more decorating - they are too small but they do the trick. What do they say could happen to the floors with rubber backing? I know they say no blue tape, etc... I've been very conscientious with these floors, but they do have a lot of variance in color and look rustic so I'm just going with it. I would rather be eco-friendly anyway. I heard about some at Plastica which are pvc and can wiped clean...http://plasticastore.com/shop/home/moroccan-pattern-mat/

I currently have a prefinished wood floor in my kitchen, and am switching to site finished in my remodel, in order to match the wood in the rest of the house. After I decided to do that, my contractor pointed out that I would no longer have to worry about crumbs, dirt, etc getting stuck between the planks. I was really happy to know that, it was something that I hadn't thought of. The downside of site finished, as I discovered when I had the hardwood floors refinished in the rest of my house is the fumes. We had to move out of the house for several days when they were doing the work. Hopefully it won't be necessary this time because it's only the kitchen. As far as the sustainability of kitchen wood floors, I've had mine for over 15 yrs and it looks really great. I love it because it is less hard on the legs/back when standing cooking/baking for long periods. Also dropping something on it does not have to lead to the item breaking, another benefit.

Here's what I could find out about the OP's choice: Legno Bastone- Guiseppina European materials made in Europe (which explains the price tag!) 13mm thick (1/2") 180mm wide (7") 1950mm longest length (6.4') UV Cured Hardwax Oil Finish The installation instructions state this floor can be glued, floated or nailed. If nailing down, you will need to assume the use of glue-assist because of the width of these planks. A full spread glue is probably your best option (pricey as it may be). The MAINTENANCE is always what I'm after when dealing with a hardwax Finish. The manufacturer prefers OSMO products (mentions it 9-10 times in the Residential Care link) http://www.legnobastone.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Legno-Bastone-Inc-Residential-Care-Instructions-01-02-2018.pdf I ALWAYS suggest a coat of maintenance oil once the floor has been laid...just before you move back into the house. This is a common requirement for COMMERCIAL installations. The reason: these floors can look THIRSTY fresh out of the box. And if they have been exposed to remodeling activity, they can get a little worn even before you move in. To prevent owner upset, it is well worth it to have the maintenance oil put down 1-2 days before the furniture goes back in. That way you have the freshest floor finish possible. And if you are going to do the maintenance yourself, it is a GREAT TIME to have the professionals SHOW YOU what to do and how to do it. This takes all the stress out of owning oiled floors. And PLEASE purchase EVERY SINGLE OSMO item listed in the maintenance link! Get everything ready BEFORE the floor needs it! And I mean everything. That way you are READY and able when life hits the fan!

The 2part water based products in the middle to high-end range (more than $130/gallon) will out perform your every-day oil based finish. To get the toughest finish for your budget, I like to see 3 coats of whatever you are working with. The two-coat system often requires a 'buff and recoat' by year 15 (some people need it done by year 11 or 12). If you go with the three coat system RIGHT AWAY then you can skip this step in the future. The benefits to water based: They are clear and colourless and do NOT turn yellow. They have a very fast 'cure time' of 7-10 days. They are (normally) low odour which is a great benefit to those of us who have chemical sensitivities, asthma, COPD, migraines, history of nose bleeds, etc. The down side to OIL based: They turn orange rather quickly (within a few months) and they get darker and darker as they age. They take a LONG time to cure (full hardness = full toughness) like 30+ days. The ODOUR is one of the greatest drawbacks to oil based. For some, they can 'handle' living on the same level of the floors within 2 weeks. Whereas others (I'm included) cannot live in any part of the house until 4 weeks has passed.