If you’re planning on upgrading your kitchen floors or they are damaged, it may be time to replace them. But do you go along with the same choice you’ve already had, or perhaps it’s time for something different? If you’re making a lifestyle change, you may want to read this guide if you’re remodelling your kitchen and want to explore all of the possible flooring options that will best match your kitchen.
When it comes to flooring for your kitchen, you’ll find that not all flooring materials are well-suited. The best sort of flooring for your kitchen is flooring that is easy to clean, and lasts the longest with the least maintenance needs. When comparing your options, pay attention to the style, comfort and function. Here are the crucial factors to keep in mind when looking for the best kitchen flooring.
Durability And Moisture
A kitchen flooring project is a large investment in terms of time and money. You will want floors that will last long and continue looking new for many years to come. A kitchen floor endures much wear and tear so choose wisely. The best kitchen flooring goes through numerous spills, drips, heat and traffic, as well as dropped utensils, pots and pans.
Some of the most popular kitchen floors for durability and resistance against moisture that you can choose are tile, vinyl, laminate and concrete.
Aesthetic And Style
If you spend much of your time in the kitchen, then you’ll want something that looks nice and works well with your style and decor. Determine whether your flooring suits the colours of the countertops, cabinets, backlash and walls. Similarly, you should decide whether your kitchen floor will be a focal point or a neutral backdrop for your kitchen. Some of the best modern types of kitchen flooring are cork flooring, stained concrete, luxury vinyl plank, and chevron or herringbone designs.
Maintenance Needs
Many of us don’t want to clean, seal or refinish the floors. Of course, you’ll want flooring with minimised maintenance needs. An incorrect choice may require you to spend a lot of time cleaning, scrubbing and worrying about stains on the floors.
Some of the critical things to keep in mind when it comes to the maintenance of different floors:
- Tile grout needs special cleaning to remove stains.
- Hardwood floors typically need to be recoated or refinished.
- Concrete floors require little to no maintenance, but still, you should wipe up spills when they happen, before they stain the floor.
Best Kitchen Flooring Options
Here are the best options you can choose for your kitchen floors:
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is a top kitchen flooring option, thanks to its durability and imperviousness to water and stains. It’s also resistant to heat and damage. It can withstand high traffic and multiple hazards that usually take place in a kitchen environment.
Ceramic tiles are available in a variety of colours and patterns, and choosing a style that complements your home’s decor is straightforward and easy. They are also available in all shapes and sizes.
Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tiles have exceptional strength, durability and style. Porcelain tiles are known to be highly uniform, dense and less porous. Therefore, porcelain is a suitable option for kitchen floors. It is also available in various shapes and styles. If you make this as your choice, learn how to clean porcelain tiles properly with our useful tips and guidelines.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a practical option that can withstand all the wear from a busy kitchen. Tough flooring like vinyl means that you won’t have to worry about spills, water or dropped pots.
Vinyl can also create the desired look with additional comfort at a lower cost than other types of floors. There are vinyl options for various budgets, from fairly cheap options to luxury vinyl tiles that come with multiple layers of cushion for a longer lifespan and a softer feel.
Concrete
Concrete is the perfect option for kitchen floors thanks to its durability, longevity and cost-effectiveness. Also, it can be more decorative with added colour, patterns, textures and polish.
However, keep in mind that concrete is very hard. If you tend to drop things, like dishes, they will most likely shatter if dropped on concrete floors. This option can become incredibly slippery, especially if spills are a regular occurrence in the kitchen.
Natural Stone
If you need durable and luxurious kitchen flooring, you may want to consider natural stone. Natural stones carry an element of luxury, drawing the attention of potential buyers when selling your home.
Natural Stone flooring offers benefits, including scratch resistance and long-term durability. Some top-of-the-range options include granite, marble, slate and limestone.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a versatile flooring option for your home. It comes in a variety of patterns, colours and textures, making it a nice option for homeowners who don’t want to pay costly amounts for real wood floors. Laminate flooring holds up efficiently against scratches. The only thing you should be wary of is moisture. Always wipe up spills right away so that moisture doesn’t set in and warp the floors. For other cleaning tips, check out our guide on how to clean laminate floors.
Hardwood
Hardwood floors are one of the most popular materials for kitchen floors. Hardwood is a highly durable option that can withstand all kinds of kitchen wear and tear.
For a long time, hardwood has been considered a wrong choice for the kitchen or bathroom as it is susceptible to moisture in its natural state.
Luckily, there are some things that you can do to make hardwood floors work in the kitchen. For example, you can apply a polyurethane sealant every 4 to 6 years. Choose unfinished planks over prefinished ones to help protect the floors against spills. And be sure to stay on top of cleaning and maintenance for your hardwood floors.
Any of these flooring options are great for kitchen floors. While most of them will be able to install DIY, it may be best to call in a professional to assist with the installation, especially if you don’t have the experience. Flooring professionals with experience and good reviews are what you should look out for.
Also, whether you have laminate, vinyl or tile floors in the kitchen, if you’re too busy to find the time to commit to cleaning your kitchen floors, then let SweepSouth clean your kitchen floors professionally.
