The kitchen is the heart of a home and it is one of the most high-traffic areas in a building. It also gets dirty more easily and its sanitation is indispensable. Because the nature of the kitchen is different from bedrooms and living rooms, choosing the right kitchen flooring must be done carefully.
There are different factors you need to keep in mind when you are considering kitchen flooring options. The durability and maintenance, the ability to resist moisture, what design and color is best for your kitchen design, and your budget are some of the main factors.
In this article, you will learn about various kitchen flooring options available, their pros and cons, the factors you have to consider, and more.
We offer affordable flooring installation services, give us a call and ask your questions about flooring options and installations.
Best Flooring Options for the Kitchen
There are various types of kitchen flooring to choose from for your kitchen floor, including ceramic tile flooring, bamboo flooring, hardwood flooring, concrete, cork flooring, stone tile flooring, vinyl flooring, and more. However, you should select one that is most suitable for your own kitchen and style. So, it is crucial to know about each option’s pros and cons.
In this part, we will review the six most popular and best floorings for kitchen. If you are considering kitchen flooring replacement, be ready to take some notes to use as a cheat sheet at flooring stores.
Kitchen Hardwood Flooring: Beautiful but Not Moisture-Resistant
Hardwood flooring has always been considered a beautiful, classic, and versatile (as far as design is concerned) flooring option. If you choose to go with solid hardwood flooring for your kitchen, you can enjoy the following advantages.
- It can be refinished and sanded easily for a new look.
- It is durable and you will not need to replace it for many years if you maintain it properly.
- You can have hardwood flooring in different colors, patterns, and designs. This is a great option for your kitchen flooring design and aesthetics.
However, you should choose this type of kitchen flooring with care. If you anticipate a lot of spills on your kitchen floor, then this might not be the right kitchen flooring for you. Because, even with waterproof solid hardwood flooring, you have to make sure it doesn’t remain wet for long and dry it as soon as possible after a spill.
Another drawback can be its cost. Aside from the material itself, hardwood flooring installation services can be higher than other flooring types.
To sum up, hardwood flooring for the kitchen is a beautiful and durable choice, but it can be damaged by water and moisture if not treated with care.
Vinyl Plank Flooring for Kitchen: Easy to Install but Not So Durable
Because the kitchen is a very important part of our home, we do not want the kitchen flooring replacement to take a long time. That’s why for many, easy installation is a determining factor when it comes to choosing the right kitchen flooring. If you are one of these many, you should seriously consider vinyl plank flooring for your kitchen. You won’t even need to remove the old flooring.
There are other benefits, too. Luxury vinyl plank flooring includes different layers each of which adds a good quality to it, such as moisture-resistance, higher durability, and even anti-microbial qualities. It is also budget-friendly and available in many colors and designs.
However, vinyl planks are not as hard as hardwood and can be dented and scratched more easily. They might also look fake, especially the cheaper ones with lower quality.
So, vinyl plank flooring can be cost-effective and easy to install (even by yourself if you have some skills and tools). It is also more waterproof than hardwood flooring. But you should be careful not to drop any knives or forks, as they cannot be refinished.
Porcelain Tile for Kitchen: Highly Durable but You Might Slip
It looks a lot like ceramic flooring, but it is much more durable and stronger. If you are in the habit of washing your kitchen floor or you predict a lot of spills, then this can be the right kitchen flooring choice for you, as it is highly waterproof. This also means porcelain flooring is easy to clean and you would not suffer to clean stains.
There are wood grain porcelain tiles on the market that can add to your kitchen’s beauty. Besides, you do not have to worry a lot about scratching porcelain tiles, because they are considered as one of the most scratch-resistant floorings.
But there are some setbacks. The most important one is porcelain floor gets slippery when it is wet. Also, the tiles and installation of porcelain flooring can be pricy.
In all, porcelain tile flooring for the kitchen can be low-maintenance and beautiful, but it can cost you as high as hardwood flooring.
If you are not sure how much you will need for your kitchen flooring replacement services, call to request a quote for our kitchen flooring installation and cost in New Hampshire, US.
Kitchen Laminate Flooring: DIY-Friendly but Low Durability
The most important reasons for the popularity of laminate flooring for kitchens are the following.
- You can install it yourself because it is very easy to install and you don’t need many tools and skills.
- There is no need to make the surface even before installing it.
- It is one of the most affordable floorings.
- Newer types of laminate flooring are somewhat waterproof (but not 100%).
Of course, you should not expect your laminate kitchen flooring to last long. It is not durable and can be damaged by water, even the waterproof laminate floorings.
Everything considered, laminate flooring can be a budget-friendly and DIY friendly option for your kitchen floor, but it is not going to remain on your kitchen floor for many years.
Stone Tile for Kitchen: High-Quality but Expensive
If you just consider quality for choosing the right kitchen flooring, you can go with stone tile flooring. The top-notch stone tiles have unique and beautiful patterns that take your kitchen flooring design and aesthetics to the next level. You can match the design and type (marble tiles, granite tiles, travertine, etc.) with your cupboards and counter. Flooring contractors can help you in selecting the best one for your kitchen.
Another advantage of kitchen stone tile flooring is that, unlike porcelain floors, stone tiles are non-slip. So, don’t worry if your kitchen floor gets wet. But you should use a sealer to prevent stains.
The biggest problem with stone flooring is its high cost. Stone flooring installation takes a lot of skills and time because the subfloor must be prepared and the underlayment must be applied before installing the stone tiles. All these have made stone tiles a very expensive choice.
So, if money is not a problem, go with a stone tile kitchen floor and enjoy the beauty and quality for many years.
Kitchen Cork Flooring: Comfortable but Hard to Clean
Cork flooring is relatively a new kitchen flooring option that makes your kitchen cozy and comfortable. It is a natural and environmentally-friendly material that comes from oak trees’ bark. They look a lot like wood flooring, which is always beautiful.
Kitchen cork flooring is affordable and easy to install. Besides, it can resist dents due to its bouncy quality.
However, it is not colorfast, and in sunlight, it might fade. Cork tiles can get stains as well. Another major problem is that cleaning it up can take a while.
Overall, if you are looking for wood like flooring that is not so costly, cork flooring can beautify your kitchen and make it feel more comfortable under your feet. But you should take more care of it and spend more time cleaning your kitchen floor.
Learn more about our in-home flooring installation here.
4 Factors to Consider in Choosing the Right Kitchen Flooring
To prevent making mistakes in choosing the right kitchen flooring, it is crucial to think carefully about some of your preferences and other determining factors. Then, to make an informed decision do some research about different types of floorings for the kitchen (like what we did above) or ask flooring contractors you can trust for advice.
The most important factors you must consider are discussed below.
Durability and Maintenance of Kitchen Flooring
The kitchen is a high-traffic area in every home so durability and maintenance of the kitchen floor is an important factor. We cook in the kitchen and this means there are going to be a lot of spills and drops. If the kitchen floor gets dented and cracked easily, then you will have to do floor replacement very often.
Another matter is floor maintenance. It is difficult to cook without making a little mess! You should not choose a flooring type that gets stains easily. Or if you are usually busy, you should choose a kitchen flooring that can be cleaned up quickly. Otherwise, you are in for some kitchen pest.
Therefore, choose a flooring type that is tough and low-maintenance.
Tips to Extend Kitchen Flooring Lifespan
Of course, maximizing the lifespan of kitchen flooring depends on its type, but the general tips below can guide you in the right direction.
- Do some research or ask your flooring installer for the right cleaner. For each type of flooring, you must use its specific type of cleaner.
- Do not let spills and messes remain for long. Clean them up as soon as possible.
- Although sunlight does not damage some flooring types, too much exposure to it cannot do good for your flooring.
- Deep cleaning once or twice a year can protect your flooring from damage and pests.
- Move heavy things, like the dishwasher or even table and chairs, with care.
The Importance of Moisture-Resistant Kitchen Flooring
It is a fact that we cannot keep our kitchen floor dry all the time, especially with kids or pets around. So, if you do not want to get obsessed with drying your kitchen floor, you have to choose waterproof floorings, such as porcelain tile or stone flooring.
Tips to Prevent Kitchen Floors from Moisture Damage
As we mentioned above, each type of flooring can resist water to different degrees. The general tips below can protect your kitchen floor from water damage.
- Even with highly moisture-resistant flooring types, like porcelain flooring, do not leave your kitchen floor soaking in water for many hours.
- Use a mat or a rug in front of your sink. In this way, you would not worry about some drops and splashes.
- Consider the air humidity in your area when choosing the right kitchen flooring. The kitchen itself is usually more humid than other parts of the home as well.
- Use rugs to control the humidity.
Kitchen Flooring Design and Aesthetics
When selecting the flooring design and color, do not just consider your kitchen. You should choose something that goes with your home style in general. Your kitchen’s design and style should complete your home décor.
Other factors also play a role in determining the color. For example, light colors, such as white and yellow, make your kitchen appear more comfortable and welcoming. They also make it look larger. Another benefit of light colors for kitchen flooring is that you can spot messes more easily and clean them up.
Kitchen Flooring Installation and Cost
Some flooring types are easy to install and do not take a lot of your time, while others can last for a few days. If you want to save some money, you can go with DIY-friendly kitchen flooring types, such as laminate or vinyl plank flooring.
Of course, installing flooring by yourself cannot be as easy as you think. You might even mess up and have to pay more to fix it. But with professional flooring installation, you would not worry about the outcome. Certified flooring installers also do the job in much less time and they have the necessary tools and devices. See our guide here before making up your mind.
As the prices and total costs range a lot depending on the type of flooring you choose, decide your budget before visiting your local flooring store.
Flooring Repair Services in New Hampshire, United States
As we reviewed the top six popular kitchen floorings, including hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, vinyl plank flooring, porcelain flooring, stone flooring, and cork flooring, we can conclude that there is no straightforward answer to ‘What is the best kitchen flooring?’. For choosing the right kitchen flooring you must consider some determining factors according to your conditions.
Factors like flooring durability, design, moisture resistance, installation process, and costs must be taken into account when selecting your kitchen flooring.
You can always count on our professional team of flooring installers at Minuteman Floors to help you make up your mind and renovate your kitchen floor. Our flooring repair services are available in some cities in New Hampshire, such as Manchester, Hooksett, Bedford, Candia, and Goffstown.
Call us at 603-782-1942 for more information or to make an appointment.