Which Material is Best for your New Kitchen Floor?
It’s all happening in the kitchen. From cooking to cleaning, dining to entertaining, homework, and more, this space see a lot of activity! Your kitchen design must be not only stylish but meet the practical requirements of such a busy space. The layout, storage capability, and durability of the materials you use are all key considerations.
What bears the brunt of all this traffic in your kitchen? The kitchen floor does, and the material you select plays a central role in pulling together your kitchen renovation style. It also must be able to withstand constant foot traffic, grease splatters, food spills, and heavy things being dropped on it.
As you are shopping for kitchen cabinets, countertop materials, and tiles, remember to carefully consider the best floor material for your requirements. Think about the wear and tear you anticipate in your own kitchen and how your chosen material will stand up to this, not to mention how easy your new floor will be to clean and maintain over the years.
There are many options available for your kitchen floor, each with its own unique look. Here are five common kitchen flooring materials:
Stone
Stone is generally a hard wearing, durable surface that is easy to clean and maintain, though this may depend on the particular type you select. Some stone like slate can be more prone to chipping for example, and some stone is less impervious to stains and requires regular sealing.
Typical stone materials include limestone, travertine, and slate. As a natural material, stone gives your kitchen floor a unique appearance since there are naturally occurring color and pattern variations. Be careful when selecting your batch of stone, and review their appearance and how they match up to each other. Stone is a naturally cool material, so you may want to consider radiant underfloor heating if you live in a colder climate.
Tile
Tiles come in a variety of materials such as porcelain or ceramic, like the kitchen design pictured here, each with its own unique appearance. Tiles are even available in a wood effect with the look of wood floors in an easier to maintain material. Tiles can be found in a wide range of shapes and sizes to create patterns to suit your individual tastes.
In general tile tends to be low maintenance and easy to clean. Pay attention to the maintenance requirements of the particular tile that you are considering and also remember that grout is essential to the appearance and ongoing care of your tile floor.
Wood
Wood is a popular choice for flooring as it gives a high end appearance and offers a warm, welcoming look for your space. Wood can be found in an array of finishes like the kitchen remodeling projects pictured below, to give a more rustic or sophisticated look and to compliment kitchen cabinet finishes.
Although it is a popular choice, wood can be a tricky option for kitchen flooring as it must be properly maintained in order to protect it from moisture and scratching. You can combat this by treating the wood and refinishing it over time.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is not what it used to be! It now comes in a wide range of styles and finishes that mimic wood, stone, ceramic tile, and more. It is highly water resistant and therefore perfect for areas prone to moisture. It is generally easy to install one of the most inexpensive materials available. It is not as hard wearing and long lasting as the higher end materials it imitates, as it can tear, scratch, or fade much more easily.
Linoleum
While vinyl is a man-made material, linoleum is an all-natural surface derived from linseed oil, resins, and other materials. It is a highly versatile option for kitchen flooring, as you can find it in almost any color and it can be cut to form unique patterns to suit your own style and space. It does not last as long as other materials, but in general tends to be an affordable and easy to maintain option for a kitchen floor.
Other options include laminate wood, bamboo, concrete, cork, carpet and much more. Do your research into the durability, style, color options, and cost to help you find the right floor material for your space. Our kitchen design gallery will give you more ideas to explore, or talk to your kitchen remodeling expert for more advice.