When choosing what type of material to use on your kitchen floor, a low level of maintenance and durability are often high on the list of requirements. Other factors include ease of installation, longevity, current kitchen flooring, the height of the flooring, safety of children and the elderly who might access the kitchen, pets in the home, availability of different colours and patterns, the amount of traffic in the kitchen and more. Once you decide what you need out of your kitchen floor, it will become easier to choose a suitable material.
Ceramic tile is a popular choice of kitchen flooring. Able to suit any kitchen design style, it comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and colours and doesn’t require much maintenance. Laying ceramic tiles can be a DIY job but only if plenty care is taken to space tiles evenly. There are different types of ceramic tiles. Quarry and terra-cotta tiles are unglazed clays but can be glazed for a more refined look. Quarry tiles suit larger, elegant kitchens but are more expensive. Terra-cotta tiles are one of the oldest tiles and give off a rustic, weathered look. Both these tiles need sealing to prevent stains. There are also mosaic tiles, which resist moisture and do not chip as easily, and porcelain tiles, which are strong and hard and resemble natural stone.
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Any ceramic tile can be glazed or unglazed. Glazed tiles are available in high-gloss, matte and abrasive slip-resistant finishes. A high-gloss finish is not a good choice for kitchen floors however, as tiles will then become slippery when wet and may cause accidents.
You can create visual interest in your kitchen by using different shapes and sizes of tiles and laying them in different ways. Larger tiles add interest but can be overpowering so are better in bigger kitchens. Larger tiles also make a room look less busy. Lighter and neutral shades of tiles give an impression of light and space in a room. Placing tiles on a diagonal instead of a grid can look attractive.
When buying tiles, it is advisable that you buy extra in case tiles chip or crack.
Not as sleek as ceramic tiles but ideal for high traffic areas, durable, practical and natural-looking, is stone flooring. Stone comes in a mostly untreated state so there are often variations in texture and tone. There are different types of stone available to choose from, including slate, limestone, granite and marble.
Stone floors require some level of maintenance. They must be periodically (every three to five years) treated with a sealant. They can be cleaned with a mild, non-acidic cleaning product. Stone can be slippery and dangerous and cold to the touch. To combat this, you can use mats and rugs in work areas. Light-coloured grout in between stone tiles will show dirt. It is also advisable to have extras in your home in case they chip. Stone flooring is expensive but should last a lifetime.
Also expensive are hardwood floors, but the results are worth it. Wood flooring can make a kitchen look beautiful and can add value to the home. They are resilient and become more charming with age. Some wood floors are even given an aged finish to achieve this look. Hardwood floors are durable and need only sweeping or vacuuming and occasionally need to be cleaned with a wood floor cleaner.
This flooring works with all kinds of designs, from traditional to modern, and is available in several types of woods. A popular choice of wood is oak for traditional and rustic-styled kitchens, maple and cherry give off an elegant look, ash, beech and birch are modern. Other types include walnut, mahogany and pecan. Soft wood, like pine with its country-style charm, can be used as well but damages more easily.
Wood flooring comes in planks, strips and parquet (individual squares which make up a geometric pattern). Using shorter boards in strip flooring can make a kitchen look larger. You can create your own style with wood flooring as they can be sanded and stained to suit your tastes. This is helpful if you decide to change the look of your kitchen floor in the future.
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However, hardwood flooring is expensive, might need refinishing if they become scuffed and scratched (especially with softer wood) and can be noisy to walk on. You can make use of mats and rugs to combat the noise level, make it a little warmer and cushion possible falls.
To get the look of wood but pay less, opt for laminate flooring which closely resembles wood, stone or marble. Made up of multiple layers, laminate flooring includes a hard plastic top layer on top of thin, resin layer which has a photographic imprint of wood. Laminate is also scratch-resistant, much easier to install and can often be laid over an existing floor. It is, however, hard to walk on and cannot be sanded.
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Commonly found in kitchens are vinyl floors, which are available in sheets or tiles. Vinyl in tile form with self-stick backs can be easily installed but are more susceptible to water damage. Vinyl is popular because it is resilient, durable, easy to install, easy to maintain, cost-effective when compared to other materials and comes in a range of styles.
There are two types of vinyl; standard and inlaid. Inlaid vinyl, instead of having its colour and pattern printed on one sheet as in standard vinyl, has its colour and pattern go throughout the flooring, giving it richer colour and making any wear less noticeable. Vinyl flooring with a thick urethane wear layer offers the most shine and the greatest stain resistance.
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Vinyl flooring needs only sweeping and mopping. It resists scuffs and stains and water does not discolour the floor. However, with vinyl flooring, spills must be cleaned quickly to avoid stains. It is stain-resistant but not stain-proof. Also to look out for is poor installation which may cause the floor to peel up and denting caused by pointed heels.
Concrete can also be used in kitchen floors. They are available in a range of colours, from the standard to the more daring. It is as durable as tile and stone and does not require a sealer to prevent staining, but it can be dangerous if accidents occur in the kitchen.
Environmentally-friendly kitchen flooring is gaining in popularity, such as cork and bamboo. Linoleum is making a comeback as an eco-friendly product as well and looks especially good in retro-styled kitchens. Often confused with vinyl because it also comes in sheet form, instead linoleum is made from natural materials and can come in plain or decorative patterns, including ones that resemble marble.
Linoleum is quiet, smooth, elastic, comfortable, durable, not easily dented, inexpensive and not damaged by fats, oils and greases, but it doesn’t have as many colours and patterns as vinyl and can be damaged by standing water.
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No matter what flooring you choose for your kitchen, be sure to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning and maintenance. In this way, your kitchen flooring can last for years.
