Here at Hardwood Bargains, we understand that choosing flooring for your kitchen is an essential part of updating your home. The kitchen is the heart of the home for most families, especially kitchens with eat-in dining. It’s where guests will come over to “ooh and ahh” over your house and where you’ll be hosting those in-laws.
Because the kitchen is such a high-volume gathering area, it can be a little tricky to find the perfect flooring type, especially when there are so many great options to choose from! But we’re here to help! We’re going to break down all your amazing options here by focusing on the key aspects that work well in a kitchen so that you can design the kitchen of your dreams!
Tile
Tile is many people’s go-to option for their kitchen. It’s entirely waterproof, has plenty of awesome patterns, and is very durable. You have lots of choices when it comes to tile, both man-made and natural. The only downside for tile is that it can be extremely difficult to lay yourself if you’re planning to DIY your kitchen.
Ceramic/Porcelain
With the ceramic or porcelain tiles, when someone drops something, you won’t have to worry about your flooring. Man-made tiles are extremely durable. As a caveat, grout is susceptible to stains, so you’ll still want to clean up the mess ASAP.
Additionally, you’ll want to ensure that you have mats and rugs in the kitchen because tile tends to get a little slippery when wet. We recommend a mat underneath the sink and possibly around any seating areas just in case someone gets a little too eager with their drink.
Stone
Unlike ceramic tiles, natural stone tiles aren’t man-made. Your biggest drawback for stone tile is the expense; things like marble and granite certainly don’t come cheap! Additionally, stone tile needs to be sealed when first installed and then resealed periodically throughout its lifetime. Once you’ve sealed it, though, you can count on stone to last for years and years.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is traditionally water-resistant, meaning that you have a little leeway when it comes to spills and messes, but you’ll still have to be careful. However, some manufacturers have begun advertising waterproof laminate flooring now as well. Considering how well laminate floors can mimic the look of hardwood at a fraction of the price, this is one of your better options for a kitchen.
Another benefit of laminate flooring is that it has a few different types of installation available, many of which are DIY-friendly. This includes floating installation, click and lock installation, and tongue-in-groove installation. None of those need any type of nails or much more than glue to secure your floors so that you can save time and energy during installation – a huge bonus!
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury Vinyl is very different from what most people think of. This isn’t that kitschy black and white stuff your grandparents had in their kitchen. You’ve got options, nowadays, with vinyl planks and tiles. The great thing about vinyl is that it’s completely waterproof and can be made to resemble just about anything.
Luxury vinyl is another flooring that is easy to lay yourself and often gives you a bunch of options when it comes to updating your kitchen. Keep in mind that there are various options in luxury vinyl:
● Stone plastic composite (SPC)
● Wood-plastic composite (WPC)
● Luxury vinyl tile (LVT)
● Luxury vinyl plank (LVP)
The seemingly endless luxury vinyl options and versatility make it a very popular kitchen option!
Stained Concrete
The upside of concrete is that it is completely waterproof. No grout, no gaps between planks: no need to worry. Almost nothing can dent or damage your concrete slabs, so your flooring is guaranteed to last for a lifetime and more. The downside is that most people aren’t big fans of the ultra-modern look of concrete.
Plus, if you have pets or young children, or even if you just enjoy walking around barefoot, concrete can be pretty unforgiving. Concrete can take its toll on your pet’s paws and joints and be chilly under your feet. If you decide to go the concrete route, we recommend at least one or two rugs to balance things out, especially under the sink, where it might get slippery.
Hardwood
Hardwood has always been a popular option for any room in the house. It has a sophisticated feel that many other types of imitation flooring have tried to copy. There is a certain style about hardwood, possibly due to the fact that, with proper care, it could last for over a century.
Solid Hardwood
Unlike some of the other options on this list, solid hardwood is not waterproof. It’s not even naturally water-resistant. With certain types of finish, you can add a sealing layer to make your floors resistant to water, but there’s no guarantee. Solid hardwood may look beautiful, but if your kitchen sees frequent use and spills, solid hardwood may not be your best choice.
Another downside is that solid hardwood requires a lot of effort and experience to lay properly. It might not be the ideal project for a beginner or someone who is determined to DIY their entire kitchen without the aid of a professional.
Engineered Hardwood
However, engineered hardwood is a viable kitchen flooring option, both with a lower price and more ingrained water resistance. It has the look of solid hardwood, but it has additional man-made layers that give your flooring extra protection against spills on top and any moisture that might seep in from below.
Engineered hardwood offers more DIY-friendly options for installation, like luxury vinyl and laminate flooring, although engineered hardwood is somewhat less durable due to having some actual wood inside.
In Summary
Let’s be honest! Your kitchen needs a water-resistant floor that’s durable enough to stand up to the occasional messes that every kitchen must endure. Now that you know more about your options, we can’t wait to see what you choose for your gorgeous house! The kitchen of your dreams just isn’t complete without the flooring of your dreams!
Sources:
6 Pros and Cons of Hardwood Flooring | The Spruce
