How To Choose The Best Kitchen Flooring: Expert Tips
One of the most important elements in decision-making when remodeling your kitchen is what type of floors to install. There are many different options available, from tiles to hardwood to vinyl. It can be challenging to decide which is the best fit for your needs.
This blog post will discuss the pros and cons of each type of flooring material and offer some expert tips on how to choose the best kitchen flooring for your house!
Things To Consider In Choosing Kitchen Flooring
Kitchen floors are often one of the first things in your home. And there's a lot to consider when shopping for new flooring. So, here's what you need to know before making your purchase:
1. Start By Considering Your Lifestyle
Think about your lifestyle before choosing which kitchen flooring material to use. Do you have kids or pets in the home that are more likely to cause an accident with their playthings? What kind of messes do you typically make while cooking?
Based on your lifestyle, your flooring should be able to withstand some wear and tear. Kitchen accidents can happen anytime, and knowing which floor will provide the most benefit from such an unfortunate event.
2. Take Into Account The Style Of Your Kitchen
With every room in your home designed to reflect the personality and style you want, it's vital that kitchen floors also fit this same mold.
When designing your kitchen, don't forget about the flooring! Do your floors match your walls, kitchen cabinets, and counters? Does it go well with your kitchen's textures and patterns?
Your kitchen floor can either be a focal point (think about black and white checkered tile) or a neutral backdrop (soft beige, off-white or gray). If you go bold with your kitchen floor, choose something you love and won't get tired of in a few months or years.
3. Choose The Best Materials
Kitchen floors come in different types, but they all have their pros and cons. It can be challenging to know which is right for you because there are so many factors to consider when making this decision. So, we've weighed all 7 kitchen flooring options to help make things easier for you.
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Wood Flooring
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Hardwood is still a popular choice for the kitchen floor despite its age. You can refinish wood floors to give them a new look. This is beneficial if you're planning a minor kitchen remodel and don't want to replace the entire floor.
Engineered wood flooring is the best option for practical reasons. The structural advantage of engineered wood flooring is that it is more dimensionally stable in the shifting temperatures and moisture levels that occur throughout the cooking process.
Solid wood flooring is an alternative, though some suppliers do not advise it for kitchens. If this is your option, good room ventilation is essential, and it's a good idea to check the warranty before buying.
Wood, like tile, can be put in various designs to create interest. Reclaimed, recycled, and environmentally sustainable hardwood has recently attracted much attention.
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Kitchen Floor Tiles
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No matter the environment, kitchen floor tile offers durability. Ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tiles are available in a wide range of colors to match your kitchen's theme while protecting against dirt with their easy-care properties!
Ceramic tile is the best choice for any home with pets as they resist denting and scratching more easily than other materials. This means your ceramic floor will look great even after being walked on by several furry friends!
Like ceramic tile, porcelain tile can give the impression of being made of natural stone or wood. Porcelain flooring is easy to clean and maintain, incredibly durable, and difficult to damage. It can feel rigid underfoot, similar to ceramic, and will feel cool in some areas.
Stone tile is more expensive than ceramic or porcelain tile, and it also requires more maintenance. It may be as robust as other tile varieties with adequate care, and its porous surface makes it more likely to be non-slip.
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Laminate Flooring
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Laminate flooring is a great way to make your kitchen look like it belongs in an expensive hotel without spending too much money. It comes with click-and-lock installation, making it easy for do-it-yourselfers!
Since laminate flooring isn't as resistant to moisture as tiles or vinyl (it can warp when wet), using it in your kitchen can make maintenance more difficult. If you do, make sure you have a good moisture barrier in place.
To clean it, you'll need a specific cleaner and a mop. Laminate flooring also has a shorter life expectancy than hardwood, tiles, and vinyl.
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Vinyl Flooring
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Vinyl is a popular choice for kitchen flooring since it is versatile and cost-effective. It is available in various colors and finishes designed to seem like hardwood, porcelain, and natural stone.
The suppleness and warmth of the vinyl’s surface make it pleasant to stand on. Dishes, cups, and glasses rarely break when dropped on this flooring.
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Linoleum Flooring
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Linoleum is a durable, easy-to-clean material resistant to water and stains. It comes in many different colors with the option for an even smoother finish on some models.
The downside? High heels or rolling cart wheels will scratch linoleum flooring easily. It is also susceptible to damage due to high humidity (levels above 70%).
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Cork Flooring
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Cork is another natural 'green' kitchen flooring option made from tree bark. Like linoleum, it may meet many of the needs of a family house. It is waterproof, robust, and comfy. It also absorbs sound and is naturally insulating.
However, if you have a cork floor, clean up spills immediately. Pets could scratch the surface of this material, and it may cause permanent damage.
While most corks have a natural finish, there are colored options for a bold or subtle finish.
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Polished Concrete Flooring
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Polished concrete is an excellent option for a modern kitchen. It comes in various hues and finishes, making it versatile for modern designs. Durable and easy to clean, it is also perfect for homes with pets.
While polished concrete shines, it is non-slip. Of course, it won't be nice to drop objects, and it won't be forgiving underfoot. However, with underfloor heating, polished concrete absorbs and holds heat well in sunny rooms.
4. Don't Forget About The Budget!
While kitchen flooring contributes significantly to the aesthetics of a new plan, it must also be durable and fit your lifestyle. Know the floor prices to avoid overpaying since the floor can consume a considerable part of the budget.
We examined the costs of the best kitchen flooring to help you decide which material is best for your budget.
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Wood Flooring
Hardwood typically costs $6 to $12 per square foot. However, additional considerations such as wood type, prep work required, and location affect the cost of wood floors. While manufactured wood ranges from $4 to $9 per square foot, natural oak wood can reach $20.
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Kitchen Tiles
Tile flooring installation charges range from $6 to $20 per square foot. A 1000-square-foot room can cost between $6,000 and $20,000. Tile flooring alone might cost anything from $2 to $15 per square foot.
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Laminate Flooring
Laminate might cost roughly $5500 to install in a 1000-square-foot kitchen. Laminate floors cost between $6 and $9 per square foot.
The materials come in various price ranges, from $7 to $2,000. Installing laminate floors costs roughly $34 per hour of labor. The 15 to 20% contractor's charge is deducted separately.
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Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl sheet flooring costs range from $0.50 to $3 per square foot. At the same time, luxury vinyl tiles can cost between $2.50 and $5 per square foot.
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Linoleum Flooring
Expect to pay between $3.50 and $5 per square foot for linoleum.
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Cork Flooring
Cork may range from $3 to $12 per square foot, with brilliant colors and textured variants being the most expensive.
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Concrete Flooring
As there are so many finish possibilities, the cost of installing a concrete floor might vary significantly. The price of a basic floor can range from $2 per square foot to $30 or more for a high-end artistically rendered floor.
5. Measure Your Space To Save Money
Buying the wrong amount of flooring materials can cause project delays and may cost you more money. To avoid this, make sure to measure your kitchen space accurately.
Flooring materials are often sold in square feet, so once you know the dimensions of your kitchen area, you can easily calculate the required number of tiles or floorboards.
Here's how to measure your kitchen floor in a few simple steps.
Tools Needed:
Step By Step Instructions:
- Using your tape measure, determine the length of the room. A good rule of thumb is to round up odd measurements to the nearest foot.
- Make sure to measure your floor's width. Always measure at the widest point, as anything under a refrigerator or other movable equipment must be considered.
- Multiply your width and length with a calculator. This will give you the room's square footage. As a result, you'll know how many floors to buy when you go to the store.
- If you don't mind a seam on the floor, use your tape measure to divide your L-shaped kitchen into two sections. If you don't want a seam and wish to maintain everything in one piece, measure the floor as if it were a square and cut away the excess floor.
- Multiply the square footage of your kitchen by the material's cost per square foot to estimate how much it will take to replace the floor in your kitchen.
6. Get Professional Advice
Many people are uncertain about how to choose the best kitchen flooring for their homes. There is no perfect material that will work in every situation, so you must consult an expert who can help guide your decision.
Expert project advice can help ensure that everything meets your needs!
Conclusion
Now that you have a general idea about how to choose the best kitchen flooring, it's time to start making some decisions. Consider your lifestyle and choose a flooring material that is high quality and easy to maintain. Think about the color and style of your busy kitchens and decide on a budget.
Remember to take your time deciding and consult with professionals when needed. And most importantly, have fun with it!
Tell us about your renovation in the comments and what advice you'd like to hear from us next!