Kitchen Flooring- Sorting Through The Options

The kitchen received the most abuse of any room in the house, so choosing the right flooring material is important. It also has the unique distinction of possibly having to deal with the effects of water, sharp utensils, materials that stain, and hot substances. Because of this, it is important to make sure that the flooring you choose can stand up to all of these elements so that it can last for years to come. Each house will have it's unique requirements, so I have highlighted some of the pro's and con's of the most common materials.

CARPETING- This may be one of the worst ideas for flooring in a kitchen. While it may make for a nice cushion under your feet, the probability of spills, mold, and stains makes it an inpractical material for kitchen flooring. Be prepared to replace the carpeting quite frequently in a kitchen that receives even average use.

LAMINATE- Laminate is also available in a wide range of colors and finishes. It can take the wear and tear of heavy traffic with ease, and is easy to clean. There are not a whole lot of drawbacks to laminate, unless you go for a cheap version.

WOOD- Wood floors a lot of warmth to the kitchen and are available in a wide variety of stains and wood grains. That comes with a price though, since wood floors can be expensive. Wood floors can scratch and dent, but they can be resanded to bring back the original beauty. How well wood flooring holds up is also dependant on what type of finish is applied. Multiple coats of polyurethane will help seal in the beauty. If properly maintained with routine cleaning, wood floors can last a lifetime.

VINYL FLOORING- From a cost stand point, vinyl flooring is going to be one of the most economical. There are endless possibilities when it comes to colors and patterns, which makes it easy to find something to coordinate with the rest of your kitchen. Vinyl holds up pretty well, but it does have some drawbacks- It can stain, heel marks can be tough to remove, and sharp objects, like knives, can cut the flooring. One of the advantages to vinyl is that it can be laid in one big piece, and maintain is simply using some standard household cleaners.

TILE- Tile is a great choice for warmer climates, since it stays cool. It is available in a wide variety of finishes and the patterns that can be created are endless. There are a couple of drawbacks to tile that should be noted. First, you will have to deal with the grout lines which tend to stain and make cleaning the floors more difficult. The other drawback to tile is that is can easily chip or crack if something heavy is dropped on it. With tile, it is also important to make sure that your sub-floor is perfectly level because any dips or bumps could result in cracked tiles over time.

So when choosing the flooring that is right for your home, take into account the amount of traffic, how often it will get used, and what type of decor you are planning on using. If properly maintained, your kitchen floors should last for years to come.

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