Kitchen floors take a beating. In addition to constant foot traffic, there will inevitably be a variety of hot, sticky, and oily spills. Sometimes sharp or heavy utensils and a variety of implements will be dropped. The kids will kick another ice cube under the fridge. Your kitchen floors need to be tough and easy to regularly clean. When you plan a new kitchen or revamp an old one, flooring should be a priority.
The most popular kitchen flooring options right now are wooden and tile. Roll-down vinyl is a common budget-friendly.
Your choice will be determined by a number of factors ranging from the basic structure of the floor to the cabinets used in the kitchen, as well as the finishes you have chosen for the walls.
Solid Wood
Wooden flooring works well in the kitchen, but not all wood is the same. Generally, ash, birch, elm, hard maple, and red oak are suitable because they are harder. Stick away from softwoods, like alder and soft maple. A properly maintained hardwood floor will last for 40+ years and be a great asset to your home’s resale value.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooringis very popular and can look just as luxurious as hardwood, but is considerably less expensive and easier to install. It is also durable and resistant to moisture. Most laminate floors have an estimated lifespan of 20 years.
Tile Flooring
Ceramic or quarry tiles are good looking and durable and can be laid on a concrete slab or over planks on a wood frame. Well maintained tile can be a great option for the kitchen because it is resistant to moisture and can quickly be replaced when damaged without taking up all of the flooring. You can even get ceramic tile that looks like wooden flooring.
Vinyl Plank Flooring
Vinyl plank flooring—particularly the type that clicks or snaps into place—is great for kitchens. Forget all about those old-fashioned vinyl sheeting and vinyl tiles that stuck down with glue. Vinyl planks are more similar to laminate flooring, they are just cheaper. Vinyl planks are relatively cheap, easy to lay, and can usually be laid over an existing wood or tiled floor, making them great for quick aesthetic upgrades. There is a catch though, they cannot be laid on an uneven, painted, or previously varnished surfaces.
Vinyl Sheeting
Vinyl sheeting is a great budget-friendly option for kitchen flooring.It is relatively inexpensive and easy to install, but is not as sturdy or resilient as many of the other options on our list. Vinyl sheeting is essentially a“plastic” product and is often manufactured to look like wood, slate, stone, or wooden flooring. Self-sticking vinyl tiles are also available and can be a great choice.
Linoleum
Linoleum is a much older sheeting product made from natural materials. It wears well and is relatively easy to install, but it does not hold up as well as vinyl sheeting over time.
Don’t Forget About Your Kitchen Cabinets
Wooden kitchen cabinets are either made from solid wood or MDF (medium-density fiberboard) that is painted or covered with a thin vinyl material. Some have laminate surfaces. The kind of kitchen cabinets and the finishes in your kitchen will help you determine the best flooring.
Popular hardwood species used to make kitchen cabinets include red alder, American beech, yellow birch, black or American cherry, shagbark hickory, hard maple, soft maple, red and white oak yellow poplar, and black walnut. Many of these wood types are also used for flooring. But even if you can’t find either a solid wood or laminate flooring that is made from (or to look like) exactly the same species, it is generally quite easy to match the look and color.
Ultimately, weigh up suitable options in terms of material, aesthetics, and budget, and then decide what will work best for you and your family.
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