When choosing the flooring for your kitchen, there are a few things that you need to consider. One of the most essential characteristics of a floor is definitely durability, especially in a room such as a kitchen that gets so much traffic. When you are in the kitchen you will mainly be standing, so another important thing that needs to be considered is the comfort level of the floor. How easy it is to clean the floor is also important since there tends to be a lot of spills that take place in a kitchen. Stain resistance and moisture resistance are critical to select the floor that best fits your lifestyle. Finally, you will want to consider the style of floor that appeals to you the most. However, you will need to prioritize to find the best solution for your kitchen and you. Just remember that there is no such thing as a perfect kitchen floor, so not all of the above considerations and choose the one that fits you the best. Let’s go over the options that are available to you.
Hardwood
Hardwood is an excellent kitchen floor option. Two of the most important aspects to consider are the species of wood and quality of the finish. The quality of finish affects daily wear and tear directly. If you go with an interior finish it can cause traffic patterns and you will ultimately end up needing to have your kitchen floor refinished sooner than necessary. Kitchen floors made out of harder species of wood are not as likely to suffer structural damage or dents. Consider the amount of beating that your kitchen floor is likely to take when determining your floor choice. One of the trendiest choices currently is distressed or hand-scraped hardwoods. These hardwoods not only look great but also provide a beat up or worn appearance so that any damage from traffic will not be as noticeable. Water is one major drawback when comes to hardwood floors since wood and water do not get along well. If a spill gets left on a hardwood floor for an extended period of time, most likely it will cause damage. However, if the spill is cleaned up quickly, typical moisture can be resisted by hardwood. Most hardwoods are fairly easy to clean. Try avoiding floors that have a large bevel to reduce the amount of cleaning that needs to be done.
Three Top Hardwood Recommendations:
- Urban
- Kahrs
- Indusparquet
Vinyl
Whether it is tiles, plank, or sheet vinyl, they are all good options for your kitchen. Vinyl is the best option for moisture resistance. It is recommended that you upgrade to a higher-end vinyl for added durability. Vinyl also makes a very comfortable kitchen floor. Some products come with a fibreglass backing that are an even better option if you have achy joints. Luxury vinyl is a very good alternative to stone or tile since it has high durability ratings and is less hard on your feet. The product simulates the appearance of real stone or tile without the disadvantages of cleaning and hardness. Many luxury vinyl tiles also be can installed without grout. Luxury vinyl tile is an excellent option since most people don’t like to have to clean grout.
Three Top Vinyl Recommendations:
- Armstrong Luxe Plank
- Congoleum Duraceramic
- Armstrong Alterna
Laminate
There great kitchen floor option is a laminate floor. However, before you choose one there are a couple of things to consider. A laminate floor’s durability is measured according to its AC Rating. When selecting a laminate floor a 3 or higher AC Rating is recommended. Anything less than 3 can work fie. However, it won’t last if it will start showing wear patterns sooner. The floating method is used to install most laminates, so the floor will be a lot easier on your feet. There is more to give to flooring installation which is perfect for your kitchen floor since you tend to be on your feet most of the time. You also need to consider how the kitchen floor reacts to moisture with the high potential for spills, drips, and floods. The core part of the laminate will determine the way moisture is reacted to by the floor. Make sure to choose a laminate that has an HDF core. It is easy to clean laminate, making it an ideal option to use in your kitchen Avoid products that have a large bevel, similar to hardwood.
Three Top Laminate Recommendations:
- West Coast Laminate
- Armstrong Laminate
- Quickstep Laminate
Cork
Cork is an increasingly popular choice for kitchen floors among homeowners. There are a couple of reasons for this. If you choose a prefinished cork floor that has a quality finish then you will have a durable kitchen floor. A majority of cork floors only require a low amount of maintenance to keep them clean. Low maintenance and durability are critical when choosing your floor, but comfort is the most intriguing aspect when it comes to cork floors. Since you spend so much time on your feet in the kitchen, cork flooring will provide your achy joints with comfort. Cork is the most comfortable type of hard surface floor that is currently available.
Cork Floor Recommendation:
- Wicanders
So now that you know about the best options for kitchen flooring, it is time for you to choose the type that suits your needs the best. Try to choose a kind of flooring and then choose the product based on the tips above. Kitchens get a ton of abuse and traffic, so this is one room where you should strongly consider an upgrade to your house. Strongly consider one of the three top options that we have discussed in this article based on all of the major considerations to find the best kitchen floor for you.
