What are your options for your home floor?
The kitchen is one of the most-used rooms in the house. Its flooring needs to stand up to high traffic, spills, dropped plates, kids, and pets. When remodeling your kitchen, the floor you choose must fit within your budget, design, and how you will use it.
Here are five solid flooring choices that will stand the test of time in the kitchen:
1. Hardwood
Hardwood is an excellent flooring material in the kitchen for a number of reasons. It has a little give so that the occasional dropped glass may not break, and, if you spend a lot of time standing in your kitchen, it is a bit easier on your legs and feet. Spills wipe away easily. You can sand out noticeable dents and scratches and reapply finish. It looks classic and if you undertake a larger interior remodeling project like creating an open floor plan, the hardwood flows well throughout the main level. It will show wear and tear over time since it is easily scratched and dented. However, if that is a huge issue, there are hardwoods more resistant to wear than others.
2. Tile
Tile ties with hardwood as the most popular choice for the kitchen. Generally speaking it is slightly lower in cost and comes in an endless variety of options. It cleans off easily as long as you take care of your grout. Insist upon a stain resistant grout of a darker hue to help maintain its appearance longer. It is a much harder substance than wood and for that reason, its pros and cons are nearly the opposite. For long periods of standing, consider purchasing an area rug or mat. A dropped glass will shatter. But on the plus side, scratching and denting are non-issues for tile. Beware of dropping something heavy enough to crack a tile though because they are more challenging to replace.
3. Cork
Cork is steadily growing as material homeowners are choosing for the kitchen. It is considered a “green” option because it is a rapid growing renewable resource. Even softer than wood, it provides great cushioning for long periods of standing. Little dings will eventually correct themselves over time though major damage is not easily repaired. It requires a more vigilant cleaning to prevent staining and discoloration. Regular resealing with polyurethane or wax is a necessity.
5. Vinyl
Good old vinyl remains one of the most popular flooring options today. It is the most economical, comes in a large variety of designs, and is easy to clean. It is not forgiving when it comes to damage however, so beware of how you treat it!
