When it comes to your kitchen, choosing the right flooring is crucial. This is why homeowners spend so much time trying to answer the question, “what is the best flooring for a kitchen?”
Kitchen floors are important because they accentuate the design and theme of your kitchen, its features, and the rest of your house. While they help with the look, you also want flooring that can withstand water spills, dropped pans, and other common kitchen mishaps.
When it comes to picking your kitchen flooring, you have several options. To help you determine what is the best flooring for a kitchen, we’ll go over some popular types and their pros and cons.
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Kitchen Flooring
Budget
It’s important to factor in your budget for your kitchen floors. Since flooring comes in several different materials, the costs of installing flooring can vary significantly, especially if you have a large kitchen. Be sure you know your price range before falling in love with one type of flooring.
Style
Each flooring material has specific design styles with which it works best. For example, a country-style kitchen can aesthetically thrive with hardwood floors but may look odd with ceramic tile. You’ll want to find the style that best suits you and see what flooring matches it.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Different materials require different amounts of cleaning and maintenance to uphold their appearance. If you have kids or pets in the house that may cause a mess, perhaps consider flooring that is easier to maintain.
Comfort
You might want forgiving flooring if you use your kitchen daily and for hours at a time. A softer material can provide comfort benefits for those who regularly cook. Wood tends to be on the softer side, while tiles can be hard to stand on for longer periods of time. You can always put down rugs in front of stoves, sinks, and other areas where you stand.
The Best Kitchen Flooring Options
What is the best flooring for a kitchen? Finding your perfect flooring material requires a basic understanding of the pros and cons of some standard flooring, so let’s look at 6 popular types.
Hardwood
Hardwood flooring is a beautiful option for your kitchen. Hardwood works perfectly with traditional and country-style homes, and the many patterns and colors make it a little more versatile. Though not waterproof, adding a sealer can make hardwood flooring water-resistant and relatively easy to clean and maintain. There are many types of hardwoods to choose from too, each with a different color. You can also choose between hardwood and engineered hardwood.
Perhaps the biggest downside of hardwood flooring is the price. That said, the expense of hardwood also means your home’s value will increase if you keep up with the maintenance requirements.
If hardwood flooring is within your budget and fits your kitchen style, it’s an excellent choice.
Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles are among the most durable and damage-resistant flooring materials. Porcelain is waterproof, difficult to stain, and relatively easy to clean, making it a reliable choice for those with kids or pets. You’ll also have a lot of freedom when it comes to customizing the tiles, meaning porcelain can fit well with various kitchen designs and styles.
The grout between porcelain tiles is the most challenging part to maintain. Since the grout is susceptible to staining, you’ll have to seal it periodically. Porcelain tiles can also be an expensive option, especially for larger kitchens.
When it comes to porcelain vs ceramic flooring, porcelain is superior to ceramic tile for those looking for an easy-to-clean kitchen floor.
Engineered Vinyl Plank
Engineered vinyl flooring is relatively new but is quickly gaining popularity among homeowners.
Vinyl planks mimic the appearance of hardwood flooring but offer a bit more stylistic versatility. Engineered vinyl is one of the most affordable flooring options, and you can even install it yourself to save money.
On the downside, vinyl is a weaker material than porcelain or ceramic tile and is susceptible to scratches and other damage. It also won’t increase your home’s value like natural hardwood. Vinyl flooring is, however, easy to clean with soapy water and a mop.
Vinyl can also benefit you if you cook regularly, as the soft material is kind on your feet. Vinyl is perfect if you want a cheaper option that still offers the attractive look of hardwood.
Laminate
Like engineered vinyl, laminate material can resemble hardwood flooring for a much lower cost. You can attach laminate floor pieces and glue them down, making laminate flooring more manageable to install than engineered vinyl planks.
Laminate flooring is often not waterproof and can be significantly less durable than other flooring options. We recommend engineered vinyl planks over laminate material if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to hardwood with the same aesthetic appeal.
Cork
Cork flooring is perhaps the softest option, making it ideal if you cook for long periods at a time. The darker shading of cork, typically available in grey, brown, and black, makes it an excellent choice for deep-colored modern kitchens. Cleaning cork flooring is relatively easy as well.
Cork is stain-resistant but not stainproof. That said, sanding, staining, and sealing a cork floor can refinish and eliminate stains. If you opt for cork flooring, keep it out of constant sunlight as it may fade over time.
Cork is rapidly becoming a popular choice for flooring for kitchens. Consider cork flooring if you want a soft floor at an affordable price.
Concrete
You can style concrete to look like other flooring materials, making it a durable and versatile option. Concrete is cheaper than hardwood or tile and is waterproof. However, if you plan on cooking regularly and for long periods, know that concrete can be harsh on your feet.
Home Improvement in Pasadena, Maryland
Hopefully, this article has provided insight into what flooring material suits you and your kitchen. Remember to consider your budget, design, style, and desired comfort and cleaning requirements when asking, “What is the best flooring for a kitchen?”
If you’ve decided which flooring material you want to use, it’s time to find a reliable home improvement company in Pasadena, Maryland. Brucksch and Sons Contractors, LLC is your go-to company if you want to turn your kitchen dream into a reality.
Contact Brucksch and Sons Contractors, LLC by filling out our contact form today so we can get your kitchen project underway!