What Materials Are Best For Kitchen Flooring When Remodeling
Learn About the Best Choices for
Kitchen Flooring When Remodeling
Above: Luxury Vinyl Plank installed in a Sun Prairie remodeled kitchen.
Your kitchen floor takes a lot of daily abuse. Between drips and spills, heat and dropped utensils, not to mention the constant traffic, your kitchen flooring must be able to handle a lot and look good while doing it.
Not every material is suited for this room. Some materials will last longer, with less maintenance and upkeep than others. The key to making the right choice for your kitchen flooring is balancing comfort, style, and function.
The kitchen is the hub of the modern home. It is not just a space for cooking, but today, it is also a gathering spot for family and friends and a focal point for activity. If your home features an open floor plan, the kitchen can express your personal style and function as a focal point of your design.
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When choosing your kitchen flooring, you need to consider durable materials that can handle the day-to-day wear and tear as well as the inevitable spills and splatters. Plus, it has to suit your personal style and fit into your remodeling budget.
Meeting these needs can be challenging. In this post, we will look at some of the most popular choices for kitchen flooring to meet your family's needs.
Considerations to Keep in Mind When Shopping for Kitchen Flooring
engineered wood floor can be refinished once or more in its lifespan, and has a factory baked-on finisht hat resists light scratches. like all wood, it can scratch and dent.
When considering different materials for your kitchen flooring, there are some attributes to look for to make sure it will stand up to daily use. Keep these critical criteria front of mind when shopping for kitchen flooring:
Look For Durability - The kitchen is the most used room in your home, is subject to spills, dropped pots and pans, lots of foot traffic, harsh chemicals, and moisture. Look for a material that is tough enough to stand up to your lifestyle and still look fabulous!
Water Resistance - Your kitchen is a semi-wet room, so the flooring you choose should be moisture resistant and not damaged by the occasional spilled glass of wine or juice.
Make it Scrubbable - Messes will happen and always seem to be directly underfoot. The best kitchen flooring is one that is easy to clean and easy to keep clean.
Don't Neglect Aesthetics! - In the end, you want your kitchen to match the aesthetic look of the rest of your home. With the kitchen flooring options available today, you can have a beautiful kitchen that's resilient too!
Choosing the Right Kitchen Flooring
Today, thanks to modern manufacturing technology, flooring manufacturers offer a wide range of materials across all price points that are functional, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. If you're planning on remodeling your kitchen, here are six popular materials that are perfect for a contemporary kitchen.
Hardwood
solid 3/4” site finished wood floor can last for centuries. this kitchen floor was refinished and new wood was added in seamlessly during remodeling.
By its nature, hardwood is durable and works in most areas of the home. However, it has some limitations in areas susceptible to excess moisture. For many years, it was considered a poor flooring material for bathrooms and kitchens. However, thanks to modern technology, hardwood is going through a bit of a renaissance! Modern sealers and polyurethane finishes make it much more durable and long-lasting.
Bamboo
Very similar to hardwood in look and feel, bamboo is actually stronger than hardwood. The way it is manufactured makes it more resistant to moisture and water damage. It's becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to hardwood. One drawback is that it can be somewhat expensive, and it can be difficult to refinish.
Ceramic Tile
a ceramic tile floor can last indefinitely. this floor was steam cleaned to renew the grout and make the extensive tile look like-new again. saving money on the tile floor allowed the clients to have enough money to remodel their mudroom as well.
Ceramic tile is made from natural clay, shaped, glazed, and fired under heat. The result is a durable and aesthetically beautiful kitchen flooring material that is extremely hard and impervious to water and stains. Ceramic tile, including porcelain – is heat resistant, resistant to breakage, available in a wide range of colors and patterns - including realistic wood grain, and can last indefinitely. Ceramic tile comes in a wide range of styles and shapes, offering a wealth of design options.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
Luxury vinyl plank flooring is one of the newer flooring products on the market, and it is getting a lot of attention. The planks resemble hardwood and are completely waterproof. The surface is a layer of luxury vinyl bonded to a waterproof core that's cushioned to produce a softer feel underfoot. Like other engineered flooring, LVP planks do not attach to the subfloor. The planks snap together, which makes it very DIY-friendly. It can even be installed over other surfaces like tile, concrete, or linoleum. LVP is occasionally also referred to as Engineered Vinyl Plank, EVP.
Pro tip: While LVP floors can be dented and scratched by dragging furniture or sharp edges across, these floors are the most resistant to the scratching that commonly happens to other wood floors because of a dog’s toenails.
Stone Tile
Every stone tile is unique. No two tiles are identical. It is non-slip and durable. Nothing is as luxurious as natural stone. While it can be expensive, when properly installed, it can last for years. That being said, stone tile is best installed by a professional. Even a slight discrepancy in the thickness of the mortar or failure to use the proper materials can result in stones popping off. Because it is a semi-porous surface, it's by and large a non-slip surface. Stone tile is available in several different species. These include Travertine, Marble, Slate, and Granite. Stone is easy to clean with soapy water and a wet mop. However, it can stain, so it will need periodic sealing to keep it looking its best.
Sheet Vinyl
Sheet vinyl has been around for decades, but this isn't your father's vinyl flooring! Thanks again to modern manufacturing technology, today's vinyl flooring is much more durable and looks great. Because it is laid as a single sheet, there are no seams. Making sheet vinyl completely waterproof, which is great in a kitchen that sees a lot of spills. It is a scrubbable, comfortable, and budget-friendly kitchen flooring material that doesn't get cold in winter and is easy to maintain. Regular sweeping and the occasional mopping with an all-purpose vinyl floor cleaner is enough. Like LVP flooring, sheet vinyl won’t be scratched by a dog’s toenails.
Today, you have any number of kitchen flooring materials available to fit any budget. When remodeling your kitchen, before you invest in new flooring, visit your local retailer or speak with your design-build professional to educate yourself on your options.
With so many choices available, you're sure to find the perfect kitchen flooring to meet your family's unique needs. Before buying your flooring, consider your lifestyle. Define your personal aesthetics, and be aware of the maintenance requirements of the various materials. You'll be well on your way to picking the perfect flooring for your kitchen remodeling project!
Working with a design-build firm for your kitchen remodeling project is a great choice. If you live in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area and are planning a kitchen remodeling project, give the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. Their award-winning design team is ready to help you realize your creative vision and choose the perfect kitchen flooring. Call today and arrange a free consultation to discuss your upcoming project.
This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 9/27/2022.