The kitchen floor is one of the areas most susceptible to abuse – scratches, dropped chinaware, splattered juice, grease and sunlight. Add these factors to the high amount of foot traffic in this area and you can imagine just how much wear and tear the kitchen floor suffers day after day! If your kitchen floors need replacing, you might want to consider these options:
Solid Wood Solid wood scores high if beauty and natural warmth are on the top of your list. Moreover, it can be sanded and refinished several times whenever your floors are in need a facelift! However, solid wood flooring is harder to install and tends to dent, discolor and wear more quickly as compared with other alternatives. Plus, solid wood flooring cannot be installed in the basement and other damp places.
Engineered Wood This flooring material is fast becoming a favorite substitute for solid wood flooring among many homeowners today. Engineered wood uses a wood veneer over plywood and can be floated, nailed, stapled or glued just like plastic laminate flooring. The downside of this flooring material is that it dents easily and wears quickly. Be wary of small spills if you insist on using engineered wood since it can damage the surface quite easily. Remember to take extra care of it since engineered wood can only be refinished once.
Ceramic Tiles – Ceramic tiles fit beautifully in any kitchen. It is also resistant to some of the most common factors that wreak havoc in any kitchen floors. What’s the downside of using this material? Installing ceramic tile flooring can be quite difficult. And one other thing – cups and dishes will surely break quite easily when dropped in this hard surface!
Plastic Laminate – If you are looking for a tough flooring material that can be easily installed, you should consider plastic laminates. Plastic laminates are also considered as the fastest growing alternatives to wood. The best plastic laminates in the market can match solid wood point for point. Some can even be better than wood in terms of resistance to scratches, dents and moisture. You will also be amazed with the great variety of colors and designs available! However, laminates can be damaged by large spills and it cannot be refinished when its surface begin to show signs of wear and tear.
Linoleum – Most consumers often confuse linoleum with vinyl. However, there is a great difference between the two. While vinyl is made up of plastic materials, linoleum is composed mainly of linseed oil and wood products. For homeowners who want a natural and resilient flooring material that holds up to dents, sunlight and moisture quite effectively, linoleum can clearly be the right choice. Moreover, linoleum comes in a wide variety of colors and styles so there will always be one that is perfect for your kitchen!
Vinyl – And finally, there is vinyl. Vinyl can be ideal for your kitchen floors if resistance and durability are on the top of your list. Vinyl has been proven to stand up to the abuse brought about by the sun’s UV rays, moisture and stains longer than any of the other flooring materials. You can also get to choose from the many designs and colors available. Some premium vinyl products can even look like stone and other natural materials. Plus, installing vinyl can be a breeze; you can get it done in no time at all!
These are just some of the most common flooring options that you can use in your kitchen. Each one of these options has unique features and qualities as well as downsides. Use this as a guideline in choosing the right flooring material for your kitchen and you can never go wrong!