What is the Best Flooring For a Kitchen?

The flooring in your kitchen should complement your decor, cabinets, and appliances, but it should also be durable and practical. Today, choosing the perfect kitchen flooring for your space can be difficult due to an overwhelming amount of options. Let’s simplify the decision-making process by highlighting four flooring categories. This will help you decide which option will work best for you and your kitchen.

Hardwood Kitchen Flooring

Hardwood is a desirable flooring option that can give you a good return on investment if you ever decide to sell your home. You can choose between solid hardwood or engineered hardwood for your kitchen.

Engineered wood is durable, practical and it looks like real wood. It has a veneer of real wood on the top layer, followed by layers of less expensive plywood. This helps provide the stability that makes the flooring less likely to move due to changes in humidity and temperature—both common in kitchens.

These are both good options if:

• You want your kitchen to look modern, even in years to come.

• You have an open floor plan.

• You seek durability and long-term use.

• You want a low-maintenance option.

Vinyl Kitchen Flooring

Sheet vinyl is a great option for those seeking a soft flooring option. If you cook, bake or hang out in your kitchen a lot, this flooring makes it easier on your feet while easing muscle fatigue.

Sheet vinyl comes in comes in two different varieties, printed or inlaid. Printed vinyl is fused directly to the backing layer, where inlaid vinyl is much like laminate, where the design is protected by a clear plastic coating.

Thicker vinyl can feature a textured surface, and some types look similar to ceramic tile and real stone. Textured vinyl is a wise choice because it provides traction to minimize slipping.

Vinyl sheets and planks are extremely affordable and come in many different colors, designs, and patterns. If you’re looking for a wood floor, but can’t afford hardwood or laminate, vinyl can be a great alternative. Because vinyl is so durable, it works great for any room in your home, not just the kitchen.

Vinyl flooring is a good option if:

• You want a low-maintenance floor.

• You want an inexpensive flooring option.

• You want a durable flooring option that has less breakage than others.

• You want a flooring option that resists scratches.

Note: Vinyl and linoleum are different flooring options. While linoleum is a similar product, it is not as durable, nor as soft.

Porcelain Tile Kitchen Flooring

Porcelain tile, a version of ceramic tile, is an extremely strong and made-to-last option for floors. It’s fired at high temperatures to produce a durable, stain-resistant tile that’s impervious to moisture.

Porcelain tile comes in glazed and unglazed options. Glazed tiles have a glass-like coating that’s available in many different colors, and looks a lot like real stone without the high price tag.

The unglazed versions take on the color of the clay, so they naturally have earthy, beige tones.

Porcelain tile is a good option if:

• You want durable flooring.

• You like the look of stone.

• You need a low-maintenance flooring option.

Cork Kitchen Flooring

Cork flooring is made from tree bark. It’s an eco-friendly flooring option because it’s a sustainable material, meaning the bark grows back and can be harvested again later.

Suberin, a natural substance in cork, works to prevent mold and rot. It also has natural insulation properties that can help reduce heating costs.

Cork flooring has a limited amount of color options, but it looks like real wood.

Cork flooring is a good option if:

• You’re concerned about fires due to heaters. Cork flooring is naturally fire resistant.

• You’re seeking easy installation.

• Your kitchen has an uneven floor.

• You wish to install the flooring over wood or linoleum.

• You want a warm walking surface.

• Your kitchen is a high-traffic area. Scratches will blend in easily.

Unlike other low-maintenance flooring options mentioned, cork floors need to be resealed every five years to keep its waterproof characteristics.

Both natural wax and water-based polyurethane are good sealers for cork.

If you’re trying to decide what flooring to install in your kitchen, contact the experts at Jabara’s for personalized tips.