Kitchen flooring has to put up with a lot. Between spills and drips, heat and dropped utensils, as well as plenty of foot traffic, the flooring in this space has to be able to handle multiple hazards and look good while doing it. Not every flooring material is well suited for this location, and some materials are more durable and require less maintenance than others. Balancing style, function, and comfort is the key to making the right choice. Here are 5 different flooring materials that are great options for your kitchen.
Vinyl is one of the easiest and most versatile kitchen flooring solutions. This man-made material is nearly impervious to stains, damage, and water issues, and cleaning it is as easy as keeping it free of stagnant water and debris with regular sweeping, vacuuming, or mopping. Vinyl continues to grow in popularity and is one of the most inexpensive flooring materials on the market. Because it is man-made, there are countless patterns to choose from that will definitely fit your style and budget.
Vinyl does not last as long as other floor coverings and can easily be scratched or torn, but there are longer lasting options like luxury vinyl tile or luxury vinyl planks that offer similar durability but longer lifespans.
Bamboo is harder and more durable than hardwood, so we’ve included bamboo as our natural wood flooring choice for kitchens. The manufacturing process for bamboo makes the material more water resistant, making it an increasingly popular choice. For kitchen flooring, the durability of bamboo is much more favorable than hardwood.
The two downsides to bamboo flooring are both expense related. It is more expensive than hardwood upfront and it is more expensive to refinish. If well kept, refinishing will not need to happen often, but just like hardwood, refinishing bamboo can be pricey.
Ceramic tile is a material made from natural clay that is shaped, glazed, and fired under heat. It is an extremely durable flooring material and impervious to water and stains. Ceramic tile—including porcelain—is resistant to heat and breakage, and under normal conditions, it can last indefinitely with little change to its appearance or function over time. Ceramic tiles are also available in numerous colors, faux natural patterns, as well as sizes, shapes, and even mosaics, giving you a wealth of design options.
Ceramic tile can be somewhat cold underfoot, though this can be remedied with a radiant heating system installed beneath the tiles. Some find ceramic tile to be too hard, so it’s common to use area rugs near places like the stove and kitchen sink where it’s common to stand still for extended periods of time.
If you have a ground-level kitchen with no basement, concrete can be another inexpensive and long-lasting option for you. In some cases, a concrete slab will already be in place beneath existing floor coverings. Concrete can be polished, stained, or treated in a variety of ways to make it a very stylish and attractive kitchen floor. Concrete floors are especially popular in modern-style kitchens.
Similar to ceramic flooring, concrete floors are somewhat cold and unforgiving underfoot. The look of concrete flooring is not for everyone, so some see concrete floors as a drawback when it’s time to sell your home.
Just as you’d expect, natural stone is a durable, long-lasting flooring solution for the kitchen. Natural stone flooring options include marble, granite, slate, limestone, travertine, and sandstone. Marble and granite in particular are very luxurious options due to their natural veining, and they usually add that luxurious value and look to the home.
Not all stone is the same, but the biggest drawback to natural stone is that it is porous and therefore susceptible to water and liquid stain penetration, a common problem in the kitchen. This can be avoided with a high-quality stone sealer applied on a regular basis.
The professionals at Weaver Carpets would love to guide you through the kitchen flooring process for your Denver home. We have two locations on either side of Denver where we would be happy to show you some options and narrow your choices.
Contact Weaver Carpets today to get started!
