What’s the Best Floor Choice for a Kitchen? – Pros & Cons

What’s the Best Floor Choice for a Kitchen? – Pros & Cons

The kitchen, one of the busiest rooms in a family home; and probably my favourite! Often described as the ‘heart of the home’, it’s where we come together to cook, eat and talk about our day, so when it comes to foundations it’s important that you only have the best. That’s why today I wanted to go through my favourite types of kitchen floors with you all to look at what’s the best floor choice for a kitchen.

When it comes to choosing a floor for your kitchen there’s a lot to bear in mind. Now, you may think that your kitchen floor should be sleek and stylish, but you also have to ensure that the floor is practical and durable, as well as not being at risk of warping or expansion if it comes into contact with moisture exposure.

What’s the Best Floor Choice for a Kitchen?

Pros:
The beauty of vinyl flooring is that it can replicate just about any surface but at a much lower cost. If you’re like me and you have an eye for a bargain then vinyl is definitely up there for the most budget-friendly option, it’s also incredibly robust and durable whilst remaining comfortable underfoot. Vinyl flooring is also waterproof, which is ideal for a room like the kitchen and since it is fully waterproof it’s one of the easiest floors to clean and maintain – simply mop it with a warm damp mop and away you go! As I mentioned before, vinyl is manufactured to imitate other types of flooring and until you look really closely you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference!

Cons:

Nothing is perfect, so what are the downfalls of vinyl? Well, if damage does occur then it is likely that the whole floor will need to be repaired which is not ideal! Unlike wood flooring, vinyl does not add any value to your home and it doesn’t always work well with underfloor heating, if you were planning on installing it alongside that then you should always check with the manufacturer!

Rating: 9/10

• Laminate

Pros:

Laminate flooring is a really popular choice for the kitchen, probably because it’s one of the easier floors to install and is a breeze when it comes to cleaning and maintaining. It is very resistant to things like scratches, dents and fading, however, if a part of the floor is damaged then it can be removed and replaced with minimal hassle. If you need to repair any damaged floors, you don’t have to worry about spending money because the cost to install laminating floor is low when compared to other types of flooring. A lot of people are sceptical when it comes to placing laminate in the kitchen because they worry about water damage, but because the seams on the top layer of the laminate are pressed together so tightly the chance of water reaching the core of the board and then warping the shape of the wood is minimal.

Cons:

Although laminate flooring is a pretty cheap option, there are some that might say it looks cheap too. Personally I disagree and I have always maintained the view “you get what you pay for” so if you’re willing to spend a little more on a good quality laminate, this will be the least of your worries! I mentioned earlier that laminate is quite easy to repair, there is a catch to this though, this only counts if the flooring was installed in single pieces. If it wasn’t then things can get a bit tricky when it comes to repairing any damage and in some cases, the whole floor may need replacing.

Rating: 8/10

• Solid Wood

Pros:

Nothing says beauty like a natural wood floor in fact, this is probably one of my favourites on the list, but how does it hold up in a kitchen environment? This question has been debated by many, the arguments for solid wood flooring are mostly based on the aesthetics that it offers. Wood flooring brings a lovely, warm vibe to any room and really is a stunning feature but other than this alone it probably isn’t the safest option to have in your kitchen, allow me to explain..

Cons:

Solid wood is not recommended for the kitchen, the main reason being that real wood floors are prone to water and humidity to damage, so to place them in a room where this is most likely to happen is a recipe for disaster. If wood floors are installed in this kind of environment then they will adapt to the moisture levels that surround them, meaning that they will expand and contract over time – not ideal. It pains me to say it but for this reason alone, it looks like real wood is gonna have a low score for kitchen compatibility!

Rating: 3/10

• Natural Stone

Pros:

Natural stone tiles are absolutely stunning, whether it’s marble, limestone or travertine, they can have a real impact on your room and bring a natural, rustic vibe with them. They are also incredibly durable and once installed are guaranteed to last for an extremely long time. Natural stone floors also require very little maintenance, just a simple clean on a daily basis will help to achieve that fresh look. Stone floors also help if you have any allergy sufferers in your home, this is because things like dirt or pollen can’t stick to the stone itself so they wont be in your homes atmosphere. If you’re looking for a floor that can handle heavy traffic/footfall or a floor that you know is going to last a lifetime then this is the one for you!

Cons:

One of the biggest downfalls to stone flooring is that they can get really cold when it comes to winter time, so if you don’t have underfloor heating, prepare for cold feet! An unavoidable trait of natural stone is the price tag – it can be really pricey, unfortunately there’s no way around this so if you’re working towards a budget, this might not be the one for you. Although I discussed the advantages of the floor being incredibly durable, the strength of the surface can make for more damage and heavier falls, for example if you drop some crockery, wave goodbye to it, if someone falls over, get ready to go with a bang!

Rating: 8/10

So there you have it, a few of my favourite kitchen floors and how I rate them – of course, don’t let me be the judge and tell me your thoughts on the best floor choice for a kitchen!

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