Kitchen Floor Options

Published by: Elizabeth Gormley
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

Many homeowners eventually reach the point when it’s time to remodel the kitchen, and changing the kitchen floor is a great way to do so. The reason for kitchen remodeling could be wear and tear, or simply a desire for a new style. Keeping up with the times isn’t cheap, and it’s estimated that the kitchen floor alone costs an average of four percent of the entire budget.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, the most versatile room in the house, whether one lives alone or has a big family. It’s an active room where the meals are prepared, and also a relaxing place where one might sit at the counter or table to chat on the phone, read a book, or gaze out the window. Choosing the right floor for your kitchen must not be taken lightly. It’s where all the rest of the new appliances, counters, cabinets, stools, chairs, and tables will sit. You’ll want kitchen flooring that’s sensible and also announces your style to everyone who sets foot on it.
    Tile works well in warmer climates because it’s cool, and it can be painted to go along with the climate. Maybe a cactus, palm tree or horseshoe pattern suits you. Plain terra-cotta is conservative without being boring, and it goes with anything. Some stenciled foliage would compliment a cozy country kitchen, or maybe some crisscrossed skis in a lodge in the mountains. Tile lasts a long time, but it can chip or crack beneath excessive stress, and it is not forgiving on dropped glassware. Ceramic tile has been used as a decorative building material longer than anything else.
    Kitchens that tend to get much traffic, especially a house with pets and kids, should go with vinyl flooring. Vinyl is the most popular choice in kitchen flooring because it’s durable, inexpensive, easy to install, and simple to maintain. The best kitchen vinyl flooring has “inlaid construction,” rather than painted-on color and pattern, making nicks less noticeable. Most vinyl floors have a thick urethane layer for stain-resistance and shine.
Linoleum is considered kitchen flooring’s “greenest” option. It’s made of all-natural products—linseed oil, pine resin, and wood flour. Linoleum comes in all colors, the solid or marbleized square piecing that’s ideal for a kitchen with a retro-vibe. Pick out a big clock and maybe a jukebox or gumball machine for a fun, diner-style 1950s kitchen.
    A hardwood kitchen floor is a handsome choice, with options like maple and cherry. Hardwood can be dark or light, shiny or distressed. Pine is a soft wood, which may provide the sort of dents and distressing that compliment a country kitchen. Plank, strip and parquet are some of the most popular ways to install a hardwood kitchen floor. Wood floors warm all rooms, but especially the kitchen.
    Whatever kitchen floor designs you decide upon, keep in mind the option to install an interior heating system for your floor to fight the winter chill. Prepare some soup on a snowy day and rest assured your feet will stay toasty.
Remember to be practical when deciding on kitchen flooring, but also be creative and have fun!

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