What Is the Best Flooring for a Kitchen?
Improving a kitchen can be as simple as painting the walls a brighter color or as complex as doing a complete renovation with new flooring, cabinetry, countertops, and appliances. One of the seemingly simple ways to spruce up a kitchen’s appearance and functionality is to install new flooring, but what is the best flooring for a kitchen?
Though a new kitchen floor appears to be a small but mighty way to enhance one of the most used rooms in the house, installing new flooring takes a lot of consideration, starting with materials. As a top provider of kitchen remodeling services in Southeast MI, Cabinet Creations knows everything there is to know about flooring installations, from doing a kitchen floor change without cabinet removal to finding stylish and durable materials.
In the article below, we share our take on some of the best flooring options for kitchens.
8 Best Kitchen Flooring Options
When asking, “What is the best flooring for a kitchen,” you should consider several factors:
- Appearance and style
- Versatility
- Water resistance
- Price
- Durability
- Maintenance
- Installation
According to those factors, these are the top kitchen flooring materials to consider for your next remodeling project.
1. Hardwood Floors
Hardwood is a classic choice for flooring in any room except the bathroom. Most households with hardwood flooring don’t use it in their bathrooms because the material isn’t water resistant and bathrooms are humid.
Though kitchen floors are also prone to moisture from spills, splashes, and leaks from the refrigerator, sink, and dishwasher, you can improve the material’s water resistance by applying a sealant and immediately cleaning spills. With sealant, you will have a stunning floor in one of the many hardwood colors available, leaving you with a beautiful, traditional-looking kitchen floor.
2. Engineered Hardwood
If you want the appeal of hardwood without a heavy price tag, engineered hardwood with a composite plywood core is an excellent option. The surface of the planks resembles popular wood species in various colors and shades, but they have outstanding moisture resistance.
Unfortunately, engineered hardwood isn’t the best option for high-traffic areas. Still, it performs well under moderate traffic and can hold up to multiple refinishing projects to preserve its appearance.
3. Ceramic or Porcelain Tiles
Installing tile is the best way to ensure your kitchen floor is waterproof. The ceramic and porcelain tile production process makes the material nonporous, so it’s waterproof and stain resistant.
The design possibilities with ceramic and porcelain tiles are endless because they come in many colors, shapes, and styles. You can easily give your kitchen a fresh look by installing the tiles in a unique pattern of your choosing.
4. Cork Flooring
One of the most environmentally friendly kitchen floor materials is cork. It consists of ground cork and resin and is available in a snap, glue, or peel-and-stick assembly. Due to the nature of the material, cork floors feel pleasantly soft and springy underfoot.
Other advantages of installing cork in your kitchen are its low cost, surprising durability, and color availability. Unfortunately, the material isn’t waterproof or water-resistant, so you must clean spills quickly to avoid stains.
5. Vinyl Planks
Many people say “vinyl” when someone asks, “What is the best flooring for a kitchen?” Modern vinyl is available in planks and tiles, allowing it to mimic the look and feel of hardwood and natural stone without the high expense. Like cork, vinyl planks feel soft when you walk on them. It’s also low maintenance and easy to install.
A possible drawback to installing vinyl planks is the lack of sturdiness. It’s a softer material than stone or ceramic and porcelain tiles, so moving heavy appliances on it can create dents or scratches if you’re not careful.
6. Stone Tiles
For a high-end luxury aesthetic in your kitchen, consider installing stone tiles in marble, granite, or travertine. Since these natural stones form in nature instead of a manufacturing plant, their slabs all feature one-of-a-kind patterns, making them unique. The material is extremely durable and perfect for many kitchen aesthetics because you can choose from many earthy colors, with red, blue, gray, and white veining or natural imperfections.
7. Laminate Flooring
Many homes have laminate kitchen floors, and for a good reason. The material is generally cost-effective to purchase and install, though some luxury styles have a higher price point. You can also find laminate in many colors and designs that look like other expensive flooring options.
Laminate is the best material to use if you want to install your kitchen floor without professional help. It’s lightweight, flexible, and has a sealant for water resistance, so it’s a good choice for DIY projects.
8. Bamboo Flooring
For an option similar to hardwood in texture but has more durability and strength, look no further than bamboo. Bamboo is a beautiful material available in engineered and solid varieties. Yet, strand woven bamboo in plank form is best for kitchens due to its excellent water resistance and durability.
DIY vs. Professional Flooring Installation
Though some flooring materials, like laminate, are easy to install, not all kitchen flooring installations work as DIY jobs. Tackling this type of project can produce a lot of stress if you’re inexperienced because it requires you to know how to accurately measure the kitchen, remove old flooring, measure and cut new flooring materials, and more.
If you make an error, you’ll have to pay someone to fix it. It’s better to hire a professional.
Get a Kitchen Flooring Installation Consultation From Cabinet Creations Today
Caring for kitchen wood floors or another quality flooring material starts with having a professional installation from our Cabinet Creations kitchen remodeling experts. Our crew of designers and installers have years of experience upgrading kitchens throughout Southeast MI, using the best products and industry-leading tactics. From creating custom cabinetry to handling kitchen flooring, plumbing, and electrical upgrades, our staff does it all.
Instead of asking, “What is the best flooring for a kitchen?” allow us to install a beautiful new floor with high-grade materials in your home. Call Cabinet Creations today at (248) 618-3332 for a kitchen remodeling consultation.
A proud graduate of Michigan State University, Kirk embarked on his business career in 2005, shortly after college. Since then, he has owned and operated multiple successful businesses, including SouthStreet Auto Care, demonstrating his versatility as an entrepreneur. Kirk's passion lies in the development and nurturing of high-performing teams, and he derives great satisfaction from excelling at the tasks at hand alongside his colleagues. His ethos revolves around designing and installing cabinets that not only update the aesthetics of a kitchen or bathroom but also significantly improve its functionality.
From his humble beginnings to his current success, Kirk Richardson exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship and serves as an inspiration to aspiring business owners and craftsmen alike.
For more information on Kirk check out his bio page at https://cabinetcreations.net/kirk-richardson/
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