In most new and even older homes, the kitchen seems to be the hubbub of activity. It is the center of movement for almost any project from cooking and homework to family activities. With that kind of work and play, a kitchen floor is going to take the brunt of wear and tear in a home, which means that any choice of flooring will have to be tough and durable to withstand high traffic and everyday use.
There are flooring choices that are designed for high traffic areas and depending on the style of a home and the taste of the owner, dependable and long-lasting flooring can be found to suit almost anyone.
Floor Groupings
Most kitchen flooring can be grouped into three areas, which include natural stone, engineered and solid hardwoods and tile flooring, and they are described as follows:
Natural Stone Flooring For Your Kitchen
Natural stone flooring is a good alternative for homeowners who want to deviate from the norm and bring an elegant, welcoming and exclusive look to a kitchen floor. Stone is varied in its patterns, textures and colors and adds intensity to a floor that is difficult to duplicate when comparing it to other flooring choices.
Stone’s Longevity
Stone is classic and has natural beauty, and it can be found in variety of stone types, sizes and shapes. Limestone, granite, slate, flagstone, marble and travertine have graced many a kitchen floor and other parts of a home for eons.
The allure of stone flooring is its variation durability and fairly easy maintenance. Stone flooring is also cool on the feet, and it is particularly adaptable to kitchens in warmer climates.
Stone flooring is not cheap and actual installation should be left to the professionals, plus more porous stone types require intermittent sealing. Dirt and food particles can get trapped in its surface, and chips, scratches and peeling can be issues with softer stones, like travertine and slate.
Engineered and Solid Hardwood Flooring For Your Kitchen
Hardwood flooring, whether engineered or solid, has been a popular flooring choice for some time, and it coordinates with most any kitchen design. Rich tones from light to dark can enhance country, modern, traditional, coastal and any other kitchen style with little effort, and if the wood is engineered, it can become a budget friendly DIY project without a lot of difficulty.
Solid Wood
Solid wood lasts forever and consistently retains its richness and style, especially if is cared for and treated in the right way. It can retain its luster and classic looks even if it goes through restoration to original condition through sanding, treating and sealing. Solid wood consists of totally solid hardwood where each and every plank is a solid piece of wood.
Most solid wood floors of quality are consistent in their coloration, grain and stability. Their comfort level is moderate as wood doesn’t yield as easily as other flooring materials. Scratches, dents and chips also need to be overseen as they can occur with wood, which can necessitate refinishing when flooring is showing signs of long-term wear. Damage control can be at a minimum if spills and messes are taken care of quickly. If a pre-finished hardwood is used, resistance to moisture is much greater.
Engineered Wood
Engineered wood flooring is available in every type of wood look from oak to cherry, to hickory, to maple and pine. There is no shortage of choices for kitchen flooring with engineered wood. It consists of layers in which the top and bottom sections are comprised of natural wood and the middle or core is made up of a number of plywood layers that cross one another in different directions.
Durable and Stable
Engineered wood is durable, stable and resistant to dampness, moisture and heat. It resists buckling and is less costly than solid wood flooring and easier to install, and in-floor heating can be placed beneath it.
Tile Flooring For High Traffic Kitchens
Tile flooring is the most used and budget-friendly of any kitchen surface flooring and it provides unending choices in colors, sizes, styles and patterns. Homeowners can select tile flooring that is perfect for their kitchen layout, from traditional and contemporary styles to European elegance. The many choices and textures of today’s ceramic tiles enable a homeowner to select one that has the right kind of texture and durability to withstand high traffic.
Daily Wear and Tear
Ceramic tile withstands daily wear and tear and is extremely easy to clean and can handle any kind of spill or mess. Its low priced options and designs also allow for customization and DIY installation, so savings are substantial.
Cracking and Breaking
Tile is subject to cracking when it settles and most anything breakable, such dinnerware, cups or glasses is likely to shatter on a tile floor. Tile is also cold and hard on the feet. Water or other liquids spilled on tile can make it slippery and sticky. Tile also usually requires intermittent care through sealing and cleaning, particularly if grout is cracking or missing and stains are accumulating.
Depending on the needs of your kitchen and the type of activities that occur there, any one of these flooring groups would be acceptable and helpful in alleviating problems with high traffic. If you still unsure of what is the best flooring for you and your kitchen, complete the online contact form and a flooring representative will quickly get back to you with the information you need to help you with your decision.
