Are you thinking about remodeling your kitchen? If so, you have a number of responsibilities to tend to. One of your biggest responsibilities is choosing the right flooring material.
There is no shortage of kitchen flooring materials to choose from. Each of these materials provides not only a unique aesthetic but unique performance as well.
Below, we’re going to describe 7 of the most popular kitchen flooring options available to you. It is our hope that this helps you to choose the right material for you and your kitchen. Let’s go!
1. Porcelain Tile
A highly durable material, porcelain tile is a welcome upgrade from ceramic tile. Highly resistant to both moisture and physical trauma, it can withstand years of wear and tear.
Aesthetically speaking, porcelain tile is both gorgeous and various. Available in a variety of different styles, it runs the gamut from subdued, to loud, to colorful, to earthy, and everything in between.
One of the drawbacks of porcelain tile, however, is that it’s fairly hard. If you’re planning on standing up in your kitchen for hours at a time, you might want to consider a different material. On the other hand, if you’re only going to use your kitchen for sporadic cooking purposes, it will serve you just fine.
Cost-wise, porcelain tile leans toward the expensive side. However, due to its durability, it will pay for itself over time.
2. Linoleum
Consisting of linseed oil and cork powder, linoleum is an all-natural flooring material which comes in sheets. While it’s not inherently resistant to water, it can be made resistant to water through the application of a water-resistant coating. Tough and durable, linoleum is a great material to place in high-traffic areas.
When it comes to aesthetics, linoleum is similar to porcelain tile. This is to say that it’s both aesthetically various and beautiful. You can find linoleum sheets with all types of designs, including faux wood designs, vintage designs, modern designs, and more.
If you cook in your kitchen on a regular basis, linoleum is a great flooring material to have. This is because it’s one of the softer flooring materials available and is very easy on the feet. Throw in the fact that it’s relatively cheap and you’ve got one of the most popular kitchen flooring options around.
3. Wood
For years, wood floors were not viable options for kitchens. This is because sealers had not yet evolved to a point appropriate to protect wood floors from water damage. Fortunately, as of late, that’s all changed.
Now, homeowners can use wood floors in their kitchens without worry. As long as they provide them with the proper maintenance, they will thrive for decades and decades.
If you already have wood floors throughout the rest of your home, you might consider adding them to your kitchen as well. Tough, durable, and aesthetically appealing, they can bring a truly unique look to any kitchen in which they exist.
4. Vinyl
Due to its low price, vinyl flooring is one of the more popular options for homeowners who are remodeling their kitchens. However, this material isn’t only renowned for its low price. It also performs exceptionally well.
Made entirely out of synthetic materials, vinyl flooring is resistant to water, easy to clean, and very soft on the feet. This makes it a terrific option for most residential kitchens.
In terms of aesthetics, this material is passable, but not exceptional. It’s often designed to mimic the appearance of wood and other popular flooring materials.
Perhaps the biggest problem with vinyl is that, because it’s soft, it can’t withstand a great deal of wear and tear. For this reason, it’s best kept out of high-traffic areas.
5. Laminate
In many ways, laminate flooring is a lot like vinyl flooring. For instance, both materials are often designed to mimic high-end materials such as wood and stone. Not to mention, they’re very similarly priced.
However, there are differences between the two. While vinyl is 100% synthetic, laminate flooring is actually primarily made out of wood. This makes it a little tougher than vinyl, but also makes it more vulnerable to water damage.
While both materials are fairly soft, laminate has greater warmth capabilities than vinyl. This makes it a better material for the winter months when the temperatures drop down low.
Honestly, between laminate and vinyl, it’s a bit of a toss-up. However, it is important to note that laminate generally provides a greater resale value than does vinyl.
6. Cork
One of the more popular kitchen flooring ideas as of late is to utilize cork flooring. This wood flooring material stands out just as much for its unique aesthetic as it does for its versatile functionality. Add in the fact that it’s fairly inexpensive, and it’s really a great option.
Cork flooring is soft, slip-resistant, and capable of staying warm during the cold months. While it’s not inherently water-resistant, it can be made water-resistant through the application of sealers.
Unfortunately, it’s not the toughest material around. Should you expose it to a great deal of traffic, it will start to wear down fairly quickly.
7. Natural Stone
Natural stone flooring is generally found in luxury homes. The reason for this? It’s substantially more expensive than any other flooring material on the market.
However, if you can afford it, it’s definitely worth the purchase. Not only is natural stone resistant to water damage and physical trauma, but it’s also extremely low-maintenance as well. Plus, it provides an aesthetic that’s nothing short of glorious.
There is one more negative aspect of natural stone, however, and that negative aspect is its hardness. Standing on natural stone flooring for long periods of time will take a toll on your feet.
Ready to Install Kitchen Flooring in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin?
Have you made your choice? Ready to install kitchen flooring in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin? If so, Conger Construction is the company to call.
Possessing over 30 years of experience, we have installed kitchen floors in countless homes throughout the Fond Du Lac area. It doesn’t matter which material you choose to have installed, we can help you.
Contact us today for a free estimate!