Flooring is one of the biggest considerations for a home, whether you are building new, buying another person's residence, or renovating your own home. Each room has its own flooring requirements, but the area that arguably has the most traffic, and the highest possibility of spills, is the kitchen. With so many options for kitchen flooring, what type is the best choice?
When deciding on what type of flooring to install, there are several aspects to consider. When you are in your local home improvement store, do a personal "road test" on different products, in your shoes and in your stocking feet. How does it feel? Is it noisy when you walk on it? Does the color grab your attention immediately, in a good way? Could you live with this design for years to come?
Here is a quick overview of some of the more popular flooring selections:
Ceramic Tile
One of the more popular choices for easy-clean kitchens, ceramic tiles come in an almost limitless choice of colors, textures and sizes. For regions that are prone to hot weather, tile floors can create a cool getaway from the heat. However, in cooler regions, these floors may be uncomfortable to stand on for any length of time in the winter months, unless they are heated from below. Ceramic tiles are also not forgiving for falling glassware.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is another popular choice for kitchens due to its durability and minimal maintenance. The simulated hardwood appearance is most popular in the wood designs, but some laminate floors resemble stone or other surfaces. You can install it yourself, or have a professional come in.
Hardwood
If budgets will allow, installing a hardwood floor brings a warmth and rich look to any room, including the kitchen. Engineered hardwood involves layering three to five thin sheets that are glued together. A veneer layer is added on the top to finish this option. The other choice is solid wood flooring, which involves cutting solid pieces of wood and milling it to certain specifications. Solid wood flooring is available in either planks or strips.
Vinyl Sheet
This layered product comes in widths of either six feet or twelve feet. It is designed with two layers of protective coating on top over a printed vinyl design layer. In the most popular option of vinyl flooring, the bottom layer is made of felt, which adheres to the subfloor, or a fiberglass structural layer that gives a cushy feeling and allows the flooring to lay flat without glue.
Linoleum
What was once thought of as a flooring product in your grandparent's home is making a strong comeback, partly due to the fact that this is a "green" product. Linoleum comes in a wide variety of styles, is easy to clean and extremely durable. It often gets mistaken for vinyl, even by retailers that stock linoleum. A key difference is that linoleum is made with all-natural ingredients, and vinyl is synthetic. Linoleum's colors also go all the way through, whereas vinyl's patterns are printed on the top layer.
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