How to Select the Right Floor for Your Kitchen

I have remodeled several kitchens and replaced many kitchen floors along the way. This experience has given me some insights to pass along for those looking to start on a project to put new flooring in your kitchen. No floor in your house will be more walked on or soiled by spills than the one in the kitchen. Because of this, it is important to not only select the floor that is most pleasing to your eyes, but one that will stand up under this constant use.

Begin the search for new kitchen flooring by deciding whether you want a hard surface or carpeting. Personally, I recommend against carpeting because it is difficult to keep clean and sanitary in most kitchens. If you do elect to go with carpeting, go with an inexpensive selection. This will allow you to see if you really like carpeting in the kitchen before investing an arm and leg. If after a year or two you still like carpeting, it is relatively easy to upgrade it.

Once the choice becomes a hard surface floor, several options become available. Stone, tile, vinyl, and wood are all great flooring materials. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Most have dramatically differing appearances. For the most part, this will become a matter of taste and cost. If you want flooring that will stretch into the next generation and can be refinished from time to time, then vinyl is probably eliminated.

Vinyl has the advantage of having high and low shine options. It is usually slightly cheaper than the other choices. Most people find it is faster and easier to install. For the do-it-yourself project, vinyl is by far the simplest to install. You need a good solid flat clean surface to bond it onto. It will require adhesive, but this is not hard to work with.

Vinyl can be a little tricky if you have to match edges when the room is too wide for a single width of the vinyl. You need to leave an overlap of the two pieces and cut them both at the same time with one on top of the other. This will make both edges match. Take care to match the pattern before cutting. Complete all cuts before gluing the vinyl to the sub-floor .

Synthetic tile can be purchased to look like almost any surface. Most tile comes today with the adhesive already in place on each tile. Laying it is fairly quick and easy, but not as easy as vinyl. You have to take extra care to get straight lines and tight seams. It will cost more if you pay for installation. It makes a durable floor and can be purchased without a finish, but most people prefer it with a finish.

With both tile and vinyl, make sure that you get enough to do the job. You may want the supplier or installer to do the measuring before the purchase. It can be hard to match exact color if you need to make a return trip for additional product.

Stone or stone tiles makes a strong long-lasting floor. Unless you have a little experience, you will probably want to have this professionally installed. The same is true of hard wood flooring. Both of these can usually be refinished over time to make them last much longer than tile or vinyl. Wood will also give additional strength to you kitchen floor.

Wood and stone will normally raise the cost of the product and the installation. However, if the floor is expected to be around for decades, this cost is negligible.
When you are shopping for flooring, make sure to check the cost of installation because this can vary from store to store. Also, make sure of the delay between purchase and installation. When the floor is being installed, watch for flaws in the materials or damage caused by the craftsmen. It is better to get it repaired immediately than to have to call them back which may result in long delays.