The kitchen is a tough area to decide on when it comes to flooring.  On one hand, the kitchen flooring must be comfortable enough to stand on for long durations.  On the other hand, however, the flooring must be resistant to stains and a high level of foot traffic.  The right kitchen flooring requires little maintenance and can keep up with the demands placed on it by a modern kitchen.  Spills and accidents will inevitably happen on a fairly frequent basis, demanding reliability and durability from flooring that is installed in the kitchen area.  To prevent serious upkeep issues and future expenses, it pays to install the right kind of flooring to begin with.

Wood flooring has traditionally been seen in kitchen flooring, but it can lead to high maintenance costs.  Wood aborbs moisture, causing severe maintenance issues.  When a wood floor absorbs too much moisture it can end up crowning or cupping, producing an unsightly and uneven surface.  The only way to fix this problem is to sand it down, or to go the expensive route and replace the floor.  These options are both time consuming and costly, and involve many hours as well as thousands of dollars.  While a properly constructed and processed wood floor may not be as susceptible to these issues, wood flooring is definitely more likely to break down because of these problems.

Slate and ceramic tile are more reliable.  Tile and slate do not suffer from water exposure, and do not suffer from warping or cracking.  As fairly tough materials, they experience little expansion or contraction.
Slate and ceramic flooring can be found in a multitude of styles.  Slate and ceramic flooring are very resistant to slipping, making them a better surface to use in the kitchen as well.  Hardwood flooring may be hazardous when wet, especially if it has been exposed to moisture.  When using slate as a kitchen surface, be sure to go with a low gloss or finish for extra slip protection.

Laminate flooring is also another viable option in the kitchen.  To achieve that hardwood look without all the associated upkeep problems, laminate flooring can be a wonderful alternative.  Laminate flooring is easy to install, affordable, and very resistant to both water damage and stains.
Laminate flooring is also engineered to work under heavy loads and traffic.  The kitchen is a high stress area for flooring, and should be treated as such.  Choosing the right kind of flooring will give homeowners lasting durability, with low maintenance requirements.

Tagged with: • • • • • •

Filed under: Home Improvement

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!