Best Kitchen Flooring

May 15th, 2010 Posted in Kitchen Flooring

The kitchen can be a challenging area to provide flooring for.  On one hand, the kitchen flooring must remain flexible enough to support the legs and back.  On the other hand, however, the flooring must be resistant to stains and a high level of foot traffic.  The best flooring looks great for years without a lot of maintenance.  Spills and accidents will occur frequently, 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 has a tendency to suffer under harsh kitchen conditions.  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 solution to this problem is to sand down the bowing section, or to rip out the entire floor and start over.  These options are both time consuming and costly, and involve many hours as well as thousands of dollars.  While a properly finished and maintained wood floor may not be as susceptible to these issues, wood flooring is definitely more likely to break down because of these problems.

More reliable options include slate and ceramic tile.  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 are available in a broad range of colors and shades.  Slate and ceramic flooring are also very slip resistant, making them a better surface to use in the kitchen as well.  Hardwood flooring can become slick, 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 absorbing moisture and food stains.
Laminate flooring is also designed to withstand a great deal of foot traffic and pressure.  The kitchen is a demanding place for flooring, and should be given flooring that will withstand as much.  Choosing the right kind of flooring will result in a lifetime of great quality and low maintenance.