If you’re planning to revamp your kitchen floors, it’s wise to know the strengths and weaknesses of the most popular types of kitchen flooring out there. Whether you’re looking for durability, a low price tag or longevity, weigh these pros and cons.
Hardwood
When it comes to flooring, hardwood is high in demand. Buyers can choose between solid hardwood or engineered hardwood. Harwood has a natural beauty with the ability to be refinished and can last for centuries too. However, hardwood flooring is high maintenance as it scratches more easily than other materials and is harder to clean. When exposed to moisture over the long term, they can warp, buckle or crown.
Tile
The versatility of tile almost guarantees you’ll find a style you like. Tile won’t scratch easily and is perhaps the easiest floor to clean, being able to withstand most detergents. Remember that tile with a smooth finish can get slick when wet. And despite how durable it is, it can still crack and chip if a heavy object hits its surface. Older homeowners and those with foot or knee problems may have difficulty standing on its hard surface.
Travertine
Travertine is a timeless choice and comes in many forms, including tumbled, honed and filled, chiselled, and polished. It’s a lot harder to scratch and chip natural stone than tile or hardwood. Natural stone, however, requires more upkeep than other types of flooring. It must be cleaned with a stone cleaner or mild detergent. You also have to seal it every one to two years to protect its porous surface.
Laminate
A relatively inexpensive option, laminate can spruce up your kitchen at a lower cost than hardwood while providing superior scratch resistance against foot traffic. It’s a viable alternative to hardwood floors, offering realistic wood finishes in a variety of styles. However, ;aminate isn’t as equipped to handle moisture as tile and vinyl are. If you do install laminate flooring, use a proper moisture barrier. You’ll need a special cleaner and mop to clean it.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is manufactured in three primary forms: vinyl plank, vinyl tile and sheet vinyl. It has several installation methods, including peel and stick, glue down, and click and lock. It can look like wood or stone. Vinyl won’t chip and can handle moisture. It’s also soft on your feet, but furniture can leave marks on the soft surface, plus foot traffic patterns can emerge over time.
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