From the Ground Up: Kitchen Flooring Choices
October 26, 2010
One of the best ways to update our kitchen is changing your
kitchen flooring. Depending on your budget, time-commitment, and
taste, you can find flooring that exceeds your expectations, but
doesn't break the bank.
Choose kitchen flooring based on function as well as kitchen
design. And, make sure your kitchen flooring is easy to clean. In
most cases, you can install a new floor over an old floor if the
sub-flooring is in good condition. You can also add a floor heating
system to warm up the tile on cold mornings. If you've never
installed hardwood or ceramic flooring, consult a local
contractor.
Types of Kitchen Flooring Available:
- Hardwood
- Vinyl
- Linoleum
- Ceramic, terracotta, and natural stone
- Bamboo
- Cork
- Rubber
Here's a look at some pros and cons of various flooring
materials for your kitchen
renovation:
- Vinyl: It's economically priced at two to five
dollars per square foot, water-resistant, and easy to install.
Designs and coloring run throughout the material, which means no
worn spots, ever.
- Linoleum: It's affordable at two to five
dollars per square foot, but wears quickly when used in high
traffic areas
- Solid hardwood: It resists water when used
with a proper sealant. You can also find pre-sealed and wood
laminate floors that are simple to install. Wood floors are hard
wearing, easy to clean, and hide dirt and spills.
Contractor-installed wood floors average eight dollars per square
foot, including all materials.
- Glazed ceramic tiles: Depending on size and
color, they can run from one to twenty dollars per square
foot.
- Terracotta pavers: They add a deep,
Mediterranean feel. They're relatively inexpensive-around two
dollars-fifty cents per square foot.
- Natural stone tiles--marble, granite, and
slate: They start around two dollars per square foot. Tile
requires grout maintenance, but is very durable.
Go Green
Most similar to hardwood, bamboo floors are eco-friendly for the
kitchen. They're water-resistant and don't warp like wood. Cork is
tough and is a good insulator of sound and heat. Along with bamboo
and rubber, it's completely renewable, and, therefore, is a green
flooring product. Installed cork runs around the same price as
hardwood, whereas bamboo is one to three dollars more per square
foot. Rubber floors are available in a variety of colors and
textures, including recycled rubber and speckled styles.
Nowadays, you're not limited to laminate and vinyl floors when
remodeling your kitchen. Shop around, and match material to your
design--it's the first step in the right direction.
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