The floors in our homes experience a lot of wear and tear over time. This is especially true for kitchen flooring that, aside from heavy foot traffic, are exposed to food and liquid spills, stains, heat and dropped utensils. Aside from these, the kitchen floors often get dirty with rouge food particles and other similar things.
What this means is that, when choosing a kitchen floor treatment, you shouldn’t only focus on the aesthetic appeal, but you need to think about durability and ease of keeping it clean as well. That being said, here are some kitchen flooring options that will stand the test of time and be able to handle whatever comes their way.
Hardwood floors
While hardwood floors are usually a great flooring solution for most areas of the home, they are not quite the best solution for areas that experience a lot of moisture. The kitchen, of course, is one of these areas. However, thanks to modern technologies and improvements made in the sealers department, hardwood floors are once again being implemented in these areas. On the other hand, even though the sealers are nowadays far better than they were, hardwood floors are still sensitive to moisture. That’s why you still need to pay attention to any liquid spills and make sure you clean them off as soon as possible.
Bamboo
Bamboo floors are very similar to hardwood floors in both look and feel but are significantly more resistant. Thanks to the manufacturing process they go through, they are also far less prone to water damage. However, even though they are a somewhat more durable option, bamboo floors are also more expensive than hardwood. Bamboo flooring is particularly difficult to refinish and is better left to a professional.
Floor tiles
Floor tiles are a very popular option when it comes to kitchen flooring solutions. Not only are they extremely durable, they also come in such a variety of choices, you can easily find something to match your aesthetics. Contemporary design projects with tiles show us just how easily you can create a beautiful and sleek kitchen design just by choosing the right set of floor tiles. Here, you have the option to choose between tiles made of natural stone, such as marble, bluestone and granite, as well as those made of ceramic, porcelain and glass. As the lecturers behind this BA degree in interior design nicely explain, spaces that we create should convey messages, emotions and meaning, and with ample choice of floor tile materials and patterns this mission becomes much easier.
Concrete
Concrete floors are becoming an increasingly popular element in residential building. That’s why many people choose to implement them in their kitchens. Concrete is quite a durable and inexpensive option, but it can get easily stained, if not treated the right way. So, if you choose to implement this type of flooring solution in your kitchen, make sure you polish it, stain it and seal it properly. Another benefit of concrete floors is that they can easily get refinished which makes them an even more attractive solution.
Vinyl
Finally, vinyl floors are one of the most versatile and easy-to-install flooring solutions. Not only that, but they are also super easy to clean and maintain. Just a simple wipe, vacuum or sweep will be more than enough to keep a vinyl floor clean. Additionally, some manufacturers of vinyl floors offer guarantees on their products that can even go up to 20 years. Vinyl floors usually start showing traces of wear and tear after about 10 years, especially the ones in the kitchen. The fact that they are so inexpensive still makes them a very popular option.
These were just some of the most popular options when it comes to floor treatments. There are many other you can most certainly choose from. However, no matter what you choose, make sure that the solution is durable, easy to clean and, most importantly, safe.
Author Bio
Lillian Connors simply can’t resist the urge to embark on a myriad of green living/home improvement projects and spread the word about them. She cherishes the notion that sustainable housing and gardening will make us far less dependent on others, but also contribute to our planet being a better place to live on. You can check her out on Twitter and LinkedIn.