Flooring Choices When Remodeling Your Kitchen

You are totally bored of your kitchen and you want to remodel it according to your needs and preferences. You chose the cabinets, the jars and decided where to place the various things that constitute the kitchen. Then suddenly your little one spills his glass of chocolate milk all over the floor and it gets into the crevices between two tiles and you see hell when you try to clear that mess. Even as you clean the mess, you think about getting new flooring for your kitchen. Thank God, you thought about it; better late than never! There are some traditional and some new options for flooring that you may want to consider – make sure the choice is based on durability, looks and budget . Here are a few flooring options that you could choose from for your kitchen.

Different Flooring Choices For Kitchen

For quite a number of years till recently, hardwood was considered the best option for kitchen flooring; it has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some flooring options that you could consider according to your budget, need and preference:

Hardwood

It is, by far the most widely sought after choice for flooring in the kitchen. Here are some things that you might want to consider before you choose it or opt against it:

Why’s – Hardwood flooring planks need minimum maintenance as they are extremely durable and have stood the test of time; they were used for flooring more than a century ago. Since kitchen is a place that often gets dirty, hardwood is best as all it needs is sweeping, or vacuuming and an occasional cleaning with the hardwood cleaner. Thus it is highly valued among those people who regularly buy and sell houses, as people are ready to pay high prices for houses that have hardwood flooring, especially in the kitchen.
Why Not’s – Hardwood is often an expensive option, not only in terms of the finished word itself, but also the laying of the planks. The more exotic the variety of wood and the finer the level of finishing, the more expensive it will be to buy it as well as lay it on the floor. Since it is wood, it demands frequent varnishing and finishing like any other piece of furniture. Also it can be extremely noisy and slippery and one may have to cover the floor with an area rug to muffle the sound as well to prevent children from slipping.

Natural Stone

Natural stone is another option that people have considered and put to use for several years and it provides a stable and sturdy floor; since the stones are found naturally, this is also the most sustainable option for flooring. Here’s what you need to know about natural stone as a flooring option:

Why’s – Apart from being environment friendly and perhaps the most sustainable option for flooring, stone floorings are durable, stain resistance and require least maintenance. They come in many different textures and colours and give a classy sheen to the floor. Also, since stone is a substance that does not gain or lose heat easily, it is cool under the feet in summers and people can walk barefoot over it.
Why Not’s – Natural Stone is also expensive and will also require finishing from time to time. Since it is cold, hard stone, in case a child falls on it, he or she may actually get hurt quite badly. In addition to that, they are heavy and difficult to install. They also remain very cold all during the winters.

Travertine

Travertine is another stone often used as a flooring option, especially for the kitchen. It is often used as a slightly more economical substitute for marble. Using travertine lends an elegant look to a floor. Here are some points that you might want to consider about travertine:

Why’s – It is an economical option as compared to marble or granite, because it is porous and light and is easy to install. Also it comes in different patterns and colours – ranging from lightest off white to a deeper beige. Its natural veining causes many different patterns to form on its surface, sometimes making soft elegant designs and sometimes strong bold ones.
Why Not’s – Because of its chemical makeup, travertine begins to etch if it comes in contact with acidic liquids – even mildly acidic ones like citric acid, vinegar and lemon juice. Also, since it is porous in nature, and consists of big and small holes on its surface, repeated wear and tear can cause these holes to become bigger over time. When dirt seeps into these holes, it becomes difficult to clean them.

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