The 5 Best Kitchen Flooring Options for Your Remodel

Modern homes have made the kitchen the central point of the house. It is not only a place to cook but also a place where family and friends gather and a hub for all activities. It's vital that your floor can withstand heavy foot traffic and spills.

Critical Criteria

Keep the following in mind when floor shopping:

• Durability: To withstand frequent spills without staining and survive dropped skillets without damage, choose the tough flooring to stay your lifestyle.

• Water resistance: Your kitchen is a "semi-wet" room, so the occasional spilled glass of juice should not damage your chosen flooring.

• Scrubbable: Messes always seem to end up underfoot, so the best kitchen flooring is one that's easy to keep clean.

• Design-friendly: When all is said and done, you want your kitchen to look just as good as the rest of your home. With today's flooring options, you can have an attractive kitchen floor that's resilient to boot.

Flooring manufacturers offer a wide assortment of materials that are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. The following five flooring choices top the most-desirable list for contemporary kitchens. Start here when planning your kitchen redo, and you're sure to find one that meets your needs.

Sheet Vinyl

The pros are easy to clean, easy to use, and affordable The cons are that heavy appliances can cause depression. Coasters are a good idea.

Sheet vinyl has been around for many decades and has only improved. Sheet vinyl is available in large sheets rather than small stick-down tiles. This means there are no seams through which water can seep into the subflooring. In busy kitchens, sheet vinyl provides wall-to-wall waterproof flooring protection.

Vinyl flooring is not susceptible to freezing in winter like ceramic tile. It's also very comfortable underfoot throughout the year. It is easy to maintain; you only need a regular sweep and occasional mopping with an all-purpose vinyl floor cleaner.

You can find sheet vinyl in many different colors and patterns. Vinyl that is thicker and more durable will be more expensive. Depending on the quality, you can expect to pay between $.50 and $10 per square foot. Professional installation costs $1-$3 per square foot.

Professional installation is highly recommended as the vinyl sheet must fit perfectly to the space and be carefully glued to the roll.

Porcelain tile

The pros: Highly durable, waterproof, and stain-resistant, it is ideal for high-traffic areas.

Cons: Grout needs to be sealed periodically to prevent staining

Porcelain tiles is the best choice for durability. Although porcelain tile is similar to ceramic in appearance, it's fired at higher temperatures to make it more durable and resistant to damage. Many sizes and shapes are available, including squares measuring six inches by planks measuring 18 inches that look like hardwood. Porcelain can slip like other hard flooring surfaces. Glasses and plates will likely break if they fall on them.

Porcelain tiles are heavy and can add significant weight to second-story flooring. Ask an engineer or a professional tile setter if you have any questions about the suitability of your floor for tile installation. You can expect to pay between $3 and $8 per square foot for porcelain tiles, depending on the brand and quality.

Engineered Vinyl Plank

Pros Waterproof and DIY-friendly. It closely resembles real hardwood flooring

Cons: Heavy appliances can cause depression

The engineered vinyl planks, one of the newest flooring options on the market today, are attracting much attention. These planks look like hardwood and are waterproof. The planks are covered with a layer of luxury vinyl bonded to a waterproof core. This gives the floor a soft, underfoot feel.

Unlike other engineered floorings like laminate flooring or floating flooring, EVP planks do not attach to the subfloor. The planks are snap-together, making installation easy. You can save money by installing EVP yourself. The flooring costs $5 to $7 per square foot and comes with instructions. You can expect to pay an additional $3-$6 per square foot if you have it professionally installed. EVP, unlike many flooring options, like sheet vinyl or tile, can be installed directly on top of existing tile, concrete, or linoleum.

EVP has some downsides. Moving a heavy refrigerator across the surface could cause scratches. The EVP is easy to clean with a damp mop and soapy water.

Stone Tile

Advantages: Creates a unique, natural ambiance (no tiles are the same), and non-slip surface

Cons: High-priced and can stain easily without regular sealing.

Stone tile is a great option for natural flooring that's affordable. Depending on the stone type, you'll be paying $6-$16 per square foot. Professional installation will cost $5-10 per square foot. A professional tile setter is recommended due to the need for special underlayment or thin-set mortar. Stone tiles can pop off if there are slight differences in the mortar thickness or the product is not used correctly.

Stone tile is beautiful and can be used in any kitchen. Depending on which type of stone you select, you can choose from various natural tones, including brown, red, gray, and red. These types of stone are common in flooring tiles:

• Travertine is non-slip and smooth underfoot. It's available in light-to-medium soft earth tones.

• Marble is extremely hard and can be polished to a high sheen. It can be slippery when wet. Marble comes in many colors, including green, brown, and gray, as well as near-black marble with pink, red and gold veining.

• Tile is one of the best choices for kitchen flooring. It's slip-resistant, durable, and highly durable. You can get it in blue, red, gray, and orange colors with attractive veining.

• A granite tile has a very hard surface, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas. Granite comes in deep grays, blacks, and mottled white tones. Granite is resistant to scratching and can easily be polished to a high shine. However, the slip factor will increase the more sheen granite has.

Natural stone tiles can be cut into squares of two inches for a mosaic effect. They also come in squares up to 18 inches for a more minimalist design. Use a damp mop and warm soapy water to clean your stone tile floor. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to protect your floor from stains and discoloration.

Cork

The pros: Warm and cushioned underfoot feel, budget-friendly, DIY-friendly.

Cons: Heavy objects can scratch

Cork Flooring is a relatively new addition to the flooring market. It's quickly becoming a popular choice for anyone who wants a warm, soft floor at a reasonable price. Cork tiles in plank or square shapes will cost you $3-$8 per square foot. An enthusiastic homeowner can install cork tiles. They are available in glue-down, peel-and-stick, and snap-together formats.

Professional installation can be arranged for an additional $2-$4 per square foot if required.

This flooring is made from ground-up cork mixed with resins, then compressed into tiles. It comes in a range of gray, tan, and brown colors. Cork flooring can be a bit depressing under heavy appliances' legs, but with time the depressions will disappear. Cork flooring is slightly soft underfoot and springy. Cork flooring reduces sound transfer, so it is a great choice for homes with a living space below the kitchen. Cork flooring is stain-resistant but not stain-proof. However, spilled wine can leave a stain if it isn't cleaned immediately. Cork flooring can be refinished by sanding the surface and applying stain and sealer.

Cork can fade when exposed to direct sunlight. To protect your floors, use curtains or blinds. It is easy to clean up spillages. Wipe them off immediately, and then use soapy water to mop the floor. To remove any excess water, wipe the floor with a microfiber mop.

Professional marketing executive at Skytouch Ceramic, the top porcelai vitrified tiles company. Managing all the responsibility as a senior level.