Kitchen flooring ideas
added 11/26/2007
Each household has a different need and keeping
this need in mind, the flooring for the kitchens must be chosen.
There are a variety of materials, which are available, and
these can be utilized depending upon your requirement and
the budget.
The various types of materials that can be used are:
Wooden flooring
Wooden flooring gives a very rich look to the kitchen and
is used in both country kitchen as well as town house kitchens.
The surfaces are strong and hard. However their maintenance
is difficult, as they need to be polished and waxed regularly
to keep their finish and look. They are also not stain resistant
and colored liquids or hot liquids can leave a mark behind.
The estimated cost can be $50 - $100 per square foot.
Laminate flooring
Laminate flooring gives the look and the feel of real wood
but is not as expensive as real wood. They score over real
wood in terms of easy maintenance, durability and are almost
stain free. They cost less than real wood. However if water
was to seep inside the surface, the laminated layers could
break up or chip. If it gets chipped, then the whole flooring
needs to be changed. The estimated cost is $2 - $10 per square
foot.
Stone floors
One can have granite, marble or a slate floor depending upon
your preference. There are various shades and colors of marble
and granite, which are available in the market. They should
be chosen in accordance with the color of the cabinets and
other fittings that you are putting. They are very tough and
durable and can also be utilized easily over a radiant heat
system. Marble can be slippery especially if newly polished
or if water is spilled. If grouting between the marble / granite
slabs are not done properly, they have a tendency to come
free of their joints. It can chip therefore extra tiles or
slabs can be kept. The estimated cost is $7 - $100 per square
foot.
Ceramic tiles
Ceramic Tiles are durable and are made from pressed clays,
which are then covered and glazed with metallic oxides, and
ceramic stains for finish. There are various options available.
You can also have porcelain tiles and quarry tiles. The joints
called grouts between the tiles are filled with epoxy to seal
them. There are literally thousands of options that are available
in various shapes, sizes and colors that are available. They
are very resilient and durable. However unglazed tiles need
to be treated from time to time. During their normal wear
and tear, tiles have a tendency to chip and break. Therefore
a few extra must be kept, as the same tiles may not be available
later. The estimated cost is $1 - $100 per square foot.
Vinyl flooring
It’s one of the most common kitchen flooring and is
also resilient because of its ability to bounce back. There
are two types of vinyl. The first is the standard vinyl and
the other is the inlaid vinyl. Both surfaces have a protective
no-wax coating called the PVC surface or the polyvinyl chloride
surface. The surface is stain proof but not stain resistant
therefore liquids need to be mopped up quickly. It is quite
resistant to the wear and tear imposed by the kids and pets
in the family. However if it has not been laid properly, it
has a tendency to crack and peel up. Also pointed heels are
a big no for working and walking on this surface. The estimated
cost is $1 - $10 per square foot.
Please refer to our Kitchen
Remodeling Firms section to find a great contractor near
you.
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