What to install on your kitchen floor

Is your style traditional, classic or contemporary? You can create a floor to match your kitchen’s style, that’s also easy to clean and maintain, so it will look great for years to come. What is most important to you? Low maintenance? Easy to clean? Some materials are non porous and therefore stain resistant and easy to clean; others – not so much.

Let’s face it, kitchens are tough on floors. A variety of staining sauces, juices and condiments can spill onto the floor. Pots and knives can be dropped (these always fall point down, of course – watch your feet), causing punctures or cracks on the flooring material.

Here is a summary of the most popular flooring materials:

Vinyl is easy to clean and tough and it doesn’t easily rip, tear or scratch.

Natural stone materials are not all the same. Marble is very soft, easily scratched and can stain. Slate and granite are hard and nearly impervious to water, with proper sealing. They are resistant to scratches and divots, although chips and cracks can appear if a very heavy object is dropped. On the plus side, slate and granite are easily cleaned. They do need to be re-sealed periodically to keep them impervious to water and stains.

Linoleum is low maintenance and easy to care for. It is resistant to stains, and ripping or tearing.

You can get the look and feel of natural stone with a ceramic flooring, for initial less cost and less maintenance over time.

Here is a material you might not have considered; concrete. Concrete flooring is sanded, polished and sealed and makes a lasting, durable floor. The cost is low, and it can be stained to match your style and color scheme.

Wood flooring is popular in our area – the Pacific Northwest. There is some maintenance required, to keep it sealed, and it has a warm feel to it. It comes in many shades of brown-to-blond, so you have quite a choice.