The Best Flooring Options for Your Kitchen

Ask any flooring contractors and they’ll agree: the kitchen is the heart of your home and over time, its flooring can take a beating. This is why it is so important to select the right flooring for this high-traffic spill-zone.

While there’s no right type of flooring that’s best for kitchens in general, there is a type that’s best for your kitchen, specifically. That’s what we’re going to discuss today: the best flooring options for your kitchen.

Let’s break down the pros, cons and costs to help you determine the perfect pick for your budget, personal aesthetic and lifestyle.

Keep reading.

The Best Flooring Options for Your Kitchen

Hardwood
Cost: $4-$20 per square foot

Durable and water-resistant, hardwood is a popular flooring type for kitchens – especially engineered hardwood which looks just as good as pure hardwood, but can withstand moisture better. If you do choose to go with 100% hardwood, however, opt for a harder wood, like walnut and steer clear of softwoods like Douglas Fir, which are prone to scratching.

Also be sure your hardwood is finished and maintain your floors by cleaning messes immediately. Remember: you can always refinish pure hardwood. Sure, this may mean a little extra work down the road, but if your heart is set on this flooring type for your kitchen, go for it.

Tile
Cost: $5-$10 per square foot

Tile is one of the most common kitchen flooring options and one that we as flooring contractors install regularly. Attractive, durable, easy to clean and water-proof, a well sealed ceramic, porcelain or natural tile floor is a beautiful way to add dimension and timeless style to your kitchen decor.

The main downside of tile in your kitchen is that it can be cold and hard underfoot, but if you have a busy home that’s prone to messes, tile could be one of your best bets.

Luxury Vinyl
Cost: $2-$7 per square foot

Waterproof, durable, affordable and aesthetically diverse, there’s a lot to love about using luxury vinyl in your kitchen. Luxury vinyl can beautifully mimic a hardwood, stone or ceramic tile, but comes in at a lower price point.

There are really only a couple of drawbacks to luxury vinyl. First, while it is a robust type of flooring that can last a lifetime, it cannot be refinished if it does incur damage. The second is that while it can look like hardwood or tile, it is not really either of these materials. So, it is not authentic, if that’s the look you’re going for.

Cork
Cost: $3-12 per square foot

Made from the bark of cork trees, cork flooring is sustainable, attractive, easy to maintain and impervious to gas and liquids. What’s more, cork flooring has some cushion, so it’s a great choice for areas where you’ll be standing since it is easy on your joints. This makes cork one of the best flooring options for kitchens. In fact, our flooring contractors have seen cork flooring that looks amazing after decades.

The downside to cork flooring is that because it is soft, it can scratch and dent more easily. For many people, this won’t be a problem, but if you wear hard slippers or heels in your home, or have pets, your flooring could suffer.

Laminate
Cost: $2-$4 per square foot

Laminate flooring is a popular kitchen flooring choice for busy families. Economical, easy-to-clean, durable, impact-resistant and water-proof, this flooring type can withstand the highest high-traffic areas. And laminate has come a long way in the last few decades. It’s available in a beautiful range of colours and finishes, giving it a chic, attractive appeal.

The downside of laminate is that it cannot be refinished, so if it does get damaged, you’ll have to replace it. The good news is it’s hard to damage a quality laminate.

Now that you know the best flooring options for your kitchen, all you have to do is narrow down this field to the one that suits your space, taste and budget best. Contact our expert flooring contractors if you have any questions. We offer free consultations and are happy to help!