Kitchen Remodeling Ideas and Floors
It is easy to be excited when shopping for kitchen
flooring after we have gone through hundreds of home
interior design magazines but it is not worthwhile to
choose a material based on looks alone. Narrow the
choices to a few of your favorites and then take a trip
to a flooring store or home center for a test drive.
We do most activity in the kitchen while we are standing
so it is sensible to look for something that is easy on
the legs. While shopping take your shoes off and stand
on the floor in your stocking feet and see how it feels.
Is the floor comfortable or too hard under your feet?
Put your shoes back on and go for a walk and see how the
floor sounds on the noise level. Today's kitchens are
more open than ever attaching to the den or even opening
up to the great room. The noise from shoes can create
problems while others are talking or watching TV.
Remember too that the kitchen is typically the busiest
spot in the house so you want a floor that wears well
too. With the kids and the animals it doesn't take long
to wear the floor down, not to mention all the foot
traffic and spills. Durability is important in today's
full families and ease of maintenance should be taken
into consideration too.
These are different floorings to be considered:
Wood fits an array of decor styles and is warm
underfoot, easy on the legs and is on the whole, a quiet
floor option. The maintenance and durability of a wood
floor depend greatly on what species of wood is being
used and how that wood is finished. One of the worries
with wood is that it may be scratched, but wood floors
can always be sanded and refinished.
For homeowners who want an exceptionally sturdy floor
and requires little maintenance, laminate is a great
option. Laminate is factory-finished and can be easily
installed over an existing floor making installation a
breeze. While laminate has its advantages, it lacks the
warmth and character typically associated with natural
wood and some may find it noisy.
Ceramic tile allows for a great deal of customization in
terms of colors and patterns. Though tile is easy to
clean with a damp mop, the surrounding grout can be
difficult to maintain and keep clean. Ceramic tile can
be very hard on the legs not to mention dropped dishes.
It doesn't help with sound control in the kitchen and
can be quite cold underfoot.
If you are on a smaller budget then vinyl sheeting or
peel and stick tiles are for you. Vinyl is easy to
install and is available in an endless array of colors
and patterns. One of the drawbacks to vinyl floors is
that the edges can curl and peel.
Linoleum flooring is making a comeback due to its green
appeal. Consisting of linseed oil, cork dust, wood
flour, tree resins, ground limestone and pigments, this
kitchen flooring is environmentally friendly. There are
other green options that are environmentally friendly
but of course there are advantages and disadvantages to
each type of flooring. The key is to go with your own
kitchen flooring ideas and in the long run your floor
will reflect your taste and fit with your lifestyle.
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