Two Great Choices for Kitchen Flooring

Two very important things to consider when you’re selecting new kitchen flooring are how durable the flooring material is and how easy it is to clean. Based on these two criteria, linoleum and ceramic tile are two popular and practical choices for kitchen flooring.

Kitchens are usually the area of the home that endures the most traffic, so kitchen flooring must be able to withstand heavy use. In many houses, the kitchen is the primary entranceway, so kitchen flooring has to handle dirt and moisture carried in from the outdoors. Because food is prepared and eaten in the kitchen, kitchen flooring is also very susceptible to spills.

Linoleum is a durable, easy to install and affordable choice for kitchen flooring. Linoleum comes in a huge variety of colors and styles, and it is very easy to clean and care for. Sweeping and mopping with hot water and detergent is all it takes to keep linoleum sparkling clean.

Although linoleum is very durable, one potential drawback is the challenge of repairing or replacing linoleum that is damaged via scratches, tears or burns. You may wish to install linoleum tiles rather than sheets that will make it easier to replace small sections if necessary.

Ceramic tiles are a slightly more expensive type of flooring that works great in kitchens. Ceramic tile flooring is very durable, and it is more resistant to damage than linoleum. It is also very easy to maintain, and requires only regular sweeping and mopping with mild detergent to stay looking great.

Like linoleum, ceramic tile flooring comes in many colors and styles. It is slightly more challenging to install, however. You may need to replace your subfloor prior to putting down ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles that are placed over a floor that has any amount of structural movement or unevenness may crack or break. Another thing to consider is that wet ceramic tiles can be slippery, so you may wish to choose a style with a rougher texture for your kitchen.