Kitchen Flooring 101

In any Canadian house, a kitchen floor is that one surface that endures the maximum foot traffic and faces the most hazardous situations compared to any other ground. It is important that you choose the most durable, strong, slip-proof kitchen flooring for the safety of your family. In any kitchen renovation project, flooring is the first task that is executed. Strong flooring is the foundation for the longevity of your kitchen. When it comes to choosing the right flooring material for your kitchen, you have to consider a few aspects to achieve a stable ground beneath your feet.

Things to Remember When Choosing the Material for Kitchen Flooring:

• Budget-Friendly

Based on the type of flooring material you choose, this particular task can cost you anywhere from $400 to $35,000 in Canada. Instead of spending a fortune on the flooring, make sure you choose the right material and pay a fair price for it. You can compare costs from online and local stores. You can also ask your contractor to provide you with a wholesale quote for the floor type you choose.

• Durable

From foot traffic to spills and dropping pots and pans, kitchen floors go through a lot on a daily basis. It is highly recommended that you choose a flooring material that can withstand any major mishaps and experience a lot of wear and tear. Getting the most durable kitchen flooring will help you save costs on future repairs and floor replacements.

• Easy to Clean and Maintain

Kitchen flooring is supposed to survive many spills, mess and accidental droppings of heavy utensils. Whether you’re a messy person or a clean freak, everyone wants their kitchen to be clean and hygienic. That’s why we recommend you choose a kitchen floor that’s easy to clean, and maintain and won’t leave marks or stains.

• Slip and Mess Proof

Safety should be the first priority when you start looking for the appropriate kitchen flooring material. As you may handle heavy and hot utensils in the kitchen, it’s important that your floor is slip and mess-proof to avoid any accidental twists and turns.

• Steady and Comfortable on Feet

A kitchen floor should be hard, steady and comfortable on the feet as you may be walking through the small space a lot. Walking through cabinets to the island to the stove can account for a few hundred steps easily. To achieve your daily step goal without hurting your feet, it’s important you walk on a steady and comfortable kitchen floor.

• Texture, Colour and Style

When choosing the flooring material, consider the texture, colour and style of your whole house and the rest of the kitchen. For example, if you’re planning a modern ceramic kitchen then don’t go with a hardwood floor as it can create a very odd contrast. Try to create and maintain a balance between the flooring and the rest of your kitchen design. A kitchen designer can help you with finding the right design balance.

• Water and Moisture Resistant Flooring

Spills of food and water are very common on a kitchen floor. Adding a coat of water-resistant adhesive to your kitchen floor can protect it from moisture saturation and increase its longevity.

Most Popular Kitchen Flooring Materials:

• Bamboo Flooring

Though concrete flooring is not a popular choice when it comes to kitchen flooring it’s definitely the most durable and strong flooring choice. You can add a layer of tile or vinyl flooring later if desired.

• Cork Flooring

Cork flooring is another eco-friendly option made from renewable materials. It is one of the most durable flooring options that can resist heavy dents and stains for up to 40 years with proper maintenance. It’s also comfortable on the feet and water-resistant.

• Engineered Hardwood Flooring

To put it in simple terms, engineered hardwood flooring is a mixed wood flooring of actual hardwood, ply and vinyl. You can choose the combination of the wood, colour and texture before ordering the flooring slabs. They are definitely cheaper compared to actual hardwood floors but come with a vinyl coating. They might need more maintenance as they can be easily dented, scratched and not good with moisture saturation. But they are definitely pocket-friendly, easy and quick to install.

• Marble Flooring

Marble flooring gives a soothing, elegant and regal look to your kitchen. With a glossy finish, different styles and patterns in marble styles and the use of natural material can make your floor look like a royal kitchen. Though it can be expensive, high maintenance and can easily get cold. If you have a high budget for your kitchen renovation and don’t want to leave a stone unturned, you can go for marble flooring.

• Tiles: Porcelain or Ceramic

Tile flooring is the most popular and most requested type of flooring by Canadian homeowners. Based on the overall design of your kitchen, you can choose a specific type, style, design and size of tile for your kitchen floor. Tiles are easy to clean and maintain, can last for decades, are slip-proof and are easy to replace. Given the options available in the market for tile flooring, we highly recommend you talk to a contractor to make the right choice for your flooring needs.

• Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is easy to install and with regular maintenance can last up to 10-15 years. The specialty of vinyl flooring is they come with protective wear that helps reduce the intensity of scratches and dents. Vinyl flooring is a popular choice specifically because of its water-resistant nature.

Choosing a specific type of flooring requires thinking about your needs and wants. Based on your usage and budget a local contractor will guide you through the flooring selection. You can also make the decision by going through these customized flooring cost guides for different Canadian cities or asking a local contractor for a custom quote.