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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 advisable 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 smart 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 a variety of decor styles and is warm underfoot,
easy on the legs and is basically 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 durable 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 tight budget than 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. Made from 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. |
