You may think that deciding what floor to put into your kitchen is easy, and you’re right. But only if you have all of the information. Do you spend a lot of time standing in your kitchen? Is your kitchen busy, full of little ones who make big messes, or are you a bit of a klutz who may drop some things from time to time? These are all important things to consider when doing a kitchen remodel.

Lets go over the do’s and don’ts of kitchen flooring to help you decide what’s best for your lifestyle.

Vinyl Tile

Glue down, or float. Grout, or no grout. Vinyl tile is a great choice for kitchens.

Do: Install vinyl tiles in heavy traffic areas, where you may have many messes to clean up. Vinyl tiles are durable and completely waterproof.

Don’t: Install peel and stick vinyl tiles. The joints come apart, and the quality is usually not on the same level as real glue down or floating click tiles.

Ceramic or Stone Tiles

Tiles are a classic kitchen floor covering. They are strong, waterproof, and can last decades.

Do: Install fun, hefty ceramic or stone tiles with a natural finish.

Don’t: Install glossy tiles, which could become a slip hazard for a busy working kitchen, or porcelain tiles that are meant for walls, as these are more likely to shatter upon impact, or under heavy appliances.

Vinyl Plank

Vinyl plank is a super product for every room in your house, it’s got style and water resistance on lockdown.

Do: Install vinyl plank continuously throughout your home, making your home feel larger and more cohesive.

Don’t: Install vinyl plank alongside another wood look product. Having two wood like floors butt up to each other can look cheap, and inconsistent.

Cork

Cork flooring is making a comeback because of how comfortable, water-resistant, and eco-friendly it is.

Do: Install cork where you will be standing for long periods of time. Cork compresses under foot, and then springs back up. If you are a person who likes to cook, or spend a lot of time in your kitchen, cork may just save your back and joints from pain.

Don’t: Install cork flooring a very sunny area. Cork is a natural product, therefore it has been known to fade, and become discoloured when exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time.

Laminate

Waterproof laminate is fantastic! It is super durable, and even waterproof in most cases nowadays.

Do: Install laminate anywhere in your kitchen, even under appliances.

Don’t: Forget to leave room for expansion. This is important for any loose lay flooring, but especially when installing laminate. This is a wood composite product, so it reacts strongly to heat and cold. Be sure to leave the recommended amount of space between the edge of the flooring, and the wall to prevent buckling, or gapping later on down the road.

General Rules of Thumb for Flooring

Do: Follow manufacturers recommendations for cleaning and maintenance.

Don’t: Use harsh, homemade cleaners like vinegar to clean your floors.

Do: Use specific cleaners for your type of floor. These can be purchased at most hardware stores, or right here at Stirling Carpet & Flooring.

Don’t: Place furniture onto your floor without attaching protectors on the legs, such as felt pads. This will ensure a long life from your floors.

Do: Place mats or rugs in high traffic areas.

Don’t: forget to rotate those mats so that your floor does not become discoloured where they were placed.

Do: Install what makes you happy!

Don’t: Follow what other people say is right or wrong when it comes to the style of your home.

So there you have it, The do’s and don’ts of kitchen flooring. I hope that these tips will help you to come to the right decision for your kitchen, and stick with you when you are choosing flooring for the rest of your home. And perhaps, next time you are standing in your kitchen, you will start thinking about “What’s Under Your Feet?”