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Choosing the flooring in your kitchen is a lot of work. You want to pick something aesthetically pleasing but also want it to be functional for what you will be doing in the room. And if you have children, that’s a whole other thing to consider. Here are the top 3 kitchen flooring options people are picking from right now and the advantages/disadvantages to them.
Laminate
The most common flooring option people choose is laminate because it is really inexpensive. These days, you can pick laminate that looks like a lot of different things, but many people choose to get laminate that looks like wood. Laminate is great because it is fairly resistant to water, but you have to be careful because water that falls into the cracks between slats can cause the flooring to buckle up a bit.
A lot of people that have kids choose laminate because it is softer than tile for when your kids fall but it isn’t as easy to damage as real hardwood. Plus, it is so inexpensive that it is easier to replace later when the kids are older with nicer flooring.
Advantages:
Easy to replace one piece at a time
Inexpensive
Huge variety of options
Disadvantages
Easy to dent
Cannot be refinished
Tile
Another versatile option, tile is popular in kitchens because it is really good with water. You don’t have to worry about water getting into the cracks and damaging the floors, and you can make any kind of look you want. One really popular style right now is to make tiles look like slats of hardwood, but it is much sturdier and colder.
If you have kids, the one concern with tile is that it is so hard and could easily do more harm to your child than your child can do to it. It’s great because it can withstand all the damage children do to homes, but it is so hard that you might end up needing a trip to the emergency room after your kid falls and hits their head.
Advantages:
Doesn’t scratch or dent easily
Easy maintenance
Huge variety of tilework options
Disadvantages
Issues with grout color and cleanliness
Cold and hard under feet
Expensive to install or replace
Hardwood floors
One of the most popular options for kitchen flooring, and home flooring in general, is hardwood floors. There’s nothing a potential home buyer loves more than to see beautiful hardwood floors and baseboard heater covers giving a beautiful, finished look to the space. Because it is so much softer than the other flooring options, it is good on your back when standing on it all day, and it is a little easier for kids if they fall and hit their heads on it. However, it is difficult to maintain perfection with hardwood floors.
Advantages:
Lasts forever
Increases home value
Can be sanded down and restained with damage
Disadvantages
Expensive
Sensitive to water
Prone to scratches
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