Construction & Contractors Blog
When planning a new home, one of the major design decisions is the kitchen flooring. Here are several options to consider.
Ceramic And Porcelain Tiles
The kitchen floor can become the destination for numerous food and drink spills over its lifetime. So a material — such as porcelain or ceramic tile — that is non-porous, hygienic and easy-to-clean makes a great option. This flooring is durable and doesn't absorb food odours, which also helps to keep your kitchen fresh-smelling. Lay them with narrow grout lines to create a streamlined look, and seal the surface thoroughly to minimise dirt build-up.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are available in a vast array of colours and styles, including designs that mimic timber and natural stone. No matter what your kitchen style, you'll have plenty of options to pick from. On rare occasions, a tile can crack if you drop a heavy object. For that reason, it's a good idea to purchase reserve ones during installation so you can quickly repair any mishaps.
Natural Stone
Another excellent floor option is natural stone like granite, slate, marble or travertine, for instance. The textures and patterns within each stone tile are unique and unrepeatable, imparting an organic beauty to your kitchen.
While the hardness varies between species, in general, stone is durable and robust once sealed. Remain vigilant, however, and clean up spills as soon as possible. As with ceramic, stone can crack on the odd occasion, so it's wise to keep some spare flooring on hand.
Hardwood Or Engineered Wood
An advantage of hardwood timber flooring is that it's softer and warmer on your feet than tiles and stone, and it thus creates a cosier aesthetic. While wood can ding and dent over time, this can add to its earthiness and charm. In any case, you can always resand and refinish the planks. Be careful to clean up any spilled water to prevent damage, though today's sealers provide robust protection.
For extra resilience, you could install engineered wood planks which consist of multiple glued layers of timber veneer. This construction protects the planks from shrinking and expanding, and it provides additional moisture protection.
Laminate
Laminate planks can imitate timber with a wide variety of tones and grain patterns on offer. Laminate is soft to stand on, so it is excellent if you're cooking for extended periods. This flooring is also water-resistant and easy to clean.
Concrete
Though concrete can be cold and hard to stand on, underfloor heating will make it more comfortable. Concrete is a fantastic material, which you can stain, colour and polish to create a wide variety of looks and effects. As with porcelain and ceramic tiles, concrete flooring can undergo treatments to mimic other materials such as stone and timber. Ask your builders for the best options flooring options for your new kitchen.
Share7 January 2020
Hello and welcome to my construction blog. My name is David and I would like to tell you about the process of designing and building a new home from the ground up. I had always dreamed of building my own home and last year, that dream became a reality. I had been saving money for many years so I could afford to buy the materials and employ the contractors needed to construct my home. I learnt so much during the process, I decided to start this blog. It was a wonderful day when the final piece of my home was put into place and I am now very happy.