How Durable Is the Floor You Chose for Your Kitchen Renovation?
Posted By Houston Decorator on October 15, 2010
When choosing a floor during your kitchen renovation, you need to take into account durability as well as appearance. Below are some considerations:
Concrete: The words “concrete floor,” suggest a dull gray floor in a warehouse, but today concrete isn’t boring and is surprisingly versatile. For a while kitchen designers have been creating attractive countertops from concrete. Since you can stain concrete just about any color and texturize it with stamps, concrete can resemble tile, hardwood, slate, or marble. It’s often more durable and usually less expensive than the real thing. Since it retains heat well, concrete is also a good choice if you’re considering under-floor radiant heat.
Cork: You may picture a floor that resembles hundreds of wine corks, but, in fact, cork can take a variety of finishes and colors. Harvested from tree bark without killing the tree, cork is a green choice. Many homeowners appreciate the cushioning under their feet and the way cork muffles sound. It is naturally water resistant and has inherent anti-bacterial qualities beneficial in a kitchen. Possible negatives are it is one of the more expensive flooring choices and can fade or dent over time.
Wood: Hardwood floors look great and feel good underfoot. During a kitchen renovation you can install hardwood as strips, planks or parquet. Durability varies according to which kind of wood is used, but some floors could last the lifetime of your house. However hardwoods can scratch and stain and require periodic refinishing.
Laminate: Made of artificial materials, laminate floors use photos to look like hardwood or other materials. They are extremely scratch, stain, and fade resistant. Laminate is durable and much easier and cheaper to install than real hardwood, although some homeowners feel it doesn’t have the same beauty or warmth. It can be hard to repair if damaged.
Linoleum and Vinyl: These are both fairly inexpensive and easy for a do-it-yourselfer to install. They both come in a variety of colors and textures. Linoleum, believe it or not, is actually a green choice since it’s made from natural materials such as linseed oil, wood powder, and pine resin. Vinyl can come in sheets or tiles and is available in different levels of quality. However, vinyl can curl at its edges and both linoleum and vinyl tend not to wear as well as other materials.
Joaquin Erazo, Jr. is with Case Handyman and Remodeling. Find a local kitchen remodeling company near you!
Learn more about kitchen renovations on our website.
(c) 2010 Joaquin Erazo, Jr.
Comments
Leave a Reply