The kitchen is the heart of the home and a room that is used and enjoyed by the whole family. It’s also a favored room for renovations, remodeling and upgrades, including new kitchen flooring.
This guide will help you explore popular kitchen flooring types to find the perfect fit for your home. From practical to durable, your kitchen floor is more than just functional, it is a major component of the kitchen’s design and style.
The market is full of options ranging in materials, textures, colors and patterns. Let’s dive in and review the best kitchen flooring options of 2020 and beyond…
Choosing Kitchen Flooring in Toronto: what matters most?
Although personal preferences may vary from one individual to the next, the following are important considerations when evaluating your kitchen flooring options in Toronto.
1. Maintenance, Safety and Sanitation
Let’s face it. These days we’re all too busy to spend our time on our hands and knees cleaning and maintaining our floors. Now, more than ever before, sanitation is an important consideration for the prevention and disinfecting of pathogens in our homes. Look for materials that are scratch-resistant and easy to wipe up in a hurry.
2. Affordability
In today’s economy, we could all use a good deal. The good news is that high-quality flooring doesn’t have to break the bank.
3. Aesthetics and Visual Appeal
We all know looks are important. But don’t forget to take into consideration these elements:
How will the new flooring meld with your existing kitchen layout, colors, materials and design?
How will the flooring complement or blend in with the rest of the house?
4. Durability
Kitchen flooring represents a major investment in your home. Not to mention, kitchen floors tend to take a lot of abuse from spills and foot traffic. Make sure the flooring you choose comes with a solid warranty and is resistant to scratches and dents.
5. Other Considerations
According to HGTV, other considerations include your lifestyle, how much use the floor will get, comfort, and personal flare.
Kitchen Flooring Options Best for Toronto Homes
Now that you know what factors to consider with your purchase, next up is evaluating your material options. From classic hardwood, to contemporary tile, you’ve got a lot to consider.
Hardwood Kitchen Flooring
This classic material is timeless and elegant. Hardwood can provide a feeling of warmth to your kitchen and is available in a wide range of styles and types of wood. Although scratch resistant and moderately durable when it comes to foot traffic, hardwood is less able to withstand moisture, water, heat and humidity.
Pros:
- Will never look “out of date”
- Moderate durability
- Can be re-finished
- A good option for open floor plans
Cons:
- Fluctuations in both temperature and humidity can cause buckling and warping
- May be challenging to clean (due to not being able to mop with water)
- On the higher end of the budget spectrum
Engineered Wood Kitchen Flooring
Engineered wood flooring is versatile, affordable and available in a wide range of style and patterns. It is also capable of standing up to humidity and moisture better than its natural counterpart.
Pros:
- Durable (multi-layer, scratch-proof finishes, moisture barrier, etc)
- Largely indiscernible from real hardwood
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Easy to update or change when needed
- Simple installation
- Affordable
Cons:
- Inability to “refinish” like natural hardwood
- Less durable than natural hardwood
- Adds less value to your home than hardwood
Laminate Flooring for Kitchens
Laminate is an inexpensive flooring option that is both durable and easy to install. It is available in a broad range of styles, colors and patterns. From textured surfaces to reduce slipping, to intricate patterns or even that which mimics real wood, the options are virtually endless.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to maintain and clean
- Easy to install
- Available in an endless array of options
Cons:
- Less durable
- Quality matters when it comes to look and feel
- More prone to ripping and denting with heavy furniture or appliances
Which Kitchen Flooring Option is Right for YOU?
Updating your kitchen floor is a decision that will be largely based on your personal style, design aspirations, budget and more. At Kitchen Land, homeowners can find a wide selection of kitchen flooring options to explore, and expert advice from professionals eager to help. Products can be viewed, and purchased remotely (online), with installers following strict adherence to social distancing and safety protocols.
