Part 3There are so many different floor coverings available in the marketplace. Sometimes, it may be a bit overwhelming just trying to choose the best option for your kitchen. To make this process easier, I’ve grouped together various flooring types and reviewed their advantages and disadvantages. In Part 3, I’ll talk about Vinyl, Laminate, Carpet, and Concrete. I hope this helps make your kitchen flooring decision a little easier!
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is really easy to work with. It is quiet, soft, easy to install, versatile, and very affordable. It comes in both stick-on tile as well as large rolls. Seams are the weak point in this floor yet are unavoidable in certain sized rooms. Moisture can get in and mold/mildew can grow. Sometimes it will simply lift along the edges. Despite this drawback, it is still the most affordable flooring option out there.
Pros - Vinyl is durable, water and stain resistant as well as inexpensive. It is also easy to install and it comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
Cons - As mentioned earlier, moisture can cause seams to mold and lift.
Laminate
Laminate flooring often looks like wood, bamboo or cork, but it is actually a plastic. Today, there are designs that have graining built in before the “picture” of the wood is overlain. The result is fairly realistic-looking, durable flooring that is usually quite reasonably priced.
Pros - This type of flooring is durable, comes in a wide range of designs and colors, and is scratch resistant. It can be installed over old flooring and is a good choice for damp areas. Laminate is also very easy to install yourself as many types click together and require no glue.
Cons - Laminate cannot be refinished if it is damaged, but if you reserve a few extra boards you can replace it. For the most part, it’s more affordable than wood, but occasionally you will find some that are much more expensive. So don’t just assume it will be cheaper. Do compare prices.
Concrete
Concrete flooring is gaining popularity as a viable alternative for flooring. It can be made visually appealing by utilizing a variety of colors and textures before sealing. Concrete is easy to clean, moisture-resistant, and long-lasting. It’s also well-suited to in-floor radiant heating.
Pros - Concrete is a great option for flooring. Both heat and cold resistant, it is also easy to clean. All the maintenance it needs is the occasional waxing. It can also be acid-stained to create various colors. Allergy sufferers can benefit from concrete flooring as there is no place for allergens to cling to, resulting in an easy clean up.
Cons - Concrete does not make for an easy installation for the average do-it-yourselfer. If a mistake is made, it can be costly to fix. Generally, you’ll want to use a professional and that will cost a little more. The only other disadvantage of concrete is that there is a limited range of color options.
Carpet
Carpet is not a common type of kitchen flooring, but some people do prefer it, so I thought I would mention a bit about it too.
Pros - Carpet is soft on the feet. It also comes in many colors and styles. The price of carpet ranges from inexpensive to pricey, so be on the look out for the best bang for your buck.
Cons - Generally, carpet is not a great idea for a kitchen. It is best used in a drier area. Moisture and dirt can collect in the carpet and start to grow mold and mildew. Carpet is not a good choice for people with allergies either. You are better off getting a different kind of floor with throw rugs that can be washed.
Labels: Floor Heating in Kitchens
Part 2As I mentioned in
Part 1 of the Kitchen Flooring series, there are so many different floor coverings available in the marketplace. As it can be a bit overwhelming just trying to choose the best option for your kitchen, I’m continuing to review some of the most popular options available. In my review, I note each flooring type’s advantages and disadvantages to help you make the best decision for your kitchen. In Part 1, I reviewed cork, bamboo and hardwood. In Part 2, I’ll talk about tile, stone and linoleum/marmoleum.
Tile
Tile is an exceptionally popular flooring type for a kitchen because of its functionality and aesthetics. It’s not surprising given that the nature of a kitchen, and the opportunity for spills. Tile is virtually spill proof. You may break a glass if you drop it on tile, but liquids and other spills wipe up easily. It is also quite easy to get a custom look with tile as it comes in many different styles and designs which allow for lots of creative freedom. The sky really is the limit!
Pros - There is a large selection of tile shapes, sizes and colors! It’s fairly easy to maintain and is pretty durable. Tile is also one of the more affordable options to choose from and is one of the easier materials to work with if you plan to install the flooring yourself.
Cons - Tile is very cold and hard on the feet, legs and back. You can, however, take the chill off of tile with a radiant floor warming system. Tile can break, but if you keep a few extra tiles on hand, they can be replaced. The only downfall with tile is that the grout can be difficult to keep up. If you use a light color grout, dirt will show. If you use anything but white grout, it can be hard to match later if it chips.
Stone
Marble, slate, travertine and granite are some of the leading stone flooring covering options. Stone flooring has been around forever and never seems to go out of style. When selected from well-managed quarries, stone is a great alternative to ceramic or vinyl tile and its natural beauty will last for the life of your home and beyond.
Pros - Stone makes for a gorgeous floor! It’s extremely durable, often outlasting the life of the house. There are a lot of colors and patterns available.
Cons - Just like tile, stone is cold and hard. Again, like tile, adding radiant heating to the stone flooring will warm it up to a very comfortable temperature. Stone, however, is a much more expensive flooring option. Additionally, a high gloss polish will cause the floor to be slippery when wet and some stone types do need to be sealed regularly. Although stone is very durable, some cleaning products can damage stone flooring. Be sure to read labels carefully and DO NOT use a product that is not made for your type of stone.
Linoleum/Marmoleum
Marmoleum (a brand name of Linoleum) is made from all natural ingredients: linseed/flax oil, wood resins, cork, limestone, and jute. Vibrant, marbled colors from organic dyes are a hallmark of linoleum. Also, because the color permeates the material, it can actually be sanded down to prolong the life of the flooring. Linoleum flooring is resilient which makes it perfect for heavy traffic and prolonged standing. It is a great option for those affected by respiratory issues because it discourages dust mites and is allergen-free. The flooring’s consistent temperature works well in all homes, even those situated in extreme climate zones. Linoleum is available in sheets and tiles, which should always be installed with low-VOC adhesives, as well as hard tongue and groove planks for do-it-yourself glueless installation.
Pros - Linoleum comes in a huge selection of colors and patterns. It is soft underfoot and very durable. It is environmentally friendly because it is made of natural ingredients. It is one of the more affordable flooring options. For people with allergies, it can be a good choice.
Cons - Linoleum is porous. It can require waxing and may also require some repair over time. Even though it’s durable, it is not easy to repair scratches, nicks or holes, but it can be done..
Labels: Floor Heating in Kitchens
Part 1There are so many different floor coverings available in the marketplace. Sometimes, it may feel a bit overwhelming just trying to choose the best option for your kitchen. To make this process easier, I’ve grouped together various flooring types and reviewed their advantages and disadvantages. In Part 1, I’ll talk about cork, bamboo and hardwood. I hope this helps make your kitchen flooring decision a little easier!
Cork FlooringCork flooring is a relatively new option on the flooring scene and is gaining in popularity. It is a renewable resource and offers the same strength and durability of hardwood. It’s also allergy-friendly, which is a growing concern for many homeowners. Actually made from the bark of the cork oak tree, it is harvested every 9 years and the harvesting process does not harm the actual tree. With a variety of colors and finishes available, it is easy to see why cork is becoming a popular flooring choice.
Pros - Renewable, allergy-friendly, and comes in many colors and finishes. It is easy to install and is often one of the more affordable options. Contains a natural waxy element called Suberin, which actually inhibits fire, repels insects and naturally seals the floor.
Cons - Cork does require sealing on a regular basis and is not as easy to clean or as durable as vinyl. If you are very hard on your floors, cork may not be the best option for your kitchen.
Bamboo FlooringBamboo flooring is a highly sustainable resource as well as being environmentally friendly. As bamboo grows to maturity rather quickly, it can be harvested every 7 years. During harvesting, the root system is unharmed and remains healthy and ready to produce more bamboo shoots. Bamboo is cured and glued together to make flooring. It is naturally moisture resistant which makes it an ideal choice for a kitchen (or bathroom). It has become a natural option for those who prefer to use environmentally friendly materials when building or remodeling.
Pros - Bamboo is renewable and as durable as maple or walnut hardwood flooring. It’s also highly moisture resistant. Keep in mind when choosing the color, the lighter the coloring, the harder the flooring will be.
Cons - It can be pricey. Often the profits are not shared fairly with the harvesters. Also,
some bamboo farms do not harvest responsibly which diminishes the sustainability aspect. Bamboo is shipped from overseas, so if being “green” is a consideration for you, keep that in mind.
Wood (solid wood or engineered planks)Wood flooring is a timeless option, and has recently skyrocketed in popularity. Not only is it fairly durable and long lasting, there are also lots of wood types, colors and stains available. If you do decide to use reclaimed wood, your choice helps to conserve natural resources and preserve the eco system; it can also be a more affordable alternative. No matter what type of wood flooring you use, it will inevitably be a gorgeous feature in your kitchen.
Pros - Wood is beautiful and feels soft underfoot. It’s pretty durable and long lasting if it is taken care of and sealed properly. There are many colors and stains to choose from and is a great complement for most kitchen designs.
Cons - Wood is prone to water damage, and can also darken with age. While it is soft underfoot, it can make feet and legs tired if you stand on it for any length of time. Softer woods can also dent easily. Lastly, real wood is one of the more expensive floor covering options.
Labels: Floor Heating in Kitchens
The kitchen floor in this Boston home was bone-chillingly cold, located directly above an unheated garage. Walking barefoot to get your morning coffee or having the kids play on the kitchen floor close by while preparing dinner was simply out of the question.
To solve this problem, the owner installed a WarmlyYours' Environ II™ radiant floor heating system for laminate and engineered wood floors. The Environ II™ consists of a wafer thin heated mat that installs quickly and easily between the pad and the floating wood flooring. There's no messy cement required. In fact, it's so easy it can be installed by a DIYer, with only an electrician required to hardwire the thermostat.
Today the kitchen is comfortably warm and inviting despite the harsh New England winters. Even though the garage is bitter cold just inches beneath, above it the kitchen floor with the Environ II radiant floor heating system is a balmy 80 degrees keeping those toes cozy while adding supplemental warmth to the whole room.
As you can see by the photographs, the installation was completed after first installing a thin, blue-pad insulation.
When installing any electric floor heating system over a cold garage, cement slab or crawl space, it is important to keep in mind that an additional layer of insulation is recommended. Without insulation, depending on the particular job conditions, the floor may get to only 70 – 75 degrees. While this is a vast improvement over a chilly 55-degree floor, you won't get the nice warm feeling that an 80-degree floor would provide and the 'warm' floor will have almost no effect on the room temperature besides simply canceling the chilling effect of a cold floor. A few degrees can sometimes make all the difference. For more information about insulation, please visit:
http://www.warmlyyours.com/faq/mostpopularinsulation/
Labels: Floor Heating in Kitchens, Heated Laminate with Floor Heating
A new study featured in "Kitchen and Bath Business" magazine recently revealed that when purchasing a house, the kitchen is a major factor in the final decision.
According to this study, model home shoppers have limited time to spend within each home, so they tend to focus on the kitchen and master bedroom. These have become the two most important rooms that impact their decision. In fact, the study results have shown that shoppers spend less than one and a half minutes reviewing a model home kitchen, meaning sellers have little time to capture their attention. According to "Kitchen and Bath Business" magazine, "the kitchen becomes the make or break sale feature".
Consequently, products and features that add discernable and lasting levels of luxury to the kitchen are in greater demand than ever before. Electric floor heating is prominent among these value added features as it offers an affordable means to upgrade the kitchen or the "heart of the home". With the extra warmth and comfort of radiant heat, the kitchen becomes an inviting space for family and guests to gather. And your radiant heated floor will have significant appeal for prospective home buyers who will be attracted to its functional luxury.
Labels: Floor Heating in Kitchens
