Kitchen Flooring: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

Part 3

There 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.

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