If like many people, you like to cook in your kitchen, you probably spend a lot of time in this space. While materials like concrete, stone and tile can look good, they can really have a number of effects on your feet, back, knees and joints over all. If you want to find a kitchen flooring material that not only looks good, is resistant to stains and also will make you feel more comfortable standing on it for long periods at a time, then stay tuned we will discuss in detail about variety of flooring starting from everyone favourite hardwood to laminate; few of the odd flooring that you may have not heard of are rubber and cork flooring which are also covered below
Source: specialtykitchens.com
Hardwood Flooring
Believe it or not, wood is actually a pretty good material for kitchens. It doesn’t have as soft of an underfoot as something like rubber or cork, but it’s also not as uncomfortable as stone or ceramic. It is pretty much easy to clean and maintain as well. Wood also has a certain sense of beauty about it – no matter which stain, which wood, or which plank thickness you choose, wood always looks good as a flooring material. When you get a wood floor for your kitchen, make sure you get a site finished floor rather than prefinished. This means that they will do the sealing right on the spot which will allow the subfloor and the joints to get sealed. You can’t guarantee this to happen with the alternative process. Hardwood floors can cost anywhere between $5 to $20 per square foot.
source: tilemarkets.com
Cork Flooring
This might not be something you’ve heard of before, but you should consider it. This is flooring made from the bark of a cork oak tree. It’s incredibly soft underfoot and yet very durable in terms of a kitchen material. Cork is available in a wide array of colors and styles. When you own a cork floor it’s in your best interest to apply a layer of wax to the floor every few months. This will create a barrier between your floor and accidental mishaps from happening that can damage the floor. You should also think about adding protective felt pads to things like kitchen carts, stools, and tables so it won’t mess the flooring up. Cork flooring costs anywhere between $4 to $14 per square foot.
Linoleum Flooring
Very similar, and yet not the same as vinyl flooring, this type of flooring is made from linseed oil, pine resin, and powdered cork. It’s really quite comfortable underfoot and yet very durable. It can’t be cracked like stone, splintered like wood, or even cut. It comes in a wide array of colors and styles. As with cork, you can apply a layer of protective finish to keep this flooring looking good for years to come. This flooring will cost anywhere between $5 and $10 per square foot.
Rubber Flooring
More and more these days rubber floors, especially in the kitchen, are becoming popular. This type of flooring is not only soft and comfortable to stand on, but its soft, it’s springy and it’s very durable. Rubber flooring comes in both sheets and tiles so you can choose the one that you like the best. Rubber floors still need to be sealed – every year or two after installation, depending on how much you use the flooring and the kitchen. Rubber flooring will cost anywhere between $6 to $12 per square foot, and yes, you can also find green friendly recycled options as well made from tires. Tire rubber flooring can be stained or dyed.
Vinyl Flooring
Another very common material, this type of flooring is also very friendly budget wise. It comes in more colors, styles, and patterns than you can probably imagine. The biggest con with this type of flooring is that over time it can get dinged up. But, that’s sort of okay considering how cheap it is to purchase and install. Even if you have to do it every few years, it shouldn’t break the bank so to speak because of how budget friendly it really is. It’s much cheaper on the low end than any other options above, starting at $2 and going up to $10 per square foot.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate are really becoming quite popular. They come in more options than wood in terms of colors, styles and plank sizes. These are not a hardwood, though instead, they are layers of different materials. These do, however, tend to be more moisture resistant than the hardwood floors, have a really soft underfoot, and they are considerably cheaper than hardwood. These laminate floors will cost anywhere between $2 and $5 per square foot. That’s a considerable difference compared to hardwood.
Want a really cheap option that will keep you comfy? Why not consider area rugs or ergonomic pads that you can place on the floors. These are super comfortable to stand on and they will ensure that your body and joints don’t hurt from standing.
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