So many factors play into choosing a kitchen floor: How much do you cook? Is it an open floor plan? What’s the most durable?We’ve taken out the guesswork and chosen four flooring types that make the most sense for kitchens, and we explain why they are ideal.Hardwood flooring, with its unmatched warmth and visual appeal, is a great choice if you want to create a look that never really goes out of style, giving you a good return on investment if you ever sell your home.Also, if you have an open floor plan, hardwood works well in both kitchens and living areas. It creates a warm and unified look. Hardwood is also:Hardwood flooring is made in two ways: solid wood strips or engineered wood planks.Engineered wood is the better choice for kitchens. It has a veneer of real wood backed by layers of less expensive plywood. This construction provides dimensional stability that makes the flooring less susceptible to movement caused by changes in humidity and temperature — common in kitchens.

Cost: $3 to $12 per sq. ft.Installation: $5 to $12 per sq. ft., depending on the complexity of the job.best cleaner for a wood deckSheet vinyl belongs to a group of flooring products called resilient flooring, which is the softest flooring option. best cleaner for dirty wood floorIf you cook a lot, this cushiness makes it easier on your feet while easing muscle fatigue. price to clean air conditioner coilsAlso, sheet vinyl is much more forgiving if you (or someone in your family) is a bit of klutz who tends to drop things. vacuum cleaner ratings nz

You’ll have less breakage.Plus, sheet vinyl flooring is a snap to clean up; it’s completely waterproof and stain-proof. carpet cleaning companies dallas txHowever, depending on the size and layout of your kitchen, you may have seams. how much does it cost to remove mold from air ductsStandard width for vinyl flooring is 12 feet. If your kitchen is wider than that, you’ll definitely have seams, which can let moisture into the subfloor and trap dirt if they aren’t tightly bonded.On the upside, sheet vinyl requires no ongoing maintenance beyond sweeping and mopping. If the softness of vinyl flooring appeals to you most, you might opt for cushioned vinyl flooring, which is backed with a layer of foam (standard sheet vinyl uses felt backing). Sounds good, but that extra cushiness makes it hard to create seams that stay tightly bonded over time.

You may end up with seams that come apart, letting in moisture and trapping dirt.  Sheet vinyl comes in many colors and patterns. Thicker vinyl can feature a textured surface, and some types do an excellent job of mimicking the appearance of ceramic tile and real stone. Textured vinyl is a wise choice because it provides traction. Vinyl can be dangerously slippery when wet.Vinyl flooring also has a wear layer that helps resist scratches and scuff marks. But it does eventually wear off. The best brands offer guarantees on the wear layer of 10 to15 years, and good quality vinyl should last 20 years.Cost: $1 to $5 per sq. ft.Installation: $1 to $2 per sq. ft.Don’t confuse vinyl with linoleum. While linoleum is a similar product, it is not as durable, nor as soft. Its upside is its eco-friendliness.Porcelain flooring tile, a version of common ceramic tile, is the durability champ. It’s fired at high temperatures that produce an extremely hard, durable, stain-resistant tile that is impervious to moisture.

In fact, it’s so tough it can be used outdoors in virtually any climate.  Like common ceramic tile, porcelain tile comes either unglazed or glazed. The unglazed versions take on the color of their clay mixture, so they have naturally earthy tones.Glazed tiles have a glass-like coating that can be made in virtually any color, and can mimic the look and texture of real stone at a much lower cost than stone.Make sure you choose porcelain tiles certified as slip-resistant by the Americans with Disabilities Act — the designation should be visible on product literature or packing materials.Cost: $1 to $20 per sq. ft.Installation: $5 to $10 per sq. ft.Cork is made from tree bark that’s harvested every eight to 10 years; it’s a sustainable material, meaning the bark grows back and can be harvested repeatedly. Countries that produce cork are careful to regulate harvesting to ensure future supplies.Cork has a unique cellular structure that’s waterproof and compressible, which makes it a comfortable, moisture-resistant choice.

It comes in 12-inch-by-12-inch tiles and 1-foot-by-3-foot planks, each with a unique grain pattern of swirls and speckles. The surface is naturally textured, which makes it slip-resistant. But unlike other flooring options mentioned, cork floors need to be resealed every three to four years to help guard against scratches and prevent moisture from entering the seams between tiles.Both natural wax and polyurethane are good sealers for cork. Choose water-based polyurethane that’s non-toxic or has low volatile organic compound content to keep it green.Cost: $2 to $6 per sq. ftInstallation: $5 to $10 per sq. ft. Hardwood flooring, unlike other types of floor coverings can be kept looking new, regardless of wear, with a minimum amount of effort. To protect against damage, just follow some basic, common sense guidelines. If your floor happens to get damaged, don't panic. One of the benefits of wood flooring is that because it is a natural flooring material, it can be repaired and/or refinished to look just like new.

Adhering to the following preventative care guidelines will lengthen the time between (and perhaps even eliminate the need for) major renovation or restoration such as recoating or refinishing. IMPORTANT: Wood and Water Don’t Mix Never allow water (or other liquids) to stand on a hardwood floor for any length of time. Also, don't ever pour water on your floor—it can cause damage to the wood's structure and to the finish. Relative humidity is also water, and maintaining a range of 30%-50% relative humidity will contribute to the satisfactory performance of your flooring. If relative humidity is allowed to become too dry or too wet, various problems may result, such as small splits/cracks, cupping, gapping, etc. [30-50% is consistent with NWFA docs and our SHF installation guidelines] Steam mops use water vapor under pressure, and we cannot recommend them for that reason. Water causes wood to swell, resulting in raised edges, possible finish peeling, etc. We recommend using Somerset's specially-formulated Ultimate Cleaner.

We also make available a Mop Kit and replacement mop heads to make cleanup easy. Protect Your Floor with Rugs and Mats Place doormats at all entrances to prevent dirt and grit from being tracked on your floor. Make sure you keep doormats and rugs clean. Use the Right Cleaning and Maintenance Products Make sure you follow all product labels and use only Somerset Ultimate Cleaner. Don't allow water to stand on your floor. Sweep, dust-mop or vacuum your floor regularly, but do not use household dusting products, because they can cause your floor to become slick and may damage the finish. The use of Somerset's specially formulated Ultimate™ Cleaner will ensure that your floor is properly maintained. To avoid scratching and damaging the floor's surface, place felt furniture pads or other protective pads such as gray rubber non-marking casters or fused felt casters on chair and table legs and any other furniture surface that could possibly cause finish indentations.

Be sure to keep the pads clean and free of grit and dirt. Don't use ball-type casters or casters made of hard materials such as plastic or metal—these can damage your floor. If you have furniture fitted with plastic, vinyl, or metal leg tips, it is not sufficient to to stick a piece of felt under such tips—in fact, it can put your floor at risk. Often times, the felt pads will come off and leave the original tip free to damage the floor. Instead, for plastic and vinyl tips, purchase replacement tips with fused felt that will ensure a permanent bond between the tip and the felt pad. As for metal tips, we recommend that you purchase tips on which felt pads have been applied at the manufacturing plant. Make sure the heels of your shoes are in good repair—especially high heels. Heels that are missing their caps or are worn through exposing metal or other abrasive surfaces can cause scratches and dents on any floor's surface. And, of course, never walk across your floor in shoes that have cleats or spikes.