The Best for Your Kitchen Tile Floors and Cleaning
Often when building a new home or renovating an existing one, the most critical concern in the house construction is the entire area flooring of the interior. And the interior home flooring set up is frequently determined a success only if you have a fabulous kitchen flooring.
Kitchen floors are the most integral part.
of the house since the kitchen is where most of the family activity takes place, more so than the family room or the porch. The kitchenette is where the family wakes-up in, where the hubby and wife usually find themselves alone. It is where the relatives share a recipe and where you have a good chat with your guest. Finally, it is where the children peep to mom asking what she’s doing while the teens ask what’s for dinner. The kitchen substrate is then subject to more wear-and-tear. Hence the existing kitchen floors must have a good start.
Commonly Used Kitchen Flooring
The best and therefore commonly used kitchen floors are the stone, ceramic tile, vinyl, linoleum, and concrete – all for some excellent reasons. Sheets and squares and tiling in the living room, dining, or porch may have been popular because it achieves a recognizable style. This style is in the over-all look of your home, yet the idea won’t get through if these materials were not first laid on the kitchen floor.
Floor Resiliency Vinyl
Vinyl is ‘resilient’ because of its ability to bounce back into shape, also having a cushiony and warm-feel (because of the core-material or wear-layer) to an otherwise cold kitchen. Vinyl has a protective no-wax coating or a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) surface making it best for a usually stained and cleaned kitchen floor. The hardest flooring to clean is ceramic tile. Grout cleaning is the most challenging. The stains that permeate thru the grout need special cleaners and procedures. It is best to let a trained tile and grout cleaner perform the service for you.
Choosing Vinyl
Choosing vinyl gives you endless options for colors and patterns, no-worries about discoloring the floor due to water, no-maintenance beyond sweeping and mopping, plus it resists scratches and stains from kids and pets. Preferably laid over plywood (like vinyl), Linoleum may be just as durable as the former, it is quiet, smooth, elastic, comfortable and low-maintenance, plus unlike vinyl, it is sturdier and environment-friendly being made of natural materials. Linoleum though unlike plastic, has fewer colors and patterns than vinyl and standing water can damage it. Both ranges from $1.25-$5.50/sq ft yet are not totally damage and stain-resistant, dirt could accumulate underneath, and could peel as kitchen flooring.
Granite, Marble, and Slate
Stones are stronger and more durable, and you can use it over a radiant heat system. Although it is most elegantly expensive from $7-$100/sq.ft. You’ll need to apply sealants periodically to prevent stains and replace chipped stones. Also, the light-colored grout in between stone tiles will show stains and dirt, and the elderly and children may be disadvantaged as it could be slippery. And it is not warm and comfortable unless you consider using mats or throw rugs.
Tiles Less Expensive
Tiles Less Expensive Tiles, in turn, are less expensive from $1-$100/sq.ft. They are just as durable and suitable for radiant heat, plus it gives more sizes, patterns, and colors to choose from, and glazed tile resists staining. Also, tile doesn’t require special cleaning like stones. But also like stones, tiles can crack and could be dangerous (slippery un-textured glazed tiles) and uncomfortable.
Concrete Kitchen Floors
Concrete kitchen flooring is more stain-free because it doesn’t have in-between slabs requiring grout cleaning. It is the most averagely-priced about $15-$20/sq.ft., just as durable and suitable for radiant heat. This flooring also gives more sizes, patterns, and colors to choose from. Yet, it requires stronger under-floor support due to heaviness, still needs a sealer/glaze to prevent staining, and is not free from the danger and uncomfortable flooring problem. [next…]
Your Choice
Pick your choice. It is best to have the best preparation in having your kitchen flooring. Kitchenette flooring should first be practical and safe before it is purchased. It must be carefully selected according to safety, durability, and cost and style as last. After all, if you have a clean and comfortable kitchen, then you also have a very charming one.
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