The kitchen is probably the one area of the house our clients deliberate over the most. Choosing the right flooring can often be the crux of that deliberation. The kitchen receives the heaviest traffic in the house, an area where water and much more will often be spilt. So whatever your choice it needs to be a durable finish.
Timber
We have lots of clients who would rather have wood flooring in the kitchen as opposed to tiles but it really does depend on how careful you are. Timber does not like water so unless you plan on having a mop handy to attend to each and every spill as they happen it might not be the best choice.
If you have your heart set on wood, consider an engineered floor which is flooring made up of lengths of wood veneer on top of a layer of birch ply, rather than the solid wood variety which will tend to expand in an environment with lots of moisture. A laminate floor won’t expand or contract and will stand up better to mopping and general spills. In a kitchen area it is best to opt for a lacquered finish which means timber is sealed rather than an oiled or waxed board.
Laminate
Laminate is an inexpensive and popular flooring choice for kitchens. You need to make sure you choose a product that is durable and able to withstand a good deal of wear and tear. There are some very realistic, textured designs available. It’s a low-maintenance, moisture-resistant product which is easy to install.
Tiling
Tiling is a fantastic choice in kitchens. Stone is a gorgeous finish but it is a natural material and certain stones can be very porous. It typically comes in 3 finishes, polished, honed or matt. The more polished the surface the better the durability. If you are considering a stone floor I would advise keeping your grout joints as small as possible to give a very clean look. It’s also important to make sure you seal your floor once its laid and do keep in mind that it will require buffing and re-sealing over time.
Porcelain tiles on the other hand are maintenance free. They don’t require sealing and are extremely hard wearing and there are some very good stone effect porcelains available now, not to mention timber and leather effect options too.
Concrete
Polished concrete is a finish that has grown in popularity recently. Its an extremely hard wearing surface but it must be installed properly or cracking and imperfections can occur. It has fantastic thermal properties, absorbing the heat during the day and releasing it at night making it a great option for those who want the durability of tiles but are not keen on how cold they are underfoot.
Linoleum
Linoleum is also a popular flooring choice as its much softer under foot than tiles or concrete. It’s made from natural materials and is naturally antibacterial, which is why it’s so often used in hospitals. It comes in a huge range of colours and designs. Like concrete it needs to be fitted properly and sealed.
It comes in tiles or sheets but the sheet variety is more attractive and because there are no joints it is extremely waterproof. We had a client who had had Linoleum in her kitchen for 15 years and when refurbishing carefully considered every alternative only to return to Linoleum as none of the other finishes could offer her all that the linoleum had.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the thought of redoing your kitchen, why not visit the De Dietrich Design Clinic with our MD Denise O’Connor for free expert advice.
Running on Saturday, 11 May from 10am to 12pm in the KAL Advisory Centre in Citywest, this informative day will see Denise discussion key topics to consider when redesigning your kitchen.
You can then avail of a free mini-consultation with the Optimise Design team and browse the new De Dietrich award-winning appliances. Guests can enjoy refreshments and freshly baked treats from the Connoisseur Chef oven.
Register to reserve your free space at kal.ie/events.
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