What flooring is best for kitchens?

Choosing the best floor material for your kitchen can feel a bit daunting. Compared to bedrooms and lounges, kitchens have several more lifestyle and functionality factors to consider. When considering new flooring for your kitchen, make sure you take the pros and cons of each of these kitchen flooring materials into account.

Vinyl is a popular flooring option for kitchens, mainly due to its cost-effectiveness, durability and waterproof properties. It is available in thousands of different designs and can even mimic natural wood flooring. Vinyl flooring can be glued to your subflooring, but some planks and tiles feature a tongue-and-groove feature that allows for easy installation directly over the subfloor.

Laminate is similar to vinyl flooring; its main difference is that laminate has a wood composite core rather than a plastic or foam core. Most types of laminate are not fully waterproof due to their wood core, and so need the same precautions taken as with hardwood flooring.

Engineered hardwood is made from 100% real wood. It has a plywood core with a thick solid wood veneer on top. It is impossible to distinguish visually from solid hardwood once installed, and is one of the most popular types of wood flooring. It is an excellent budget-friendly alternative to solid hardwood flooring.

Hardwood floors have a classic look that suits most New Zealand homes. When maintained and finished properly, they can look fantastic for hundreds of years. It is important to note that hardwood floors aren’t waterproof. While the correct finish will help, make sure you clean up spills immediately and take humidity issues into account.

Tile is a great option for areas with frequent exposure to water, like kitchens and bathrooms. Ceramic, porcelain and stone tiles all come in many sizes and colours, so you can find the perfect flooring for your unique style preferences. With tiles, it is important to keep the grouting sealed and maintained; otherwise it will be prone to stains.

Polished concrete flooring in modern homes because of its minimalist, contemporary look. It does not easily show signs of wear or staining if it is finished properly.

The Harrisons Flooring experts would love to help with your next flooring project. If you are still struggling to decide which kitchen flooring material is best for you, we can do a free at-home consultation to understand your needs and talk through your options.