Home » Misc » Cheapest kitchen floor

Cheapest kitchen floor


4 Inexpensive Options for Kitchen Flooring Options

By

Joseph Lewitin

Joseph Lewitin

Joseph Lewitin is a flooring expert who grew up in the industry. In his youth, he began working in his family's tile import business, learning every aspect of the flooring industry, from design and fabrication to maintenance and repair. He also owned a flooring materials store specializing in natural stone floors.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 01/18/22

Reviewed by

Johnathan Brewer

Reviewed by Johnathan Brewer

Johnathan Brewer is a home improvement expert with over two decades of professional experience as a licensed general contractor specializing in kitchen and bath. He has been featured on HGTV’s “Super Scapes,” “Curb Appeal the Block,” “Elbow Room,” DIY Network's “House Crashers,” "This Old House," and OWN Network's Emmy award winning show, “Home Made Simple. ” Jonathan is also a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

Fact checked by

Sarah Scott

Fact checked by Sarah Scott

Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

You can easily spend $20 to $30 per square foot on luxury flooring for your kitchen, but if you are willing to shop around and tackle the installation yourself, a new kitchen floor can cost well under $1 per square foot. However, it’s important to note that price is not the only consideration. The material also must be a good candidate for the kitchen environment. Any legitimate option must meet two conditions:

The four best options that meet these guidelines for cheap kitchen flooring are ceramic tile, vinyl, laminate, and cork. That's actually a fairly broad list, considering that all of these flooring materials are available in a wide range of styles. And they are all pretty good performers in the kitchen.

The costs given below are recent prices from a national big-box home improvement retailer. They are subject to change and do not include underlayment, adhesive, grout, or other installation supplies. Consider those additional costs when evaluating any flooring.

Tip

Also consider resale value while selecting flooring materials: A cheap flooring option may not be the best choice if it lowers the value of your home.

Vinyl Flooring

Available in sheets, tiles, or luxury vinyl planks, vinyl flooring is the easiest kitchen flooring material to install. If your subfloor is in good shape, vinyl is also the cheapest because you can usually install it right over the subfloor (or suitable existing flooring), avoiding the expense of new underlayment. Vinyl comes in several types, so you can shop based on price, look, and/or installation method. The most inexpensive type of vinyl tends to be peel-and-stick tile, followed by peel-and-stick planks and sheet vinyl.

The best all-around DIY option is the luxury plank, which is usually thicker than standard vinyl tile and can be installed as a click-together floating floor. 

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Prices

Prices for good-quality vinyl flooring start at $.50 per square foot for economy vinyl sheets, and $1.50 to $2.00 per square foot for standard tiles; you will have literally hundreds of options. Good-quality luxury vinyl planks start at about $3 per square foot, with many very attractive options available in the $3 to $4 range.  

Advantages

Vinyl flooring is one of the best-performing materials for a kitchen floor, with several notable advantages: 

Disadvantages

Vinyl flooring has one main drawback: 

Installation Tips

For tiles: Dry-lay a full row across the width and length of the floor to establish a layout, then draw perpendicular layout lines to guide the installation.

For sheet vinyl: Create a perimeter template with butcher paper, and cut the flooring in one piece—a no-glue method (using double-sided tape in select areas) is easiest.

For luxury vinyl planks: Allow the planks to acclimate in the room for a full 48 hours before installation. Use layout lines to guide the installation.  

Laminate Flooring

Laminate is one of the most popular of all inexpensive flooring materials, mostly because it can convincingly mimic so many other more expensive flooring materials. Laminate flooring can be manufactured to look like hardwood, natural stone, or even slate. 

Laminate flooring has a rightful place among cheap kitchen flooring options, but it's not the most durable choice for this room—despite what the manufacturers may promise. The hard resin surfaces of the planks are plenty scratch- and stain-resistant enough to tolerate kitchen traffic and abuse, but the seams between planks are vulnerable to water damage. A leaky dishwasher or forgotten spill can cause the planks to bulge along the edges, so you must be mindful of standing water, and avoid wet-mopping altogether (occasional damp-mopping is okay).  If you’re willing to spend more, consider “water-resistant” laminate, which is guaranteed to resist standing water for a specified period (such as 24 hours).  

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Prices

Prices for laminate flooring start at about $0.50 per square foot for standard flooring and about $2 per square foot for water-resistant laminate. Even top name brands rarely cost more than about $3 per square foot. 

Advantages

Laminate flooring's advantages include: 

Disadvantages

For kitchens, laminate flooring does have some negatives to consider: 

Installation Tips

Installing a laminate floating floor in the kitchen is a doable day-long project. Be very careful with the plank edges during installation; they break easily. Plan the plank layout so you don't end up with a really short piece at either end of a row or a really narrow strip at either side of the room.  

Ceramic Floor Tile

Ceramic tile gives you the most bang for your buck because you get a virtually indestructible surface that’s easy to clean—although the grout lines can be difficult to keep clean unless you seal them carefully. If properly installed, bargain tile lasts just as long as the most expensive tiles. Cheap tiles may be less trendy, but if you go for a clean, simple style, no one will be the wiser.

The biggest cost savings with ceramic tile is in the money you save from DIY installation. Professional tile work can cost as much as $14 per square foot.

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

 

Prices

Prices for ceramic tile start at about $0.50 per square foot for plain solid-color tile, although there additional costs for underlayment, thin-set adhesive, and grout. Good-quality porcelain tiles that mimic the look of wood or natural stone begin at about $3 per square foot.  

Advantages

Ceramic tile is a classic kitchen flooring material, with virtues that include: 

Disadvantages

Ceramic tile has some disadvantages when used in kitchens: 

Installation Tips

Install the tile over a layer of cement board, which helps stiffen the floor (to prevent cracking) and isn't affected by moisture that gets through the tile. Plan your layout carefully to ensure that the results are pleasing to the eye. 

Cork

Cork is at the higher end of inexpensive flooring options, but it's a comfortable and visually pleasing material that's easy to install. It offers more cushion underfoot than the others and is quite long-lasting. You might have to shop around to find cork as low as $3 per square foot, but it is available.

Cork is most commonly sold as  snap-together planks or tiles for a floating floor installation, similar to how laminate flooring is installed. This makes cork a good DIY option, and many types of cork do not require the foam underlayment that is necessary with laminates, since the planks have a layer of built-in underlayment. 

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Prices

Cork flooring starts at about $3 per square foot for click-lock planks. The higher-end cork flooring products available at home centers cost about $8 per square foot. 

Advantages

The advantages of cork flooring in a kitchen are few but very important:

Disadvantages

Though they don't outweigh the advantages, there are some drawbacks to cork flooring in a kitchen:

Installation Tips

Plan the layout of the planks so you don't end up with a really short piece at either end of a row or a really narrow strip at either side of the room.  

Use a tapping block to hammer the pieces together and lock the joints. Hammering directly on the planks can break them. 

Affordable Kitchen Flooring Options | Inexpensive Kitchen Floors

Get beautiful kitchen floors that are durable and easy to maintain but also soft on the budget

Get quotes from up to 3 pros!

Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.

Dreaming of a new kitchen floor without spending a small fortune? Thanks to design and manufacturing advancements, you can get durable, long-lasting floors at a great price. 

Here, we cover the best types of inexpensive kitchen flooring. We outline the pros and cons of each type along with estimated costs. With the proper care and cleaning, your new kitchen floors will look stunning and last for decades. 

1. Vinyl Kitchen Flooring

Photo: appleyayee / Adobe Stock

Vinyl flooring offers a beautiful, durable surface at a fraction of the cost of tile, stone, and hardwood floors. Made of synthetic materials, vinyl holds up great in kitchens and other high-traffic areas. You can find attractive colors and patterns that mimic the highest-end tiles and hardwood.

Pros

Cons

Cost

Sheet vinyl costs $0.50 to $2 per square foot on average. Luxury vinyl tiles cost $2.50 to $5 per square foot on average, making it one of the most affordable tiles for kitchens. 

The typical cost for local vinyl flooring contractors ranges from $3 to $10 per square foot on top of materials, depending on where you live. Contractors usually handle everything from removing your old floor if needed and sourcing your vinyl, usually at a discount. 

While vinyl flooring can be installed by experienced DIYers, it’s often best left to an expert, especially for a trickier space like a kitchen.

2. Laminate Kitchen Flooring

Photo: david hughes / Adobe Stock

Looking for durable flooring that looks like hardwood without the cost? Consider laminate flooring for your kitchen. Laminate is a multi-layer synthetic flooring that mimics wood and offers a durable, easy-to-maintain surface. 

There are differences between laminate and vinyl flooring, but both are popular affordable kitchen flooring options.

Pros

Cons

Cost

The average cost for laminate materials is $0. 70 and $2.00 per square foot, depending on the type. The average cost of installed laminate flooring ranges between $2 and $8 per square foot, including labor and materials.

In a kitchen, hiring a local laminate flooring contractor might be best, as there are challenging corners and fixtures to work around. The final result will look more professional if you hire a pro, especially if you don’t have experience laying flooring. Professionals are also trained not to waste material when cutting pieces.

The price for laminate flooring fluctuates seasonally, and winter is often the best time to buy, but talk with your contractor about discounts they may be eligible for.

3. Linoleum Kitchen Flooring

Photo: pics721 / Adobe Stock

Made of all-natural materials like jute, cork, rosins, and linseed oil, linoleum flooring comes in sheets or tiles that snap together. While linoleum has been around for over 150 years, the material has vastly improved. 

Learn all about the pluses and minuses and how linoleum differs from laminate and vinyl before moving forward.  

Pros

Cons

Cost

Linoleum sheet costs $2 to $2.50 per square foot on average, while linoleum tile costs $3.50 per square foot on average. Installation adds approximately $5 to $7 per square foot, making the total cost for linoleum between $7 and $9. 50 per square foot. 

Linoleum installation is best left to the pros, as cutting and laying the material can be tricky. You can save on costs helping your linoleum contractor with pieces of the project like preparation and caulking.

4. Rubber Flooring

Photo: onzon / Adobe Stock

Affordable residential rubber flooring is made of either natural tree rubber or synthetic materials, such as recycled vehicle tires. Rubber floors offer extra padding and are water-resistant. 

Learn about the pros and cons and rubber’s appearance to determine if it’s right for your kitchen.

Pros

Cons

Cost

On average, rubber flooring material costs between $1 and $8 per square foot, with rolled mats being the least expensive option at $1 to $5 per square foot. For rubber flooring, expect to pay between $1 and $4 per square foot for installation on top of materials. Because rolled mats are easier to install, labor costs are lower than rubber floor tiles.

5. Concrete Flooring

Photo: Victor zastol'skiy / Adobe Stock

Concrete can offer a smooth, modern feel to your kitchen, and offers incredible longevity. Concrete flooring is made up of water, cement, and aggregates. It can be stained, polished, or etched for an interior floor. 

Decide if budget-friendly concrete kitchen flooring is right for you by learning about the pluses and minuses.

Pros

Cons

Cost

Polished concrete can cost anywhere from $2 to $15 per square foot, including installation. One layer of stain with a basic design will be on the lower end, while elaborate designs and advanced coloring top the range. 

6. Cork Flooring

Photo: andrey gonchar / Adobe Stock

Cork flooring is made of cork oak tree bark that is dried, ground, and compressed with resin. Cork kitchen flooring comes in tiles or planks. You can stain, paint, bleach, or refinish cork to make it look like any other flooring, including hardwood. 

Check out the pluses and minuses of affordable cork flooring to see if it's right for your kitchen.

Pros

Cons

Cost

The cost of cork flooring material ranges from $3 to $12 per square foot. Installation usually costs about $2 per square foot, making installed cork flooring a total of $5 to $14 per square foot. Ask a local flooring professional for a quote to determine if you should DIY or hire out the project. 

7. Terracotta Tile Flooring

Photo: pics721 / Adobe Stock

With earthy tones and an array of patterns, terracotta tiles can offer a warm vibe to your kitchen. Made of reddish clay, terracotta is a ceramic material but is more inexpensive than other ceramic tiles. 

Learn about the benefits and drawbacks of this classic budget-friendly kitchen flooring style.

Pros

Cons

Cost

You can find terracotta tile for as little as $1 to $3 per square foot. Higher density terracotta tiles are more expensive, but are also more durable. Unless you are experienced, a pro is recommended for installation. Labor costs raise the price of a terracotta tile floor to between $5 and $13 per square foot, but could be more depending on your geographical region. 

FAQs About Budget-Friendly Kitchen Flooring

Where can I buy inexpensive kitchen flooring?

You can buy inexpensive kitchen flooring off the shelf at most home improvement stores with the best prices usually offered by big-box chain stores. Most flooring contractors can buy your flooring at a discount, so be sure to check with your contractor before buying your flooring materials. 

What is the most affordable kitchen flooring option?

The most affordable kitchen flooring option is sheet vinyl due to its low material and installation costs, followed by laminate flooring and vinyl planks. Be sure to get quotes from flooring companies in your area for exact estimates for your kitchen floor.  

What is the best/most affordable flooring for a multi-use area that is neither a bath or kitchen?

The best inexpensive flooring for a multi-use area is sheet vinyl, as it’s durable, great for high-use areas, and is budget-friendly. 

What is the best floor for the kitchen? Tips from PlazaReal in St. Petersburg

During the overhaul of an apartment, the question inevitably arises of what is better to make the floor in the kitchen, what materials are preferable, what can and should not be used for this purpose. We give an overview of the most popular flooring and demonstrate how they look in the interior.

Which floor for the kitchen to choose so that it is waterproof, durable, beautiful and serves for many years? Focusing on the above description, the pros and cons of each material, it will be easy to understand which coating will be the best finishing option in your case: nine0003

Ceramic tiles

Clay tiles have been used for flooring since ancient Roman times. Until today, it ranks first among all types of floor coverings. True, it is not so easy to figure out what is better to put on the floor in the kitchen, because manufacturers offer an incredibly large number of variations of durable and beautiful floor ceramics.

Ceramic tiles for the kitchen on the floor are easily combined with any design style. You can choose an option for both classic and loft or high-tech. Interesting color panels are laid out from it. It is easy to choose an option that imitates natural granite, marble, expensive wood. nine0003


When choosing ceramics, you need to remember that wall tiles for the kitchen are not suitable for the floor, they are used only for wall cladding. As a floor covering, tiles with a hardness of at least 4–5 and a wear resistance index of at least 4 points are used. Then it will serve as long as the life of the building itself is calculated.

The floor is tiled with a trendy geometric pattern. nine0003

When figuring out which tile to choose for the floor in the kitchen, you need to remember one important point. This is a place where you can spill anything on the floor: water, juice, vegetable oil (remember Bulgakov's Annushka!). The smooth surface thus turns into a skating rink. If you are concerned about "safety", it is better to pay attention to matte, non-slip tiles.

In fairness, we note or clinker. And one more thing: due to the special hardness, when a glass or crystal wine glass falls on the floor, there are no chances of survival (unlike laminate and linoleum). nine0003

Porcelain stoneware

This modern material appeared only about 30 years ago and firmly "settled" as a floor covering in public buildings and offices. Manufacturers produce various versions of porcelain stoneware, many of which are suitable for laying the floor in the kitchen in private houses and even high-rise apartments.

If, for example, the question is which floor to choose for a country cottage, porcelain stoneware tiles will be in place. It has a fantastic density: in ordinary ceramics, the degree of water absorption is about 10%, and in porcelain stoneware slabs it is less than 0.5%. She is not afraid of frost, has no limitations, a couple of disadvantages of a ceramic floor. It is quite cold, so usually a heating system is provided for it. In this case, you can not use tiles made of red clay: only white is suitable. nine0003

Laminate

Wood is not the best choice for covering the floor in the kitchen, as it reacts to moisture and temperature changes. For those who cannot refuse it, or the design suggests a wooden floor, a laminate will be a good alternative. The material is a two-layer plate covered with a moisture-resistant film and decorated with natural wood on the outside.

Positive qualities: the laminate is difficult to scratch, it retains its shape and original appearance well. Withstands temperatures up to 28⁰C, under such a coating you can safely equip a warm floor. The variety of imitations is huge: from dark oak to light birch, smooth slabs and with a pattern of natural wood. Service life, depending on the class, 15–50 years. nine0003

When choosing what is best to lay on the floor in the kitchen, you need to take into account the shortcomings of the material. So, the laminate can not be filled with water when washing. If moisture seeps through the edges, the lamellas will begin to swell. Pay attention to special varieties for the kitchen: a special moisture-resistant wax impregnation is applied to such boards on all sides, including the ends.

Laminate flooring needs to be laid on a soft substrate, but even this does not save neighbors from noise if you do not like to walk around the house in soft slippers. Do not drop pans and knives on the floor - for all the strength of the material, chips and cracks cannot be avoided in this case. nine0003

Valuable quality of a laminate with locks: a damaged board can be easily exchanged for a new lamella, so you need to leave some margin when laying.

Linoleum

When discussing which floor is better to make in the kitchen, we will definitely remember the well-deserved and once very popular linoleum. You should not compare modern varieties of this material with those that were produced twenty years ago. It has a lot of advantages: economical, wear-resistant, has a wide range of colors, is not afraid of moisture. nine0003

If you decide that laying linoleum on the floor in the kitchen will be the best option, you need to keep in mind a few rules:

Today, linoleum is produced not only in rolls, but also cut into tiles. This expands the design possibilities, facilitates the installation of coatings and reduces the number of scraps. The appearance of linoleum is the most diverse. It successfully imitates natural stone, wood, and even metal. Stylish modern prints allow you to choose the flooring option for the kitchen in any style. nine0003

Cork floor

The original cork floor in the kitchen is not a cheap pleasure. However, it is a very durable and environmentally friendly material. Cork is obtained from the bark of a special type of oak that grows in the Mediterranean countries. It is warm, it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot, perfectly dampens sounds, does not absorb moisture, and is resistant to household chemicals. She is not liked by bugs and other rodents, she is not affected by mold. In addition, such floors have antistatic properties, which means that dust does not accumulate on them. nine0003

Cork is a rare and valuable material, so it is used economically. Two types of floor coverings are made from it. The first is chipboard panels covered with a thin bark veneer (0.5–1 mm). The second variety is more expensive: it is 100% natural material. The bark, crushed into crumbs, is pressed to obtain slabs, which are then decorated with veneer. Such a cork is called granular.

If you have finally found something to lay the floor in the kitchen and cork floor is your choice, please note that the plates must be varnished, or it will need to be applied after laying. nine0003

Remarkable quality of a stopper — elasticity. The cork floor is not only pleasant to walk on: it also has a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system, reducing the load on the spine.

Vinyl floor

A new interesting material for lovers of experiments - PVC vinyl tiles for the kitchen on the floor. This is a cross between tile, linoleum and laminate. It is quite flexible, easy to install, at the same time comparable in strength to stone, and its decorative possibilities are simply endless. In appearance, the floor can look like granite, marble, there are textures that accurately imitate wood or even leather. nine0003

Advantages of vinyl flooring for the kitchen:

Of the disadvantages of vinyl tiles, only its relatively high cost can be noted. But given the indisputable advantages, it fully justifies itself from all points of view. This is a great alternative to traditional ceramic tiles. nine0003

Screed

Under the self-leveling floor in the kitchen, two different operations are meant. More often they mean putting the base in order before laying laminate, carpet or linoleum. This is actually getting a thin, perfectly even screed using a dry water-soluble mixture. If it is brought to a liquid (spreading) state, it is often called self-levelling. Most "levelers" have a porridge-like consistency, which is distributed with a special tool. nine0003

The second option for self-leveling floors is the use of mixtures based on polyurethane or epoxy resins, on which, after pouring, you can not lay another coating. The composition can be transparent or colored, various decorative elements are added to it: figurines, shells, stones. As a result, they get a kind of 3D self-leveling floors, and the kitchen turns into a real work of design art.

Marble

Natural marble floor in the kitchen is beauty, elegance, style. But there will be a lot of trouble with him. Both during installation and in subsequent operation. The greatest advantage of marble tiles is that they instantly transform the look of the room, giving it a luxurious, regal look. nine0003

Marble has many natural shades, the unique pattern of the stone is not repeated. It is easily cut, polished, acquiring a soft satin sheen. From it you can make any decorative pattern, up to a stone mosaic. It is absolutely safe, environmentally friendly material. However, like any other, it has a number of disadvantages that make it difficult to use in the kitchen:

Marble is a porous material, so it is necessary to protect the plates from the penetration of household liquids. It is advisable to consult with experts on which flooring is best for the kitchen in order to prevent staining of the material. Marble tiles are thick and quite heavy. For it, you need to prepare a solid foundation, laying starts from the center of the room towards the walls. nine0003

In conclusion, we note which floor to make in the kitchen is up to you. The best solution is at the intersection of practicality, relevance in design and your financial capabilities.


Back to the list of tips

Which floor is best for the kitchen: choosing the material

The choice of flooring is wide: tried and tested for decades or recently appeared materials. Each of them has its own disadvantages and advantages. We've put together a variety of finishes. Let's characterize each one in detail to make it easier to figure out which floor is better to make in the kitchen. nine0003

Listed all the materials in a short video

How to lay the floor in the kitchen

What should be the flooring
Six options for the kitchen floor
— Tile
– Porcelain stoneware
— Laminate
— PVC
- Tree
— Self-levelling floors
Short summary

As much as one would like to choose a cladding only for its appearance, one must take into account that the kitchen is a “hard” environment. Food is prepared here, so temperature drops, steam and high humidity are not uncommon. It is undesirable that this negatively affects the condition of the coating. Sometimes the food burns or initially has a strong odor that can be absorbed into the pores of the finish. nine0003

During cooking, liquids may spill or food may fall on the surface: greasy or colored stains will remain, which should be easily removed. Even spilled water can ruin the wrong finish. Heavy and sharp objects also often fall on the kitchen floor. Dishes fall from time to time. In order for it to remain intact, there must be a soft finish on the floor, on hard glass or porcelain will scatter into small crumbs.

And one more very important point. The finish should be easy to clean and withstand multiple cleanings. In the kitchen, stains and dirt can be very serious here. Therefore, not only soft soap is used, but also aggressive chemicals. It is better if the pollution is not very noticeable. For example, on a very dark or very light glossy finish, every crumb or speck of dust is clearly visible. It is better not to choose them for the kitchen. nine0003

Pexels

Despite the fact that the requirements for flooring are many, the choice of materials is very wide. We offer a selection of options from which it is better to make a floor in the kitchen.

1. Ceramic tiles

The traditional kitchen floor solution. It is moisture resistant, not afraid of temperature changes and pollution. It is easy to wash off stains, provided that the lining is not porous. The design of the tile is varied. It can be monophonic, color, imitate various materials. Tiles are available in different sizes. Ceramics are well combined in color, size and shape. nine0003

Tiles are not perfect. First of all, its surface is always cold. The situation is saved by the underfloor heating system laid under it, but this is not always possible and beneficial. Also, ceramics are brittle. A dropped knife or heavy pot will almost certainly chip or even split the tile. It can be replaced, but it's troublesome. Glass or porcelain dishes will not withstand a fall on the tile.

But, in general, ceramic tiles are one of the most practical solutions. It is not afraid of water and pollution, without loss of appearance withstands numerous cleanings and washings. The price is quite affordable. nine0003

Design: Anna Elina. Photo: Evgeny Gnesin

Design: Anna Elina. Photo: Evgeny Gnesin

2. Porcelain stoneware

This is a type of ceramic tile with increased strength and durability. When laid, it easily tolerates blows; it is rather difficult to split or chip off a fragment from it. Therefore, falling knives and heavy utensils are not terrible for porcelain stoneware. Insensitive to moisture and temperature changes. Can be installed in damp areas. Available in different designs: imitations of natural wood or stone are good, but there are other options. Combined in size, shape and color. nine0003

The disadvantage of porcelain stoneware is that the surface is cold to the touch. Walking barefoot on it is unpleasant, but the underfloor heating system saves the situation. If it is not possible to lay it, then it is better not to mount porcelain tiles on the ground floor or in a private house. The material is very hard, which means that the dishes that fall on it will break into smithereens. Plus, it's slippery. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a tile with anti-slip treatment.

Porcelain stoneware is well suited for the kitchen. It is easy to clean, does not deteriorate from water, does not absorb odors, durable and beautiful. The price is slightly higher than that of ceramics. nine0003

Design: Ksenia Konovalova. Photo: Olga Shangina

3. Laminate

These are sandwich panels based on wood-based interlocking panels. Easy to fit, warm to the touch, easy to care for. It's nice to walk on them. Dishes that have fallen on the laminate will most likely remain intact. The colors and textures are very different, usually it is a good imitation of natural wood of various species, cork surface. High-quality models are durable, environmentally friendly, do not fade or deteriorate under the influence of moisture. nine0003

The weakest point of laminate flooring is the interlocks. This is where moisture can get inside the base. This leads to irreparable damage to the coating: it deforms and swells. In addition, for inexpensive models, the edges of the laminated film move away over time. They lift up and fly off, revealing the base. The panels are not sufficiently resistant to mechanical damage. For example, a knife falling from a height will certainly damage the surface.

Laminate panels are a possible but not the best choice for kitchen flooring. They deteriorate from moisture, are sensitive to shock, and do not tolerate frequent washing. It is best to combine them with other coatings. For example, lay out strips of porcelain stoneware near the kitchen set, and decorate the area under the dining table with laminate. nine0003

4. PVC tiles

PVC tiles are made from polyvinyl chloride with various additives. The most famous variety is quartz-vinyl cladding. About 80% quartz sand is added to it, which gives increased strength. The properties of vinyl tile are closest to linoleum. It is quite soft, moisture resistant, pleasant to the touch, resistant to mechanical stress. It cannot be split, but you can get dents under heavy furniture. Two types of PVC tiles are produced: with locking joints and for laying on glue. There are a lot of design options: sizes, shapes, textures and colors are very different. nine0003

The material has few significant drawbacks. One of them is careful preparation for installation. The base must be perfectly level and dry. Otherwise, all defects will be noticeable after installation. For castle models, these requirements are less stringent. Another disadvantage is the high price of PVC tiles. But we must understand that it will last a long time and will not lose its attractive appearance and properties during the entire period of operation. If repair is still required, the damaged element can be easily replaced.

Vinyl is a good choice. He is not afraid of water, frequent cleanings, does not deteriorate from aggressive chemistry. Soft lamellas are pleasant to the touch, retain sound and heat. nine0003

Pexels

5. Wood

A very beautiful and ecological option. Hardwood floors are strong and durable, provided they are properly installed and treated. It can be parquet, planks of different shapes or boards made of wood of different species. Depending on the type of wood, the properties of the finish vary slightly. But in any case, it is a stylish and expensive decor, warm and pleasant to the touch. Scratches and other defects that appear on its surface can be removed without a trace. nine0003

The main disadvantage of wood is its high hygroscopicity. It absorbs moisture and under its influence begins to deteriorate. A fungus or mold appears, the tree rots and collapses. Therefore, regular treatment with special solutions is required. In addition, the wooden surface burns, it must be protected from fire. Strong mechanical influences are undesirable. There may be chips and scratches. True, it is quite easy to get rid of them.

With all the advantages of the material, without special treatment, it cannot be laid in the kitchen. Changes in humidity and temperature will quickly make the wood unusable. It is best to choose a thermal tree. This is the name of the material processed under special conditions. It is most resistant to moisture and other adverse factors. nine0003

Design: Natalia Shirokorad

Design: Victoria Baikova. Photo: Natalya Vershinina

6. Self-leveling floor

This is a liquid self-leveling mastic poured onto the base. Usually on a concrete screed. After hardening, a durable wear-resistant coating is formed. The self-leveling floor is immune to impacts, you can put massive furniture on it, drop sharp and heavy objects. There are no traces left. It is completely sealed and waterproof. It is very easy to clean because it does not attract dust. The surface is smooth and easy to clean. You can use any household chemicals. nine0003

Liquid mastics come in a variety of colours. An interesting decor is obtained using the so-called 3D-paintings, but you should be careful with the choice of image: the image of an aquarium, a forest or mountain path, a desert is already completely irrelevant and can reduce the cost of the interior.

A significant disadvantage of flooring is the dependence on the quality of installation. Even a high-quality mixture can ruin unskilled installation.

Learn more