June 21, 2021
When building or renovating your home, deciding on a kitchen flooring option will be one of the most important decisions to make. Of course, deciding how much you should spend on your kitchen floor comes in at close second.
The kitchen is arguably one of the busiest areas in your home. From the family pet and kids playing in the kitchen, to items dropping, spills and scratches, it’s safe to say you’re going to need a highly durable floor. This is why choosing a kitchen flooring that will suit the style of your home and lifestyle, yet is durable and resilient, is vital for the longevity of your kitchen.
Moreover, kitchen cabinets, countertops, and floors are the defining features of every kitchen. These elements need to be perfectly balanced to create an elegant space.
Today, when designing our kitchens we are not limited to only a couple of options for the kitchen floor. The endless flooring options on the market allow us to fully personalise and create the most attractive kitchen spaces than ever before. However, endless choices and possibilities can sometimes be overwhelming and make the selection harder instead of easier.
To make your decision process easier we have selected the best kitchen flooring options on the market.
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The reason most people decide to extend hardwood flooring to the kitchen area is to create continuity throughout the house. The warmth of wood is hard to beat, its texture and tactility fill the space with natural beauty and comfort.
Hardwood is reasonably resistant to stains and spills and can last for a lifetime, if treated well. However, few hardwood enemies may come in conflict with your habits and lifestyle. High heels, pet claws, direct sunlight, and of course water, should be avoided or kept at minimum when living with timber floors.
The price of wood flooring ranges from $40-$150 per square metre. The price depends on the quality and the accessibility of chosen timber. Installing timber flooring will cost you up to $155 per square metre.
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Laminate flooring is an affordable and practical kitchen flooring option that is cheaper than hardwood and has plenty of quality characteristics. With a wide selection of colours and finishes laminate is easy to design with, allowing you the freedom of creativity. Laminate flooring is also easy to maintain, and it is resistant to stains. The downsides of laminate flooring are signs of scratching over time and boards separations.
Laminate should not be washed with wet mops and steam cleaners as that could cause curling, bubbling, and fading. The longer the water sits on top of laminate flooring, the more chance there is for irreparable damage. Also, for scratch and dents prevention, avoid wearing stiletto heels and use felt protectors on your chairs.
The price of laminate flooring ranges from $28.00 to $40.00 per square metre. The quality of the design and finishes affects the price. For a professional installation of laminate flooring, you will pay from $3.00 to $8.00 per square meter.
Engineered wood comes in resistant, artificially advanced base layer with a thin veneer top layer of solid wood. Its base is composed of plywood or high-density fibreboard, and it allows the plank to grip directly on the concrete ground without drawing the moisture in as hardwood does.
Engineered wood is a great option for busy and heavy-duty kitchens, where a timber look is desired. Engineered wood is the only flooring option, apart from solid hardwood, that features real wood.
Because the surface of the engineered timber flooring is made from timber, it requires the same cleaning methods and preventions as any other type of hardwood flooring.
Don’t use steam cleaners on engineered timber flooring as that could cause damage to the wood.
Depending on the quality and type of wood, the price of engineered wood ranges from $75 to $110 per square meter. Installation costs are ranging between $30 – $40 per square metre.
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Thanks to the warmer climate and their convenient character, tiles are still the most common flooring option in Australia, particularly in warm and humid parts. All over the country, tile floors are featured in all living areas; kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, laundries, hallways, entry rooms, and other indoor and outdoor living areas. Tile flooring is extremely practical, easy for maintenance that allows for a high sanitation level. Furthermore, tiles don’t retain heat, providing a pleasant cooling effect in hot seasons. This further explains the popularity of tile floorings in Australia.
Tile floorings are generally divided into two categories: porcelain and ceramic tiles.
The main difference between porcelain and ceramic tile is in its density, manufacturing process, and water absorption. The water absorption quality of the tile will determine its correct application. Porcelain tile is in a higher price range because of its high strength and durability. Also, porcelain has less than 0.5% water absorption rate which makes it extremely hard and suitable for wet areas and heavy traffic floor use. The water absorption rate of ceramic tiles is over 4% which makes it a bit more porous and softer.
Both ceramic and porcelain tile floors can be regularly vacuumed and mopped. Tiles also allow for deep cleaning and floor sanitizing.
Ceramic tiles range from $35 to $50 per square meter for ceramic or porcelain tiles in a lower range. Porcelain tiles in the high-quality range will cost between $50 to $100 per square meter for high-quality porcelain.
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Vinyl flooring is the latest go-to kitchen flooring option, and its popularity is rapidly growing. Made from artificial materials using the latest advancement in technology, the quality characteristics of vinyl planks or tiles are hard to meet. Vinyl Flooring comes in the form of planks, tiles, and sheets. The difference between these types is in their appearance and method of installation.
Vinyl flooring options are the optimal choice when you are looking for affordable, durable, and creative solutions. Vinyl flooring collections come in a huge range of colours and designs making it a perfect choice for any space. Compared to hardwood or stone, vinyl flooring is softer, shock and sound absorbent, providing a comfortable underfoot surface.
Thanks to advanced printing and texture embossing technology vinyl flooring realistically imitates the look of natural materials. This allows you the have the natural look of timber or stone tiles without expensive installations and with the benefits of low maintenance.
Being scratch-resistant and highly durable vinyl flooring maintenance is practical and easy. It allows for regular mopping and even sanitation on commercial graded products.
Vinyl flooring costs range between $50 to $130 per square metre. These prices include the cost of materials and installation.
If you are not sure and still need help deciding on your kitchen flooring, our flooring specialists can help you choose the perfect kitchen flooring for your new kitchen today.
