When it comes to a kitchen remodel or building the kitchen for a new home, there are a lot of decisions to be made. The brand, style and design of the different appliances, the layout of the room and the design of the cabinets and countertops. In addition to these points, you will also need to consider the type of floor that you want in the kitchen.
While you do have a wide selection of different floor types that you can choose from, among the most popular options for kitchen floors are tile and hardwood. Each has its own appeal to different homeowners and they both have advantages and disadvantages.
When you consider the looks, there are a lot of factors that can determine whether tile or hardwood will work better. Of course, if it is a complete remodel or a kitchen in a new home, you can design either one to match better.
Kitchen Style
For style, wood can work well in a number of ways. If you have hardwood in the rest of the house, wood in the kitchen can make for an easier transition. Additionally, if you have cabinets with a wood finish, it can be nice to have floors that are a good match to the finished cabinets. Tile can work especially well if some of the kitchen areas have tile on the walls. It can also be easier to find tiles that work well with cabinets that are painted instead of those that have a wood finish.
If you are talking about how easy the material is on the feet, then wood is a little better than tile. Hardwood is softer, so it can be easier on the feet and the joints of your legs as you walk around the kitchen. As an additional point, tile can get very cold. If you have a tendency to walk barefoot or in just socks when you are in the kitchen, hardwood will probably feel a little better underfoot.
Durability
When you talk about durability and maintenance, tile has a slight edge. Dropping a hard item on a wood floor could damage the wood, whereas the tile is less likely to crack on impact. Tile is also better at resisting water and staining than hardwood. With a tile floor, you could spill something and let it wait for a little before you clean it up. If you have hardwood, you are going to want to clean any spills as soon as you can.
Another maintenance issue for hardwood is that it will eventually need to be refinished. The finish will last for many years, but it is a something that you will eventually have to do. For tile, there can be issues with the grout. Firstly, it can be a pain to clean the grout and over time, the grout can wear away.
Wood also tends to show age much sooner than tile does. As people walk on the floors, little scuffs, scratches and nicks are much more likely to occur and be noticeable than they would on a tile floor. For the most part, refinishing and repair can take care of these issues, but it is something to consider when you are selecting a floor for the kitchen. It does tend to be a high traffic area.
It’s your choice
If you are looking to put a new floor in your kitchen or building a new home, you wouldn’t find any builder that you tell you that either of these options is a bad idea. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses. For most homeowners, the right choice is going to come down to style. Essentially, the question will concern the type of flooring that will best fit the style of kitchen that they are trying to design.
At Montclair Construction, we have a wealth of experience with kitchen remodels and designing kitchens for new homes. Regardless of the style or design of the kitchen, we can help you to select the right floor type and provide expert installation. For new homes, foundation work and remodels in the San Francisco and Oakland area, the team from Montclair construction can ensure top quality results.
