Flooring Tips from our Kitchen Designers
When designing a new kitchen, we’re sure you know there are a lot of decisions that need to be made. Some of the most important being which materials and finishes to use – and your kitchen floor plan will make a large impact to the overall style, practicality and success of your kitchen design. Here at Jag Kitchens, we have compiled a list of kitchen flooring tips from our experienced Design Team. From which material is best for your lifestyle, the ideal kitchen floor plans to suit your needs, as well as great kitchen ideas to help you select the best kitchen floor material.
When it comes to kitchen floors, materials need to be low maintenance, durable but also stylish and modern – so it’s important to choose the right floor for your lifestyle.
We consider the kitchen to be the heart of the kiwi home – they are ‘high traffic’ areas that are prone to lots of spills, so you may need to choose a kitchen floor that will be able to withstand the test of time and many dirty feet! If you’re a younger family, chances are you may have pets, many visitors as well as young children – your kitchen will be a busy thoroughfare, so you’ll want to choose a floor that handles wear and tear. On the other hand, if your kids have flown the nest and you don’t have two dogs in tow, choosing a higher maintenance style of kitchen flooring will be more feasible.
There are many beautiful and modern options to choose from when it comes to kitchen flooring; tiles, linoleum, laminate and wood. Each of these have their pros and cons which need to be considered in relation to your particular family & lifestyle needs.
Tiles:
Tiles now come in a variety of shapes, colours, sizes and create a very modern and stylish look in a newly designed kitchen. They are durable, moisture resistant and easy to maintain. They can however be somewhat difficult to clean in the grout lines and are often cool in winter and summer. They can also be a little hard on the legs if you are cooking and standing for long periods. And of course, anything that is dropped is very likely to break!
Linoleum:
Linoleum is now manufactured from natural materials, is very durable and low maintenance for cleaning – a big plus for families with young children on the go! Recently it has had a resurgence in popularity in kitchen flooring due to the availability of eco-friendly options on the market. Something to consider with linoleum is the danger of slipping due to spills and moisture, and it can be easily scratched.
Wood Laminate:
Laminate flooring is an affordable, stylish and modern option for a kitchen floor. It is easy to install, UV-protected so won’t fade like hardwood can, is very durable, retains warmth and comes in a variety of modern styles. It is a cost effective alternative to hardwood. Both wood and laminates can be a little noisy underfoot, which is worth consideration with young children or pets (such as dogs) with clattering paws.
Wood:
A wooden floor gives a kitchen a classic, traditional feel. Wood flooring is considered a high-end look, it is warm and can also add high resale value to a house. It is attractive and durable, yet often the most expensive option. It can be noisy when there are many feet in the kitchen. It is a little higher in maintenance, as it will need refinishing every 15 years or so and can be prone to scratching and fading in full sunlight.
When to install your new kitchen flooring
It is generally best to install your floor first – prior to the kitchen going in – to make the installation process easier and to protect the final finish. But this will also depend on which material you choose.
Hard wood floors in general have a higher risk to damage if fitted after the installation of the kitchen – so with this particular option it is best to install it before the kitchen goes in. For instance, if you choose to use polyurethane – a wood varnish that gives hardwood flooring a great warm finish and high resistance to water & scratches – this will need to be applied one week before the kitchen is installed in order to have sufficient time to harden.
Other flooring options such as tiles can be more easily fitted after the kitchen goes in, as the tile lines can be positioned around the cabinets.
The beauty of choosing Jag Kitchens is that our experienced designers know what works and what doesn’t – and can help you make kitchen flooring choices you can be confident in. We’ll be beside you every step of the way, turning your dream kitchen into reality! Book an appointment today at our showroom for your free design quote.