Tile floors are a magnificent option for kitchens, as they provide tremendous strength and resistance to abrasive elements. Water-resistant and stain-proof, tile is the ideal fit for hectic kitchen environments with heavy foot traffic. Additionally, it won’t absorb odors or bacteria – making it an excellent choice if you have pets or kids in your home! With its abundance of styles, shapes and colors available on the market today – how can one not be inspired? Not only practical but also beautiful; let your creative juices flow when designing your dream kitchen flooring ideas with tile at hand!
With kitchen floor tile, there’s an abundance of options to choose from – porcelain, ceramic and stone with prices that range anywhere between $2 and $100 per square foot.
The strength of tile makes it an ideal option for a kitchen floor, though its rigidity can be a downside. If you are in the kitchen for extended periods at a time, comfortable shoes and floor mats or rugs are essential; otherwise your legs and back may suffer from standing on cold tiles. Furthermore, dropped dishes (or mugs, glasses) will easily break upon impact due to the hard surface of tile floors.
What You Need to Know
The Lowdown: Durable materials, ranging from ceramic to metal and glass, are crafted into tiles that can be used for a variety of decorative needs.
Tough Enough? With no fear of scratches from kids or pets, and the ability to withstand spills with ease, this ultra-durable surface is ideal for any home. While it does require regular sealing in order to keep water at bay, you can be sure that your flooring will remain intact even after years of heavy use.
How to Clean: Immediately address any spills to prevent them from staining the grout. Regularly sweep, dust or vacuum and every so often clean it with a damp cloth or mop. To keep your floor looking pristine, steer clear of abrasives like steel wool and scouring pads; additionally don’t forget to reseal the stone floors whenever necessary for maintenance purposes.
Types of Kitchen Tile Flooring
Ceramic and porcelain tile share many similarities, like being created from a clay blend that is heated up at high temperatures to make it tough and long-lasting. They can both also be either glazed or unglazed. However, they are identifiable by certain distinctions as well.
Ceramic
Traditional ceramic floor tile is known as “non-porcelain” to set it apart from its porcelain counterpart. Crafted of clay, this type of tile is softer than porcelain and glazed for a long-lasting, highly durable wear surface in any color imaginable. It’s easier to cut and put into place due to its softness yet slightly more vulnerable to damage compared with porcelain. Despite being porous, the glazing ensures that kitchen messes don’t seep through – making it an ideal solution for kitchens!
Porcelain
Porcelain floor tile is a great pick for areas with high foot traffic, kitchens and bathrooms due to the fact that it’s far more robust than regular ceramic tile. Its production entails blending sand into clay along with heat and pressure which results in an incredibly dense, hard-wearing material capable of surviving outdoor conditions regardless of climate.
For those seeking a colored tile that can withstand the test of time, glazed and unglazed porcelain are two great options. Glazed porcelain has a glass-like coating applied during firing to create its beautiful finish, while unglazed porcelain contains color added directly into the clay mixture ensuring an even distribution throughout. And with any wear or scratches unlikely to show on this type of tile, it’s no surprise why these tiles have become so popular! Porcelain is known for being more durable than ceramic because of its harder make up from sands and minerals; however installation does require special tools making it less DIY friendly.
Stone
Transform your home into something unparalleled with natural stone tiles crafted from slate, granite, limestone, travertine and marble. Although these beautiful stones are porous and must be sealed every two to three years for maximum protection—the effort is well worth it!
Whether you choose to have your stone polished or honed, the results will be stunning. Those that opt for a polished surface can expect their tiles to shine with all its glory, albeit slightly slick when wet. On the other hand, if traction is favoured above vibrancy then honing may be more advantageous; although less glossy than polishing it still brings out the beauty of natural stones nonetheless. Although stone is renowned for its durability and elegance, keep in mind that it will require sealing and tends to hold higher price tags than alternative materials on the market today.
If you’re looking to make a small kitchen appear larger, nothing beats large format tiles. Squares are the go-to option for most people, but hexagons, rectangles and octagons can all be used to create an eye-catching statement. You can easily combine one or more styles in multiple configurations – from checkerboard designs to basketweave patterns – with accents that bring added visual interest into play.
Additional Considerations When Choosing Tile Flooring
When selecting tile for your kitchen floor, keep the following in mind to ensure you make the most fitting choice:
- Durability. The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) offers a rating system to designate the durability of tile. To ensure your kitchen floors can handle moderate to heavy traffic, select tile rated Class 3 or Class 4.
- Water resistance. If you’re looking for tile options to use in your kitchen, it’s important to find tiles that are not overly absorbent. The best ceramic tiles can be unglazed and have a maximum water absorption rate of 0.5%, while glazed-ceramic tiles should have an absorption rate no higher than 3%. These types of tile will work effectively against moisture buildup from spills and splashes without becoming damaged over time.
- Texture. If you’re worried about slipping, textured floors can be a great solution. Not only are they less slippery and effective at masking dirt, but also mats in areas of concern such as the sink provide an extra layer of safety. Cleaning these types of floorings may require more work than others so if that’s your main concern then it is worth considering other options too.
- Underlayment. If you want your tile installation to be successful, it is crucial that the subfloor underneath is even and solid. The surface should also remain free of dust or debris before affixing the tiles in place. For added security and protection you may need a cement tile backer board as an extra layer beneath your tiling project.
