Two of the most popular choices for kitchen flooring are tile and hardwood. There are benefits and drawbacks with each of these choices, and this short comparison of the two choices can help you choose the right floor for your new kitchen.
Tile is such a popular option that you may have not yet thought about any other material for your kitchen flooring. And little wonder that tile is the first or only choice of kitchen floors for most people. It holds up to wear and tear quite well and it is easy to clean. In comparison to hardwoods, tile is also less expensive in most cases, especially when you choose a tile that has a simple pattern. Different grout colors can serve as accents, enabling you to choose the best décor for the room. You also do not have to worry about cleaning up liquid spills right away because they will not damage most kinds of tile.
On the other hand, tile flooring is hard and is not conducive for long periods of standing unless you put some padded mats down on the floor. Dishes are also far more likely to break when they hit the tile than wood floors, which have more give to them.
One of the main benefits of hardwood kitchen floors is that you can create a seamless flow with the rest of your house if you have hardwood floors throughout. It also adds a warmth to your kitchen that tile cannot match. Furthermore, wood floors usually add more resale value to your home than tile.
Still, hardwood flooring is more susceptible to water damage, so any spills will have to be addressed right away. Dirt and crumbs can also scratch wood floors, though a good coat of wax, frequent sweeping, and floor mats can protect your investment in this floor covering.
