The kitchen is a place where you not only want a spectacular look, but is also the room that everyone spends the most dollars improving. There are so many articles that lead people into not using or using just about any type of flooring. If you actually read them all, it seems the only solution is concrete! Seriously though, here are some brief pros and cons of different types of flooring from the manufacturer. Take the opinions you hear right from the source vs. what others think or feel. Hardwood   Whether it's engineered or solid, hardwood is perfectly fine to put into the kitchen. The pros: a consistent look with the rest of the home (especially in open kitchen floor plans), a richness in accenting with cabinetry and of course, the beauty
of natural wood. The cons: water cannot sit for long periods of time. "Water" equals anything over 12 ounces. Why someone would have the equivalent of a full glass of water just sitting for days is something I often wonder about! :)
Laminate
Is a great choice for kitchens, and is more scratch resistant than some hardwoods. It also offers the benefit of being less expensive and perfect for the Do It Yourselfer. Laminates also now have many different looks and styles, anywhere from hand-scraped to exotic woods to faux-tile. Don't mistake the old Pergo flooring with what is available today. The cons: about the same as hardwood - don't leave a large amount of sanding water on the floor for days.
Tile & Stone Virtually indestructible, tile and stone compliments many kitchen's decor very well. The pros: its durability and look. Most manufacturers have styles that have some really spectacular patterns using different size tile, combining accents and listellos to really make the kitchen stand out. The cons: it tends to be that the look you fall in love with will be pricier than you had planned. Also, labor tends to be more expensive that that of other flooring installations. Vinyl Tile The buzz word is "luxury vinyl tile", which encompasses actual vinyl that looks like real wood. It's actually difficult to tell from a distance if the floor is real wood or vinyl. Planks come in widths from 3" to 6" and lengths from 36" to 48". Tile looks are also available in a variety of sizes. The pros: the floor is virtually indestructible. Dogs, kids and football teams won't even phase the durability or look of the floor. A possible downside is that it's still a vinyl, and perception might be an obstacle.
Cork      Much has been said about cork. Every manufacturer okays cork installation for the kitchen. The pros: its unique look, its eco-friendly and it has durability and warmth. Also with the floating series, it's another perfect DIY project to save money on labor costs. The cons: well, of course, the cost (higher priced than both wood and laminate) and the same no standing water rule we spoke about in the beginning.
Bamboo   Same as with cork, every manufacturer of quality bamboo has no conditions about installing in the kitchen. The pros and cons are almost exactly those of cork, except that bamboo might be slightly more labor intensive even with the floating varieties.
-inexpensive -water resistant -eco-friendly -scratch resistant -high traffic/durable -do it yourself
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