What type of flooring should I use?

Thinking of doing a self-build, custom build fit out, or renovating a kitchen?

There are lots of different options for flooring out there. But whichever type you choose, the most important thing to consider in the kitchen is definitely wear and tear.

Given that this room’s flooring is the most likely to come into contact with grease and water, not every material is suitable.

And of course, you don’t want to compromise on design, either.

Our MD Gus reached out to his network to find out the best materials for flooring from people who have used and lived with their floors and love them. Here are the top suggestions.

The most recommended flooring options

Vinyl flooring

Karndean was a company that came up more than once for their vinyl flooring, and is praised for its style and wear, as was Amtico.

Vinyl can be a good option to get the look of wood, stone, and even marble, without the added cost or the downsides, as it will not nick or discolour like wood or stone, and is not affected by moisture or humidity. As a waterproof material, it is also easy to wipe down and clean.

Marmoleum flooring

Made by Forbo, this type of linoleum is nothing like the cheap vintage lino you might be thinking of. A natural floor that is made of 97% natural raw materials and is carbon neutral, Marmoleum has a great contemporary look and stands up very well to wear and daily abuse. You can see the use of it in Gus’ self-build house above.

Cork flooring

We’ve talked about cork before as an environmentally friendly option for flooring. It’s a very sustainable material, as it is made from the bark of the cork oak tree, which then grows back ready to be harvested again. It is naturally repellent to bugs, mold, and mites.

There is some discussion as to whether or not cork works well on top of underfloor heating, but it can work beautifully if you do the proper prepping and laying.

Ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles are great for use in the kitchen where it’s likely that grease or water will land on your floors. Ceramic stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter, while being easy to maintain and very durable.

Christian Froggatt gives a glowing endorsement of his ceramic floors, “Our kitchen 8 years old still looks (nearly) brand new. Kids (and adults!) have dropped anything and everything both at dining table and around kitchen island over the years. As teenagers they seem to be getting worse! Oh and we have a dog…”

Oak

This is a bit of a controversial suggestion, as some love their wood floors, but Cezary Bednarski says “I would never allow my clients to use wood floors in kitchens” because of the proximity to water and grease. Gus shows us how water affected his oak engineered floors in the video above.

However, if you do love your wood floors, make sure you use pre-finished boards which wipe down easily, or apply a coating such as an Osmo finish to protect the wood.

What kind of floors do you have in your home? We’d love to hear what you used, and what you liked or didn’t like about your floors, especially if you have been living with them in your home for a few years. 

Comment below with your thoughts.