Kitchens are one of the most-used rooms in a house so you need to make sure the flooring can stand up to all the wear and tear that is likely, without breaking your budget. While you may be looking to keep costs down, choosing a flooring that costs little more but will last for years makes better sense than getting something cheap that will need replacing sooner rather than later.
Some flooring options such as cork look good and are hardwearing, but are also high in maintenance costs as they need sanding and clear-coating every few years if they are not to degrade and rot. Natural stone tiles also need to be sealed fairly often; while they last forever if well kept, they are heavy and often require special underlay.
Ceramic tiles are similar to natural stone but they don't need sealing. They last a long time, but may chip if care is not taken. Terracotta tiles give a warm look, but need to be sealed or waxed if they are not to absorb grease from spills. They need a cement base.
Pre-finished hardwood flooring will give the homeowner plenty of choice in colour, finish and style. It is long lasting and hardwearing. Better still, it does not cost the earth. It needs to be sanded and coated with a matt or gloss finish. Never choose softwood, as this is likely to become indented with use.
