If you’re considering updating your kitchen flooring, you’ll be all too aware of the numerous different factors that come into play. When choosing between Wood Flooring or Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT), there’s a lot to consider: How will it deal with spills? How much will it cost? Is it easy to maintain?
As we’re the flooring specialists, we thought it would only be fair to take out the guesswork and help you decide which is best for you.
Wood Flooring or Luxury Vinyl Tiles for Your Kitchen?
If you're using real wood in your kitchen, ensure it is engineered wood flooring. This features multiple layers to make it more stable, and less likely to damage from moisture or frequent changes in temperature. Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) is perfect for kitchens; it's highly durable, water-resistant, and looks just like real wood or tiles. Both engineered wood and LVT are also compatible with underfloor heating.
Wood Flooring
You should always go for Engineered Wood Flooring in your kitchen, as its additional layers provide the best stability when compared to Laminate and Solid Wood. In kitchens the humidity and temperature fluctuates on a daily basis, and therefore Solid Wood and Laminate are vulnerable to warping. Using Engineered Wood means your floor is less susceptible to these changes. It's also a flooring that's suitable for use with underfloor heating.
See also: What is the difference between solid and engineered wood flooring?
Now we’ve got that out of the way, let’s look at the reasons you should be using Wood Flooring in your kitchen:
- It’s incredibly durable, meaning it can endure decades of use. This is particularly important when considering your kitchen flooring, as it will see a lot of traffic over the years.
- Wood Flooring adds a warm and homely style that never goes out of fashion
- The low-maintenance nature of Wood Flooring means you can keep it clean by sweeping with a soft-bristled broom and vacuuming regularly. You can also clean your wood flooring with a slightly damp mop, although this should only be done if necessary. You can get great all-in-one wood flooring cleaning kits that make the job easier than ever.
- If one board gets damaged somehow, it’s easy to replace thanks to its tongue and groove system.
Although it’s the perfect choice for many people, there are a couple of things to consider if you’re going to choose Wood Flooring:
- Try to avoid exposing your flooring to excessive sunlight, as this can lead to fading and discolouration.
- If you’re going to be wearing footwear in your kitchen, pick sensibly to avoid unsightly scratches.
- Certain spills such as red wine and pen ink can stain your wood flooring. Try to clean up any spillages as soon as possible – but again, avoid using too much water.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT)
LVT is a great alternative to using real tiles for your kitchen flooring, and it has a whole heap of benefits. If you’re looking for something cost-effective that looks great, and is resilient, the benefits of LVT are worth considering when making your choice.
So why should you go for LVT in your kitchen?
- There’ll be times when you (or a particularly clumsy family member) drop the odd pan when cooking. When this happens, the last thing you want is an unappealing – not to mention expensive – crack in your flooring. LVT means there’ll be less damage.
- It’s cheaper to purchase outright than hard tiles, and is much easier to fit which means less installation fees.
- LVT is both water and stain-proof. And if you do need to clean it, a regular brush and mop will do the trick.
- The soft and cushy feel of LVT means your feet will be more comfortable if you’re going to be stood cooking for long periods of time.
Although it’s the perfect choice for many people, LVT’s lifespan isn’t as long as Wood Flooring. Although, it does have a protective layer which should last for at least 10 to 15 years.
Still unsure on which to choose? Shop Wood Flooring or Luxury Vinyl Tiles to check out our designs. If you’d like to speak to our sales team, call on 03333 201 933 or email [email protected].
