While you may be spending a lot of time selecting the cabinets and countertops for your kitchen remodeling project, there’s another area of the room that does just as much to affect the overall appearance of the space – in fact, depending on your layout, it may even do more. The floor of your kitchen can complement your cabinets and countertops and if you make the right selection, may serve to tie all of the components of the room together.
However, choosing a kitchen floor material is a little different than the other rooms in your home as it has to stand up to a bit more abuse, be easy to clean, and still be able to retain its attractive appearance. That’s one of the reasons why many restaurants use laminate flooring in their kitchen and dining areas. Laminate flooring is available in many finishes, but most prefer the varieties that look just like hardwood flooring for the warmth they can bring to a room. However, unlike hardwood, laminate can be easily cleaned up after spills and mishaps without leaving any stains. Another benefit of laminate flooring is that it can be a little easier on the legs and feet than ceramic tile or vinyl if you spend a lot of time preparing meals.
Perhaps the biggest advantages of using laminate flooring are its cost and DIY-friendly installation process. Laminate floors are called floating floors as they aren’t really attached to the subfloor like most other floor coverings used in kitchens. The boards snap together and the weight of the floor holds it in place along with trim placed around the perimeter of the room. The only special tools needed are a saw to cut the boards to fit where the end pieces meet the walls or cabinets. If you can put together a puzzle, you should have the skills required to install a laminate floor.
You can even purchase laminate flooring at many cabinet retailers to ensure a good match with your cabinets. Online merchants such as The RTA Cabinet Store have laminate selections for as low as $1.89 a square foot and the flooring comes with a limited 30 year warranty. They provide an easy to use flooring calculator on their website so you know you’re ordering enough to do your room. Enjoy the beauty of hardwood with the added benefit of easy maintenance by choosing laminate flooring for your kitchen.
