KitchenBathroom Near KitchenMaster BathI need to get some new tile for the kitchen and the bathrooms. I've read about a lot of different types of tiles, and am still not sure what to get.The kitchen, which is just average size, needs to have a strong (so my wooden chairs in the kitchen won't scratch it up when I move them around), stain-resistant tile. One of the bathrooms (both are fairly small) can be seen from the kitchen, so I was thinking of getting the same tile as the kitchen.The other bathroom is the master bath and nowhere near the other 2 rooms. so I was hoping to save some money and purchase some inexpensive vinyl for that one.Am I on the right track? What are you opinions? Oh, I put up the pictures of the 3 rooms just to give you better idea of what I want to do. I'm thinking a grey color in all 3 rooms.So many factors play into choosing a kitchen floor: How much do you cook? Is it an open floor plan? What’s the most durable?We’ve taken out the guesswork and chosen four flooring types that make the most sense for kitchens, and we explain why they are ideal. 

Hardwood flooring, with its unmatched warmth and visual appeal, is a great choice if you want to create a look that never really goes out of style, giving you a good return on investment if you ever sell your home.Also, if you have an open floor plan, hardwood works well in both kitchens and living areas. It creates a warm and unified look. Hardwood is also:Hardwood flooring is made in two ways: solid wood strips or engineered wood planks.Engineered wood is the better choice for kitchens. It has a veneer of real wood backed by layers of less expensive plywood. This construction provides dimensional stability that makes the flooring less susceptible to movement caused by changes in humidity and temperature — common in kitchens.Cost: $3 to $12 per sq. ft.Installation: $5 to $12 per sq. ft., depending on the complexity of the job.Sheet vinyl belongs to a group of flooring products called resilient flooring, which is the softest flooring option. If you cook a lot, this cushiness makes it easier on your feet while easing muscle fatigue. 

Also, sheet vinyl is much more forgiving if you (or someone in your family) is a bit of klutz who tends to drop things. Short Pink Ballerina Prom DressYou’ll have less breakage.Used Hotel Furniture For Sale New EnglandPlus, sheet vinyl flooring is a snap to clean up; King Size Bedding And Curtain Setsit’s completely waterproof and stain-proof. However, depending on the size and layout of your kitchen, you may have seams. Standard width for vinyl flooring is 12 feet. If your kitchen is wider than that, you’ll definitely have seams, which can let moisture into the subfloor and trap dirt if they aren’t tightly bonded.On the upside, sheet vinyl requires no ongoing maintenance beyond sweeping and mopping. If the softness of vinyl flooring appeals to you most, you might opt for cushioned vinyl flooring, which is backed with a layer of foam (standard sheet vinyl uses felt backing). 

Sounds good, but that extra cushiness makes it hard to create seams that stay tightly bonded over time. You may end up with seams that come apart, letting in moisture and trapping dirt.  Sheet vinyl comes in many colors and patterns. Thicker vinyl can feature a textured surface, and some types do an excellent job of mimicking the appearance of ceramic tile and real stone. Textured vinyl is a wise choice because it provides traction. Vinyl can be dangerously slippery when wet.Vinyl flooring also has a wear layer that helps resist scratches and scuff marks. But it does eventually wear off. The best brands offer guarantees on the wear layer of 10 to15 years, and good quality vinyl should last 20 years.Cost: $1 to $5 per sq. ft.Installation: $1 to $2 per sq. ft.Don’t confuse vinyl with linoleum. While linoleum is a similar product, it is not as durable, nor as soft. Its upside is its eco-friendliness.Porcelain flooring tile, a version of common ceramic tile, is the durability champ.

It’s fired at high temperatures that produce an extremely hard, durable, stain-resistant tile that is impervious to moisture.In fact, it’s so tough it can be used outdoors in virtually any climate.  Like common ceramic tile, porcelain tile comes either unglazed or glazed. The unglazed versions take on the color of their clay mixture, so they have naturally earthy tones.Glazed tiles have a glass-like coating that can be made in virtually any color, and can mimic the look and texture of real stone at a much lower cost than stone.Make sure you choose porcelain tiles certified as slip-resistant by the Americans with Disabilities Act — the designation should be visible on product literature or packing materials.Cost: $1 to $20 per sq. ft.Installation: $5 to $10 per sq. ft.Cork is made from tree bark that’s harvested every eight to 10 years; it’s a sustainable material, meaning the bark grows back and can be harvested repeatedly. Countries that produce cork are careful to regulate harvesting to ensure future supplies.

Cork has a unique cellular structure that’s waterproof and compressible, which makes it a comfortable, moisture-resistant choice. It comes in 12-inch-by-12-inch tiles and 1-foot-by-3-foot planks, each with a unique grain pattern of swirls and speckles. The surface is naturally textured, which makes it slip-resistant. But unlike other flooring options mentioned, cork floors need to be resealed every three to four years to help guard against scratches and prevent moisture from entering the seams between tiles.Both natural wax and polyurethane are good sealers for cork. Choose water-based polyurethane that’s non-toxic or has low volatile organic compound content to keep it green.Cost: $2 to $6 per sq. ftInstallation: $5 to $10 per sq. ft. 224 posts, read 584,752 times I want to redo the kitchen floor in the house I just bought and was wondering what the advantages and disadvantages of each type of flooring are. I'm somewhat familiar with vinyl and ceramic, having lived with them before, but porcelain I'm clueless on.

How does it differ from ceramic? I prefer a black and white pattern, either square tiles or a pattern like this: Metro Octagon 11-1/2 in. x 11-1/2 in. Matte White and Glossy Black Porcelain Mesh-Mounted Mosaic Tile-FXLM2OWD at The Home Depot Here is a pic of the kitchen as it looks now (not my furniture--my kitchen table is vintage mid century red and chrome). 1,786 posts, read 1,854,064 times 663 posts, read 1,522,724 times 602 posts, read 1,133,822 timesI have some black and white tiles you can have if you come take 'em up. I'm redoing the kitchen in a house we are buying and it has cheap white cabinets and black and white checkered tile floors. I like the traditional look so we are gutting it. I also wonder what the difference between porcelain and ceramic tile is. Hopefully someone can answer the question for us both. 20,793 posts, read 43,207,769 times 19,534 posts, read 39,623,807 times 3,317 posts, read 6,959,651 times Originally Posted by ~Pajama mama~

Porcelain has glass in it, I believe, 5,478 posts, read 11,956,290 times I have had all 3 in the homes I have owned (ya I moved a lot). I think brands and so forth vary so this is just my experience. Porcelain- I didnt find it to be as durable as ceramic. Maybe we had a cheap kind or something but if a soup can was dropped a certain way, it busted the tile. Vinyl- If not installed properly it will curl away from the wall. If it is vinyl tiles, sometimes they can lift or get dirty in the cracks. Vinyl dents easily and burns easily too. My husband had a friend over once who is a moron and he was smoking in our kitchen. He dropped his cigar and it left a burn mark. Ceramic- My favorite for kitchens. In my experience it is tough and can take a beating (if installed properly). The very first house my husband and I bought together we installed a black and white checkered ceramic floor. The larger tiles were white and the smaller diamond pieces were black. We put in white cabinets and I did a retro diner theme.

What I didnt like is that even though we sealed the floor, the white grout got dirty rather quickly. If you are looking to do a retro kitchen, I would go with black and white stickies. Its cheap and if you tire of it, then you can invest in something a bit more neutral. I did my kitchen in 1994 and it was a hit when I sold the house. Now I think it might be considered too taste specific. Ideally, ceramic kitchen tile goes over a concrete floor. In some very finely constructed houses where the floor joists under the kitchen floor are double what code requires, backer board such as greenboard or wonderboard will prevent cracking. Even so, the grout in kitchen floor tile should be cleaned with serious disinfectants daily and replaced often. Sheet vinyl properly installed will not curl up anywhere. Properly installed means that the floor is fully prepped, leveled, and baseboard moldings are removed and replaced and the vinyl floor is not "butted" to the baseboards. I would never put ceramic on a kitchen floor.