Cost
Cost may or may not be a top concern when doing some kitchen remodeling. Long Island homeowners on a very tight budget may lean toward tile as it is the more economical choice. You must also consider, however, the longer-term cost. If you install tile now are you just going to want to replace it in a year or two? If so, splurging for the floor you really want is a smarter choice.
Durability
Both hardwood and tile are durable flooring options, but tile does have an edge in a kitchen environment. Did the kids fail to wipe up a spill? No problem. Was the icemaker leaking all weekend while you were out of town? That’s ok. Liquid doesn’t damage tile, which is one reason it’s a great choice for a kitchen or bathroom. Wood, on the other hand, can sustain damage if spills aren’t wiped up immediately. For some homeowners, that’s a lot of pressure.
Both types of flooring are susceptible to damage from scraping chairs, dropped pans, and other common kitchen hazards. If you choose hand-scraped or distressed wood floors, dings won’t be as noticeable, so that’s something to consider if your heart is set on a wood floor.
Pro Tip: If you go with tile, buy an extra box or two, so you’ll have them on hand to replace tiles that get damaged over the years.
Style Options
The design options of tile flooring are endless. Custom patterns, hundreds of colors, various sizes, and textures—if choices are what you want, tile is the way to go. That’s not to say that wood flooring doesn’t offer its own set of choices such as textures, finishes, and plank widths—but the options for wood aren’t nearly as abundant as for tile flooring.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Neither tile nor hardwood is particularly difficult to keep clean. You will
have to clean your kitchen floors more often than some of your home’s other
floors, so keep that in mind. Also, grout lines on tile can become discolored
over time, so you’ll want to make sure to reseal the floors to prevent that.
Some types of hardwood floors will also need to be resealed from time to time
to keep it looking its best and to prevent damage.
Get the Advice of a Professional
Not every home is the same in terms of style, traffic, and other factors. You must consider how your kitchen is used when trying to decide between hardwood and tile flooring. The design experts at Sunview Enterprises can further explain the pros and cons of each type of flooring and help you make the best choice for your home, your style, and your budget.
Whether you’re considering a small kitchen remodel or making over a sprawling space, we can help you with the layout and with choosing finishes. From kitchen countertop choices to flooring, cabinets, and more, our design professionals can help you create the kitchen of your dreams.
Call Sunview Enterprises for more information, or fill out our simple online form to schedule your free, no-obligation estimate.
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