McKinley Countertops

Kitchen Surfacing and Flooring Based on Your Family’s Needs

Linoleum: While linoleum may conjure images of yellowed flooring, it’s now a much more durable and longer-lasting option than you may think. Linoleum is a great kitchen flooring material for a number of reasons.

It’s an eco-friendly flooring that you can feel good about installing in your home. It’s a biodegradable material made of things like flour, wood resins, linseed oil, and coloring. Linoleum is also a durable kitchen flooring option, comparable to hardwood and ceramic; these properties mean linoleum may last anywhere from 20 to 40 years. If your kitchen is a highly trafficked area, linoleum may be a good kitchen flooring option for your home.

Linoleum is also relatively easy to take care of. Regular sweeping and mopping are sufficient, with an occasional buff needed.

Laminate flooring
Laminate:
Laminate flooring is the master of disguise. There’s a good chance your neighbor’s wood flooring that you’ve been eyeing is actually laminate. Many opt to select laminate flooring over wood for a number of reasons. Laminate is crafted from composite wood pressed together at high temperatures, making it a durable material that is both stain and scratch resistant. To maintain your laminate floor, sweep and wipe it down regularly.

Laminate comes in a wide variety of colors, textures, and finishes to mimic any wood flooring you’re looking for. If wood isn’t your style, there may still be a laminate option for you. It’s also available in a variety of natural stone and tile finishes.

Ceramic tile flooring
Ceramic Tiles: Ceramic floor tiles (sometimes known as non-porcelain floor tiles) are easier to install than porcelain tiles. While many discredit ceramic tile for its porosity, a glaze will protect it from kitchen spills and stains.

However some drawbacks are that ceramic tiles can be too heavy for certain floors, and they aren’t always easy to clean.

Ceramic tiles are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, one of which is bound to match whatever design you have your heart set on.

Hardwood flooring

Hardwood: Hardwood gives your home a natural touch that’s hard for other kitchen flooring options to match. Whether you select solid hardwood (made from a single piece of wood) or engineered hardwood (layers of hardwood “plies” bound together), you likely won’t regret selecting hardwood flooring.

Hardwood flooring comes in almost as many different varieties as there are trees. Different species offer different densities, colorings, and wears—it’s just a matter of deciding which type is the best for you.

With the right care, hardwood floors age with grace, gaining character through the years. Regular sweeping and wiping are more or less sufficient, but they may need to be buffed or stained every decade or so.

The main drawback of hardwood flooring is that it can be expensive compared to other options, and certain types of wood are more prone to scratches than others.

Bamboo flooring
Bamboo
: A trendy newcomer to the scene, bamboo also checks the eco-friendly box. Because it grows so quickly, bamboo is an incredibly renewable resource that’s widely available and well loved. In terms of ease of cleaning, bamboo’s a great choice for that, too. Just like laminate, a regular sweeping and occasional wipe does the trick.

The one drawback of bamboo is its durability. It’s not as hard as standard wood flooring, which makes it a great kitchen flooring option in terms of comfort, but not so great in terms of durability. While it can withstand heavy traffic, bamboo can be prone to scratches, making it susceptible to damage from pets nails or moving heavy objects.

Cork flooring
Cork: Another natural and sustainable material is cork. Cork comes from the bark of the aptly-named cork tree and is renowned for its eco-friendliness. Cork flooring is made of the same material as the cork in your wine bottle.

In fact, the flooring is made from the byproduct of making cork wine stoppers, putting to good use a material that might otherwise be discarded.

Because cork flooring is cork all the way through, rather than a material with an artificial coating on its surface, it’s better at hiding scratches, dings, and dents.

Rubber flooring
Rubber:
Rubber is another alternative to more traditional kitchen flooring options. It offers a good spring that’s easy on feet and highly durable. Rubber comes in a huge variety of colors, patterns, and textures. For the eco-conscious, recycled options are available.

Premium rubber flooring may be expensive, and certain types of rubber are prone to staining when they come into contact with certain solutions.

Once you understand the composition of your window and window frame, you can look at how these various parts come together to create a variety of window styles. Keep this glossary in mind as you peruse different types of window frames and styles to help guide your selection.