Wondered what people‘s experiences were of the above in kitchens. The kitchen leads out into the back garden so the floor will be walked on an awful lot. Would flooring last or look as good after a year or would tiles be the way to go. Any info would be great before I make a purchase.Thanks
Tile would be your best choice since it's almost indestructible, especially because of the garden entrance and the traffic pattern. Although wood floors are gorgeous, they won't stand up to spills, scratching, and traffic like tile does, particularly in the kitchen. If you do opt for tile though, use porcelain or natural stone rather than ceramic since ceramic can pit and chip. If you choose natural stone, make sure that it's sealed since it's porous and may stain or become watermarked.
If you compare cost, tile flooring seems costlier than wooden flooring. The cost depends entirely on the quality of the materials. Sometimes, wooden flooring can be costly too if the woods are of top quality. And if you compare the life of wooden and tile flooring, I believe it depends on how you use and care. If you can care it properly, it will last longer. So, overall I would say that both the materials can be good for the kitchen whether it’s wooden or tile flooring. It depends on your requirement such as the kind of style or decoration you want in your kitchen.
Tiles. Definitely. I have tiles in the kitchen and solid woodblock flooring in the hallway. Both get dirt trampled on them. The tiles still look as good as new (good quality ceramic tiles), and need the occasional hoover and mop. However, the dirt has worn the polish off the wood in the front hall so it's going to need a professional sand and re-varnish at some point, which is expensive and inconvenient (and dusty!). If you do decide to go with wood, get SOLID wood flooring and NOT laminate, as laminate curls up if it gets wet and I doubt this would be covered on insurance if in a kitchen ...! Hope this helps. If you're worried about the floor being cold in the mornings, you can get electric underfloor heating installed under the tiles before you put them down. It's not too expensive and you can put it on a timer. (things like the website below)
Tile would be more durable. Wood will require more refinishing, but is more comfortable to stand on. Small area rugs/mats at entryways can go a long way to keeping the grit down and helping the wood floor surface last longer. It is a personal choice.
Kitchen floors tend to get water on them. Wood warps when it is exposed to constant water over time. I would go with tile, it holds up and is easier to take care of.
