Your main options for kitchen floors are laminate, luxury vinyl, engineered wood, hardwood, and tiles (Luxury Vinyl Tiles/LVT or stone tiles). Which is best for your home depends on what your priorities are.
Discover the best flooring for kitchens in terms of their durability, water-resistance, ease of installation, style, and value-adding properties.
Durability
- Best flooring options: Engineered wood and hardwood last the longest with good care, up to 100 years. Laminate can resist scratches, and vinyl can withstand impact well.
- Less-favourable options: Avoid laminates that aren’t water-resistant. Vinyl (especially sticky vinyl) may not last as long in high-traffic areas.
Water-Resistance
- Best flooring options: Engineered wood, luxury vinyl, and tiles (LVT or porcelain) are excellent at handling spillages, humidity, and even light flooding (like dishwasher/washing machine leaks).
- Less-favourable options: Hardwood and solid wood flooring aren’t good at moisture resistance, which can cause issues in kitchens. Laminate is only good if you install water-resistant laminate.
Style
- Best flooring options: All options are stylish; hardwood and engineered wood have natural beauty, and laminate comes in modern designs and colours (like herringbone laminate and tile-effect laminate).
- Less-favourable options: Luxury vinyl planks/tiles and sticky vinyl are considered stylish, but they don’t offer the same natural beauty as real hardwood or stone – instead, they mimic their appearance.
Value-Adding
Your kitchen floor can add value to your property – as much as 7%, according to interior design experts:
- Best flooring options: Hardwood floors and engineered wood are the most value-adding, followed by laminate, luxury vinyl, and tiles.
- Less-favourable options: Sticky vinyl is unlikely to add value to a property, as it doesn’t last as long compared to other options.
Learn more about hardwood vs laminate flooring for kitchens.
Ease of Installation
- Best flooring options: Vinyl is the easiest floor to lay, closely followed by laminate flooring. Beginners and DIY-ers can install these floors with ease, and professional installation is low-cost.
- Less-favourable options: Hardwood and engineered wood require professional hands. DIY installation isn’t recommended, as it can invalidate warranties, reduce lifespan, and lead to costly mistakes.
FAQs
What is the Cheapest Way to Replace Kitchen Floors?
The cheapest flooring for kitchens is linoleum, which can be very low-cost, but doesn’t last long in high-traffic kitchens. Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) are cheap (especially when compared to real tiles) and significantly more durable.
Laminate flooring is also an affordable option. It’s great for family homes and homes with pets, as it resists wear, spillages, and scratches well. It’s also an easy-clean flooring, with very low maintenance needs. Shop cheap laminate flooring.
Is Laminate or Vinyl Flooring Better For Kitchens?
Laminate flooring tends to be more popular, as it has high water-resistance and scratch-resistance, and it doesn’t dent easily.
Luxury vinyl tiles are a modern choice and are cheaper compared to real tiles (like porcelain or ceramic).
Cost-wise, there isn’t a huge difference between laminate and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT).
Can You Put Appliances On Top of Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Yes, most vinyl plank or tile flooring can handle heavy weights for prolonged periods. However, preparation is key.
Check the manufacturer’s guide to see the weight capacity and use underlayment or protective mats, where necessary, to prevent damage.
Shop Kitchen Flooring Deals in Manchester
Shop deals on kitchen flooring in Manchester today.
At Floor Express, we provide high-quality, low-cost laminate, hardwood, engineered wood, and vinyl flooring in Manchester.
Need installation? No problem.
We provide free measuring, a quick turnaround, and a wraparound service to enhance the performance and longevity of your floors. We’ll remove old flooring, lay new floors professionally, and even trim door frames, if needed.
Book a free home measure or get a quote for new floors today.
