Tile Vs Wood Flooring – Which Works Best in the Kitchen?

We know that many of you like hardwood flooring in your kitchen, but many more of you are debating between hardwood or tile because tile is a more traditional option. Read on to find out why we come down in favor of tile.

In our previous kitchen flooring options guide we showed you that, basically, carpets are the only flooring type that you can totally discount in your kitchen space.

Hardwood flooring, whether solid wood or engineered wood, is frequently used in the kitchen and laminate flooring is a great hard-wearing and cheaper alternative. As for vinyl and linoleum, both have been kitchen favorites in the past and are now coming back into fashion thanks to funky, innovative and retro designs that are currently in trend. Check out our kitchen vinyl flooring report.

In this home floors guide we will discuss the merits of installing tile in your kitchen. It is arguably the most popular flooring type of choice for the kitchen but why? As usual we invite you to give your opinion in our discussion section below and we hope you find the following helpful when buying your kitchen flooring.

You may also like our 41 Kitchen Floor Tile Ideas article for some design inspiration.

6 BEST REASONS TO CHOOSE TILE VS HARDWOOD FOR YOUR KITCHEN FLOOR:

1. RETURN ON INVESTMENT

In our guide to Flooring with the Highest Return on Investment we showed you the clever choices for those looking to rent or sell their property. Depending which market you’re going into kitchen floor tiles can be a great option.

There’s a tile to suit any budget, from low cost durable no drama tiles for a rental to sophisticated and expensive tiles to help bump up the value of an upmarket residence.

2. STYLE OPTIONS

Long gone are the days of drab nondescript kitchen floor tiles. The choice of designer patterns, cool designs and tile sizes is limited only by your imagination and your budget.

Click here for our guide to the best floor tile patterns. Perhaps you have your heart set on wood flooring? No problem, you can now buy porcelain floor tiles that looks just like wood!

3. PERFORMANCE

As long as you don’t choose a nasty cheap thin tile you can be sure that when you install tiles in your kitchen that you’re laying a very hard wearing surface. Only natural stone flooring is going to be more durable.

We want the flooring in all our rooms to be durable but especially in the kitchen. High traffic, lots of spills, lots of cleaning and the potential for accidents (dropped kitchenware etc.) makes a high quality tile (think porcelain or stone tile) a smart option.

Also new innovations like Schlutra DITRA matting underlayment for easy tile installation vastly improve the longevity of a tile floor. Read more about durable flooring.

4. LONGEVITY

At Home Flooring Pros we are big fans of the latest trends in vinyl and linoleum flooring. The lower production costs have meant a greater range of designs than ever before. If you want a cutting edge look for your flooring then vinyl and linoleum can be an interesting option.

However the latest trends and fashions, by definition, don’t last. They’re here today and gone tomorrow. If you’re prepared to refresh your flooring every few years then that’s fine, but if you want to lay a classy kitchen floor that’s going to look up to date for many years to come then opting for kitchen tile installation, with a focus on natural colors, is a smart way to go.

5. MAINTENANCE

We have to agree that wood looks great in the kitchen, but wood as you know needs extra care and attention to keep it looking at its best.

Kitchen tile on the other hand just needs a sweep or a mop to keep it in tip top shape. With the continual dropping of food and drink on our kitchen floors you’ll be glad you chose tile.

6. HEALTH AND SAFETY

Hygiene in your kitchen is absolutely essential, this area more than any other in your home is vulnerable to germs. And it’s not just the kitchen countertops that need to be kept clean. Your floors too need to be kept germ free especially with young children about.

As beautiful as natural wood is there’s no arguing that tile is a much easier surface to keep hygienically clean. It’s also worth considering that unlike wood, vinyl or linoleum, ceramic and porcelain kitchen tiles are non-flammable.

IN CONCLUSION

With so many great kitchen flooring options we ultimately recommend that you go with the surface that you prefer but hopefully this guide has clarified why tile is still the number one kitchen flooring choice ahead of hardwood.

Still not convinced tile is the best option for the kitchen then take a look at our best flooring for kitchen report.

Related Reading: How to Remove Floor Tile | Popular Bathroom Floor Tile

Please share with us your preferred kitchen surface. What have you installed and how are you getting on with it? Just fill in the comment box below.

About the Author: Jamie Sandford

Jamie Sandford is the Owner and Chief Editor of Home Flooring Pros (find out more). After 12 years’ experience in screen and stage set construction, followed by a further 15 years working in the home renovation/remodeling business, he now writes and curates online home improvement advice.

“Buying and installing home flooring should be a fairly straightforward process, but often it isn’t. After more than 15 years experience in home flooring and remodeling, I started Home Flooring Pros in 2013 to help homeowners navigate the often-over complicated process of choosing, buying and installing a home floor. The aim is to save you time and money by helping you to make better floor buying decisions.”