Kitchen Flooring Requirements

Kitchens are a high-traffic areas with flooring subject to spills, stains, falling objects and other messes. As such, they require durable flooring that is easy to clean, long-lasting and resilient. Linoleum and wood are often used, with the latter bringing a warm, homey feel to kitchen space. Because cleaning hardwood floors can present challenges while linoleum is considered a less attractive choice, faux wood flooring such as laminate and Allure work well as kitchen flooring options.

Laminate

Laminate flooring can be installed easier than it once was because glueless versions of the flooring are now manufactured. The pieces fit together, allowing for easy do-it-yourself installation. While the flooring features a natural look, it is much less expensive than real wood flooring and is much more durable. Laminate flooring generally comes with a 10-or 15-year warranty. It also features a high UV resistance that protects the design from the fading effect of the sun. This is helpful in a kitchen setting because kitchens can feature a lot of windows. Spills can be remedied with a mop or sponge.

Allure

Like laminate flooring, Allure flooring can be installed without glue or grout and often features interlocking edges. It resembles hardwood flooring but is fairly quiet to walk on and is waterproof, meaning you can easily wipe up spills with damp sponges and mops. Remove scuff marks with dry scouring pads. Flooring includes an up to 25-year warranty and can be installed on top of any hard floor surface, such as concrete or vinyl.

Which is Better?

Both laminate and Allure flooring offer the appearance of real wood flooring without the durability, monetary and cleaning issues. Both are easy to install at home as well. While Allure has a longer warranty, laminate flooring features UV protection. Mold and mildew can be a problem for either as can floor tile buckling from water damage. Mold and mildew issues should be identified and remedied prior to floor installation, though partial removal might be required if mold is discovered post-installation. The decision to go with either option comes down to preferred manufacturers and personal budget concerns.