Hand-Scraped Hardwood Flooring
Add instant heritage to your home with the Amish Hand-Scraped collection of hardwood flooring from HomerWood. Sculpted individually, by hand, by Amish craftsmen, the planks range in width from 3 to 7 inches and come in cherry, hard maple, hickory, oak and black walnut species. Available either unfiinished or prefinished, in ¾-inch thick solid wood or 5/8-inch thick engineered wood planks. Shown: Cherry wood with a Cinnamon finish. HomerWood Premium Hardwood Flooring
Wide-Plank Engineered Wood
For a wide-plank wood floor that doesn't expand and contract with the seasons, try the Westchester collection of engineered wood planks from Bruce. This ¾-inch thick engineered product offers increased dimensional stability and a more affordable price than solid wood floors, and can be installed over most subfloors via gluing, floating, stapling or nailing. The oak, maple and hickory planks come in 3¼-inch or 4½-inch widths and a range of colors. Shown: Hickory with a Country Natural finish. Bruce Hardwood Floors
Easy-Install Laminate Floors
Now with LocNPlace technology, Shaw's laminate flooring offers the look of exotic wood flooring while saving trees and making installation quick and glue-free. The inner layer consists of EnviroCore, a high-density fiber material made from recycled wood fiber. Shown: Georgia Pecan finish from the Americana Collection. Shaw
Leather-Look Porcelain
Suitable for a contemporary kitchen or a more rustic style, the Metro Leather tile series from Daltile offers the look of worn leather in five rich earth tones. Choose from three square or two rectangular tile sizes with matching trim pieces and decorative accent tiles. The glazed porcelain tiles can also be used outside or for walls and counters. Shown: 20-by-20-inch tiles in Hong Kong Brown. Daltile
An Introduction to Tile Types
There are several types of tile:
Ceramic tiles are made from pressed clays covered with a glaze of metallic oxides and ceramic stains or finished with a matte surface.
Porcelain mosaic tiles are baked at a higher temperature, which makes them thicker. Their color also goes through the tile, rather than only covering the surface.
Quarry tile is an unglazed mix of shale and clays that also has color throughout.
The spaces between the tiles are filled in by grout. An epoxy grout is recommended to help resist stains. It's usually best to choose a grout that closely matches the color of the tiles.
Recommended flooring support
Cementitious backer board.
Pros
Many sizes, patterns, and colors to choose from
Durable
Glazed tile resists staining and doesn't require special cleaning or other maintenance
Suitable for radiant heat
Cons
Glazed tile with no texture may be slippery and pose a safety hazard for the elderly and young children
Unglazed tile needs to be treated occasionally with sealants
Tile, like stone, can be a little hard on the feet if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen
Individual tiles may crack over time; try to get some extra ones with your original batch so that the replacements will match the other pieces
Price
About $8-$100 per square foot.
An Introduction to Stone Flooring
Phil Dorian Photography
Stone flooring offers a distinct look for your kitchen. Designed by Viking Kitchen Cabinets, New Britain, CT.
The most common stones for the kitchen floor are granite, marble, and slate.
Recommended flooring support
Cementitious backer board.
Pros
Tough and durable.
You can use over a radiant heat system.
Cons
Stone might not offer the comfort you're looking for. It can feel like you're standing on cold rock (because you are). Consider using mats or throw rugs in work areas.
You'll need to apply sealants periodically to prevent stains.
Marble can be slippery and dangerous to fall on. The elderly and families with young children may want to consider another type of flooring.
A light-colored grout in between stone tiles will show stains and dirt.
The stones may chip, so you should keep extras on hand.
The color of the stone that arrives at your home may differ from what you choose in the showroom if taken from a different lot. If you have the option, approve the slabs that will become your flooring while they are still at the distributor or manufacturer.
Price
About $10-$100 per square foot.
Introduction to Concrete Flooring
Courtesy of ConcreteNetwork.com
Concrete flooring is an unconventional but solid option. Pictured flooring by Kemiko Concrete Products; installed by Specialty Hardwood & Maintenance Inc, Dallas, TX.
This mixture of cement, water, and sand or gravel isn't just for the basement floor anymore. Color can be added to the mix, and it absorbs heat, making it ideal for a radiant heat system.
Recommended support
Cementitious backer board.
Pros
As durable as tile and stone
The best choice if you want radiant heat
You'll be surprised at the number of colors and finishes
Cons
Requires a sealer to prevent staining
Heavy and requires strong support
Can be a dangerously hard fall for the elderly and children
Price
About $15-$20 per square foot.
Limestone Tile for Indoors or Outdoors
Give an indoor or outdoor kitchen a timeless, weathered look with Galaxy Black limestone from Ann Sacks. Available in square or rectangular tiles, the limestone can be sandblasted for a smooth honed finished; antiqued by hand; or bush-hammered (better for walls). The manufacturer recommends sealing Galaxy Black tiles for protection, which deepens the smoky black shade of the stone. Ann Sacks
Color-Coordinated Tile
With three patterns and one solid, plus four field tile sizes and matching trim pieces, the Building Blox collection of porcelain tiles creates a wide range of creative options for the kitchen floor (and even a coordinating backsplash). Designed by Robert A. M. Stern, the tiles offer a contemporary twist on classic style with the Greek Key, Urban Fabric (interconnected rectangles), and City Garden (floral) patterns, available in nine colors: white, limestone, wheat, pistachio, ice, terra cotta, slate, taupe and black. Crossville
Colorful Porcelain Tile
Bring color into the kitchen via the floor with Rocco Pia tiles from Mohawk's Classic Collection of ceramic tile. These glazed porcelain tiles come in four rich hues and work inside or outside for flooring, counters or backsplashes. Available in 6½-by-6½-inch, 13-by-13-inch or 20-by-20-inch sizes. Shown: Indigo. Mohawk