Kitchen Flooring: Timber or Tiles?

Timber or tiles? The two most popular flooring choices for the kitchen, each present their own pros and cons. Here to make your decision making process simpler, we’ve put together a quick guide to help out!

Timber Flooring

Good points:

• Timber flooring allows you to continue a seamless look through most of your home with consistent flooring spreading from one room to the next. Area rugs work well in adding comfort to spaces such as the Living room and Bedroom while also defining zones in an open plan space.
• Being easier to clean, timber flooring is a safer option for allergy sufferers as there aren’t many places for dust to hide!
• Timber flooring offers a sustainable option: when maintained and cared for properly, quality hardwood flooring can last a lifetime.
• Should you drop glassware on a timber floor, you will notice the surface is a little more forgiving than a tiled floor!

Not so good points:

• Timber floors require maintenance and care in order to maintain their appearance and durability.
• Timber floors will breathe, expand and contract over time which although adds character, may not be the desired look you started off with and can cause gapping and creaking in time.
• Cost-wise, quality hardwood floors do come at a price! The extended lifespan of a good timber floor does however, justify the cost.
• Wear and tear can show more readily, i.e. scratches, stains, etc.

Tiled Flooring

Good points:

• Tiles are a sturdy and strong surface. Opt for a quality porcelain tile that will last a long time!
• Tiles offer an abundance of design flexibility in the various colours, patterns and textures that are now available.
• Quality porcelain tiles can handle high temperatures extremely well and are appropriate for use as a splashback, even behind your cooktop.
• Grout: There have been many advances in the world of tiles and one of those is the improvement of grout. Certain types of grout actually prevent the build up of grime. Coloured grouts can also be used to your advantage to hide dirt and grout lines are much slimmer these days, further minimising the amount of cleaning required.
• Porcelain tiles do not require sealing and do not stain easily. Note: this does not apply for natural stone tiles!

Not so good points:

• Stock availability: tile ranges are updated frequently; Should you require more of the same tiles later on down the track (eg: if you need to replace a few tiles after making some changes to your cabinetry or if you crack a tile), chances are you’ll have trouble trying to match them. We always recommend extra tiles be purchased with your initial tile order, thus ensuring you have spare tiles for the future that are also part of the same batch (variations from batch to batch do also occur!).
• Tiles are a solid surface; dropping glassware onto tiles equals a guaranteed break!
• Should you opt for natural stone tiles such as travertine, you should also consider the maintenance involved, such as sealing and cleaning. Natural stone tiles do also stain much more readily than a porcelain tile.

So which do you prefer? Timber or Tiles?! Tell us in the comments below!