Kitchen flooring

Picking a floor for a kitchen

A kitchen floor takes spills, dropped pans and a lot of foot traffic, so durability and water resistance matter more here than in most rooms. Porcelain and ceramic tile hold up well and come in endless styles, though they are hard underfoot. Luxury vinyl plank is water resistant, softer to stand on and usually less expensive. Laminate looks like wood at a lower price but is less forgiving of standing water. Hardwood is warm and can be refinished, though it needs quick cleanup of spills.

In an older Pleasantville house, many owners like a floor that suits the age of the home, such as a classic tile pattern or wood that matches nearby rooms.

• Tile: very durable and water resistant
• Vinyl plank: water resistant, comfortable, budget friendly
• Laminate: wood look at lower cost
• Hardwood: warm and refinishable, needs care with water

What lies underneath

The old floor matters as much as the new one. Many older kitchens have layers: linoleum over plank subfloor, then vinyl tile, then another layer on top. Each adds height and can hide damage. HomeAdvisor notes that removing old flooring adds about $1 to $6 per square foot. Older vinyl tiles and adhesives can contain asbestos, so ask the contractor how they will test and handle old layers before anyone pulls them up.

Tile needs a stiff, flat subfloor, and older joists sometimes need reinforcement first. A contractor can check for bounce and soft spots near the sink and dishwasher.

Timing with the rest of the remodel

In a full remodel, some contractors lay the floor before the cabinets go in, and some after. Laying it first means the floor runs under everything, which makes future changes easier. Laying it after uses less material. Ask which approach they prefer and why.

If you are opening the kitchen to another room, think about running the same floor through both spaces. It ties them together and avoids an awkward line where the wall used to be.

Matching the rest of the house

In many older homes, the kitchen floor sits a little higher or lower than the hallway or dining room because of layers added over the years. New flooring is a chance to fix that, but it may take a transition strip or some subfloor work at the doorways. Ask the contractor how the new floor will meet the floors next to it and whether thresholds will change. If you have original hardwood elsewhere, ask whether new wood can be woven in to match.

Cost per square foot

HomeAdvisor lists installed ranges of about $1.50 to $20 per square foot for vinyl, $1.70 to $17 for laminate, $3 to $30 for tile and $4 to $29 for hardwood. A small kitchen keeps the total manageable even with a premium material. Westchester labor tends to push prices toward the top of each range.

Typical kitchen flooring costs

Published national ranges per square foot, installed. Not quotes.

Ranges are national figures from the source below, rounded, and are not quotes. Westchester prices often run higher. Your price depends on material, subfloor condition, removal and layout.

Sources: HomeAdvisor, flooring installation