There are a number of great options available when looking for kitchen floor tile. Not only should the tile be attractive and complement the decor, but other factors need to be considered as well, such as ease of maintenance, durability, moisture- and stain-resistance, hardness, slip-resistance, and cost. 

Some popular kitchen tile choices include the following:

Porcelain Tile

Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic tile made from finer, denser clay that’s fired at higher temperatures. It’s generally thought of as an improvement over the standard ceramic tile as it is more durable and less porous. Porcelain tile is available as glazed and unglazed.

Advantages of Porcelain Tile Floors

• Highly resistant to wear and tear — excellent for high traffic kitchens.
• Adds to resale value.
• Easy to maintain and clean.
• Durable.
• Scratch-resistant (unglazed).
• Highly resistant to water and stains.
• Slip-resistant (unglazed).
• Wide range of styles. Mimics other flooring materials such as marble, granite, slate, hardwoods, limestone, and travertine.
• Color runs all through the tile, and stays the same with wear.
• Works well with radiant floor heating systems.
• Damaged tiles are not difficult to replace. Save an extra box or two during installation so if needed you can match the color.

Disadvantages of Porcelain Tile Floors

• Expensive.
• Difficult to install. Harder to cut and layout properly.  Professional installation recommended.
• Feet and legs get sore when standing on it for a long time.
• Cold surface.
• Grout needs to be sealed to keep it clean, and to prevent it from damage and absorbing moisture.
• Glazed porcelain can be slippery.
• Can chip if something heavy or sharp drops on it.

Slate Tile

Slate flooring is one of the most popular types of stone flooring. It’s made from metamorphic rock that was formed by heat and pressure within the earth over long periods of time. Slate tiles can be a subdued dark gray or black, or a mixture of colors such as golds, reds, greens, blues, and purples. You also have the choice of tiles with either a rough texture, or a more polished surface that’s smoother and more uniform in color.

Advantages of Slate Tile Floors

• Unique aesthetic appearance.
• Adds real estate value.
• Incredibly durable.
• Good for heavy traffic areas like kitchens.
• Resistant to scratches, scrapes, and dents.
• Available in hundreds of colors and different striation patterns.
• Rough texture is slip-resistant.
• Water- and stain-resistant.
• Relatively low maintenance.
• Works well with radiant floor heating systems.
• Easy to clean.

Disadvantages of Slate Tile Floors

• Expensive.
• Uncomfortable to stand on for long periods.
• Brittle, will likely crack or chip if sharp impact from a heavy object.
• Dishes, mugs, glasses, etc. will break if dropped.
• Rough surface can be uncomfortable in bare feet.
• Cold underfoot, especially on cold winter mornings.
• Floor system must be structurally sound to support the heavy weight of slate tiles and might need reinforcement.
• Installation is best left to professionals.
• Difficult to match if replacement tiles are needed. Save leftover tiles from the installation.
• Requires resealing with two sealers on a regular basis (e.g. every year or two) to keep the pores in the stone closed, and to maintain a protective surface.

Marble Tile

Marble is natural stone, and one of the most beautiful flooring options for your kitchen. It’s available in a wide variety of colors and multicolor mixes that range from brilliant whites to rich dark greens, all with irregular, veined patterns. Each tile is a unique piece.  You can choose between a highly polished look, or a soft matt appearance with only a light polish.

Advantages of Marble Tile Floors

• Elegant, sophisticated, unique appearance.
• Wide variety of colors and vein patterns.
• Colors are intensified when polished to a very high level.
• Glows when light touches the surface due to its translucent quality.
• Adds real estate value.
• Excellent for heavy kitchen traffic.
• If properly maintained, it lasts a long time.
• Completely natural and can be recycled.
• Adaptable to radiant floor heating — conducts heat well.

Disadvantages of Marble Tile Floors

• Expensive.
• Installation better left to professionals.
• Existing subfloor must be perfectly flat and may have to be reinforced — regular plywood is not always suitable.
• Requires protective sealant prior to use, which needs to be reapplied at least once a year. With honed marble (matte finish), reapply every 6 months.
• Spills need to be wiped up immediately.
• Easily stained, especially from acidic substances.
• Standing water can penetrate and discolor it.
• Requires regular sweeping of tracked-in dirt to prevent scratches.
• Polished marble is slippery, especially when wet.
• Prone to scratching. Repairing scratched marble usually requires a professional.
• Surface is cold underfoot.
• Uncomfortable to stand on for long periods.
• Breakable objects will shatter if dropped, and may damage the floor.
• Difficult to remove and replace.

Terrazzo Tile

Terrazzo has recently seen a resurgence in popularity. It’s a stylish, bold, and dramatic choice for kitchen flooring. Terrazzo tiles are composite constructions of granite and marble chips set in an epoxy-resin or concrete. The concrete or epoxy can be pigmented, and other aggregates can be added, such as chips of abalone shells, mother of pearl, glass, and various types of metal. Depending on how dramatic you want your design, oversized chips can be used.

Advantages of Terrazzo Tile Floors

• Limitless range of colors, and a wide choice of aggregates.
• Unique floor designs with inlays, medallions, geometric designs, mosaics.
• Excellent for heavy kitchen traffic.
• Easy maintenance. Just regular sweeping and mopping.
• Extremely durable. Difficult to crack or chip.
• Lasts a long time.
• Stain-resistant.
• Water-resistant.
• Good at retaining heat — combines well with radiant floor heating.

Disadvantages of Terrazzo Tile Floors

• Expensive.
• Cold without underfloor heating.
• Uncomfortable to stand on for long periods.
• Breakable objects will shatter if dropped.
• Slippery when wet, and when dry if wearing stockings. However, non slip products are available to apply to tiles.
• Professional installation recommended.
• Difficult to remove.
• Not everyone will like the distinct look, so avoid when selling a fixer-upper.

For repairs and maintenance to all your major appliances, you can count on the pros at C&W Appliance Service.  Call us at (855) 358-1496 or submit our online service request form for prompt service.