Kitchen flooring options - again !

jos28

Finally coming to the end of the building and new kitchen installation and the old reliable question arises. What to put on the floor ??

We have a semi-solid light oak throughout downstairs(including old kitchen) and I love it. It looks good, it's warm and so easy to maintain. A small section of the kitchen floor did not survive the renovations and I can't make up my mind what to do with it. The new kitchen is high gloss and contemporary.
The builders maintain I should put down cream coloured polished tiles throughout the kitchen.
The kitchen installer (who originally did the floor) says that the flooring is still available and he could re-do the kitchen area.
I personally dislike tiles, I find them cold and I don't want to spend my days trying to keep them clean.
Dilemmas, dilemmas.......

BoardsMember

Around the sink can get a bit wrecked with water drips etc, I know someone who went wood everywhere but a section in this area where they put some tile or piece of granite or something that didn't match anything but looked good. Just an idea. I would agree with you re tiles - they are cold and a nightmare to keep clean, if you're ok with wood I'd go with that.

Gangu

In the same boat OP. Inclining towards wood. Have thought about cork tiles.

e.r

Have you heard about luxury vinyl tiles ? Amtico would be the original .

But more cost effective brands around, you can put designs and feature strips into floor .

Really good product if done correctly.

BoardsMember

Ok, so if we're trying to broaden the options, a while back in the Irish Times there was a feature on a house for sale with an Ardex kitchen floor. It looked well. No joins, polished. I have attached a pic.

jos28

>>>>>>runs quickly to do a google image search on Ardex :D
Looks very nice indeed

BoardsMember

Yeah it does look good. The things I dont like about tiles are the joins, and the hardness and coldness of them. Also, we have textured (ie not perfectly flat) tiles at the moment and that makes it even harder to keep clean. I know there is a good balance out there, Ardex may be it but I havent spent time looking for where it might be in situ to look at it. If u get any interesting info on it you might let us know.

e.r

BoardsMember wrote: »

Ok, so if we're trying to broaden the options, a while back in the Irish Times there was a feature on a house for sale with an Ardex kitchen floor. It looked well. No joins, polished. I have attached a pic.

Subfloor needs to be concrete

jos28

e.r wrote: »

Subfloor needs to be concrete

Ah feck ! Only one section is

e.r

jos28 wrote: »

Ah feck ! Only one section is

I can find out tomorrow for definite what your options with half wood/concrete if you'd like.

BoardsMember

I'd be interested in finding out as much as possible about Ardex. From their websites http://www.ardexbuildingproducts.ie/ or http://www.ardex.ie/ it looks very focused on industrial flooring.

Anyone got any experience working with the product, idea of costs or who might work with it, options for finish - are some a bit softer/warmer/more like an acrylic? Options for colour and or mixing in broken glass or something to give it a bit of texture/glimmer/life?

I had a look at some videos on youtube and it looks a pretty straightforward to put in place, very much like a self levelling screed that you polish but I'm keen to know much more!

e.r

I have worked with their leveling compounds and are straight forward to use.

Some people have mentioned about it been polished up i think that's the finish of the product no need to polish up.

Regarding glass bits I would doubt it as your only applying 3-5mm of product, and guessing it will not settle flush and possibly having sharp edges.

jos28

e.r wrote: »

I can find out tomorrow for definite what your options with half wood/concrete if you'd like.

Thanks er, I'd appreciate that but don't go to any major trouble. Cheers

Wind In The Willows

Putting in new kitchen floor shortly ( over concrete) , question is : good grade laminate or ceramic or porcelain tiles ?
We like the feel and cosiness of laminate but concerned about its durability with spills etc. On the other hand, tiles feel cold and there's the slip risk on porcelain when wet , whereas ceramic tiles hard to keep clean ??
Any advice

Also considering tiles or laminate for entrance hallway , tending towards the laminate option but any views or opinions welcome !