What is the best flooring for kitchens?

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and porcelain tile are the top kitchen flooring choices for Ottawa homes, offering the best combination of durability, water resistance, and style. Both handle our climate extremes and heavy foot traffic while maintaining their appearance for decades.

Top Kitchen Flooring Options

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) leads the market for good reason. It's 100% waterproof, comfortable underfoot, and available in stunning wood and stone looks that fool most visitors. Quality LVP costs $4-8 per square foot installed in Ottawa and can handle everything from spilled wine to dropped cast iron pans. The click-lock installation makes it relatively DIY-friendly for handy homeowners.

Porcelain tile remains the gold standard for high-end kitchens. It's virtually indestructible, completely waterproof, and available in large format sizes that minimize grout lines. Expect to pay $8-15 per square foot installed, but it will outlast most other flooring options. The main downside is the cold, hard surface - consider radiant floor heating for winter comfort.

Engineered hardwood works in kitchens if you choose water-resistant species like oak or maple with proper polyurethane finishes. However, Ottawa's humidity swings and inevitable spills make this a higher-maintenance choice at $10-18 per square foot installed.

Ottawa-Specific Considerations

Our freeze-thaw cycles mean your subfloor may shift slightly, making flexible flooring like LVP more forgiving than rigid tile. If choosing tile, ensure proper subfloor preparation and use flexible grout to prevent cracking.

For secondary suite kitchens, LVP offers excellent sound dampening compared to tile - important for maintaining good tenant relationships. The Ontario Building Code requires slip-resistant flooring in rental units, which both LVP and textured porcelain tile satisfy.

Avoid laminate flooring in kitchens despite its lower cost. It's not truly waterproof, and once moisture penetrates the seams, you're looking at full replacement. Natural stone requires regular sealing and can stain easily - beautiful but high-maintenance.

Professional Installation Considerations

While LVP installation is DIY-friendly, tile work requires proper waterproofing, especially around sinks and dishwashers. Poor installation can lead to water damage that costs thousands more than hiring a professional initially. Most quality flooring comes with installation warranties only when installed by certified professionals.

For a comprehensive kitchen renovation including flooring, contact Justyn Rook Contracting for a free consultation. We'll help you choose flooring that matches your lifestyle, budget, and Ottawa's unique climate demands.