Vinyl Plank Wood Flooring looks like Real Wood
Most people when choosing a renovation project for their home consider the Kitchen a top priority among all their potential projects. A Kitchen renovation is a big undertaking and considering which floor to install is an important part of the project that can’t be overlooked. Believe it or not the floors you choose for your Kitchen will have as much of an impact on your overall budget as the cabinets and countertops you select.
Let’s consider the factors when selecting among two of the most popular choices for Kitchen flooring; ceramic tile and vinyl plank wood flooring with each having their own advantages and disadvantages. One major factor that is always on the mind of consumers is the cost of material and labor. Generally speaking, ceramic tile can cost anywhere from $1 a square foot and up with the cost for some high-end tiles reaching about $8 a square foot. Then there are the other cost factors to consider such as that of thinset grout, and tile sealer. These materials can all add up to several hundred dollars depending on the size and complexity of your Kitchen floor layout. Installing ceramic tile floors can also be very labor intensive and should not be undertaken by an inexperienced installer. Therefore, you’re going to have to factor in the cost of hiring a professional flooring contractor into your overall budget.
Vinyl plank wood flooring, on the other hand, cost considerably less than ceramic tile with the most expensive vinyl floors reaching about $5 a square foot. Unlike ceramic tile, vinyl flooring does not require thinset or even glue to be installed. Homeowners can attempt to save additional money by trying to install this type of flooring themselves. Vinyl wood plank floors, with their interlocking seams and lack of glue or thinset, are an ideal project for the beginner handyman. Besides, saving the money that you would’ve otherwise spent on a flooring contractor can now be spent on upgrades for your Kitchen.
Companies today can produce vinyl wood plank flooring that look incredibly similar to more expensive hardwood floors. Hardwoods such as walnut, mahogany, oak, maple and just about any other wood floor type you could think of are now available. New production and embossing techniques have allowed manufacturers to create vinyl wood plank floors that have the grain and feel of real wood floors.
If you’re going through the inconvenience of renovating your Kitchen and replacing your floor, you want to make sure it’s going to last long time while still retaining its original beauty. Vinyl flooring is extremely durable and highly resistant to impact damage in addition to being virtually water resistant. Ceramic tile, on the contrary, can be chipped easily or cracked if a heavy object is dropped on a tile. Ceramic tile is also more susceptible to scratching than vinyl flooring when moving appliances or furniture.
No matter how careful you think you’re going to be with your new Kitchen floor, eventually you’re going to have to replace some damaged sections. Replacing a single ceramic tile can be a real challenge that involves some pretty strenuous physical labor. Not only do you have to remove all the grout surrounding the tile by hand and then the ceramic tile itself. You also need to chip away all the old thinset before you can re-set the new tile. Vinyl floor planks are most commonly produced in 6” x 48” planks with inter-locking seams. Since no glue or thinset is required, you can simply remove the damaged planks and replace them with new ones. The inter-locking seams allow you to snap the new panels for a seamless fit into the existing floor.
Undertaking any type of home improvement, especially a Kitchen renovation, can be a harrowing adventure. Being budget conscious is an important part of the project but it does not mean you have to sacrifice style and design. For those who are looking for an attractive alternative to the high cost of ceramic tile floors, there is vinyl wood plank flooring to satisfy a homeowner’s every need. Just visit your local home improvement store and let the hunt begin.
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