Porcelain Floor Tile for Kitchen: A Good Choice?

Most people use the kitchen much more frequently than any other area in their home. Cooking and cleaning take place in the home nearly every day. That’s why choosing the proper flooring is very important.

Regarding the kitchen, porcelain tiles offer both strength, a nice look and convenient upkeep. This type of tile is not harmed by water, high temperatures, stains or heavy use. There are lots of styles and finishes available to mix with the look of any kitchen.

In this guide, you’ll find out why porcelain tiles are useful, the kinds that exist, how to take care of them and more.

Why Choose Porcelain Kitchen Flooring?

Making porcelain tiles requires both high temperature and strong pressure. This makes them more durable and rugged than the everyday ceramic tiles. Since they pull up liquids easily, they make cleaning up in the kitchen hassle-free every day.

Here are the points why porcelain kitchen flooring is a good choice:

• It is able to stand up to a lot of people walking across it.
• Even if your chair skids, it usually doesn’t show marks.
• It doesn’t usually stain when things like oil, coffee or sauces touch it.
• Floors won’t burn from heat, so if something gets spilled, you have nothing to worry about.
• The actual color won’t fade over time, so it looks great for a long time.
• It works perfectly with underfloor heating.

Thanks to these advantages, porcelain tiles are popular with both homeowners and kitchen designers.

Types of Porcelain Tiles for Kitchen

There are many options in style, texture and size available for porcelain tiles. Take a look at some of the most popular types you can choose for your kitchen:

Polished Porcelain Kitchen Floor Tiles

Light is reflected easily from the shiny, smooth top of these tiles. Using color can brighten and make your cooking area feel bigger. You often see them in kitchens designed for modern or luxurious interiors. Yet, slippery tiles can make certain places dangerous when they’re wet which means it’s good to use mats or rugs in them.

Kitchen Wood Look Porcelain Tile

If you are concerned about water damage to wood, this material will please you. They appear and feel like real wood, yet are both strong and won’t drip when in use. You can find them in different wood such as oak, walnut and maple. If you want a rustic, farmhouse or Scandinavian kitchen, wood look tiles are a great choice.

Marble Porcelain Tile Kitchen

Using marble look porcelain tiles makes your kitchen appear classic and charming. Artificial marble costs less than natural marble and doesn’t require much maintenance. You might see these marbles with white and grey veining, black and gold veining or soft creamy colors.

There is something unique and useful about every type of tile. The kitchen requirements and layout should determine which unit you purchase.

Best Porcelain Tiles for Kitchen Floor

Take other things into account besides color and style when shopping for porcelain tile. Assess the sturdiness, neatness on the surface, and dimensions of the materials.

Let’s look at some helpful tips when picking out porcelain tiles for your kitchen.

• Pick tiles that are rated PEI 4 or 5. You can tell they’re designed for busy environments from here.
• Matte finishes make your kitchen safer because they offer more grip. Glossy tiles are slippery, but that can’t take away the fact that they are attractive.
• If your tiles are large (12×24 inches or 24×24 inches), it will reduce the number of grout lines and make the whole surface look clea
• Choosing white and off-white tiles for a small kitchen will open up space, but darker tiles may hide stains and dark spots more effectively.
• Be sure to use slip-resistant tiles if those living with you include children or the elderly.
  

Make sure the tiles are thick enough to work in the part of the home where they will be set. A standard kitchen tile is normally less than 8mm to 10mm thick. If your kitchen floor will be exposed to heavy appliances, put in thick tiles.

Design Ideas Using Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tiles come in many different designs. If you pick the right shade, finish and plan your kitchen, you can style it any way you like.

Modern Look

If you want your kitchen to be simple and stylish, pick porcelain tiles in white, grey or black. They look good beside stainless steel appliances, flat-front cabinets and your favorite simple décor.

Farmhouse Style

Use kitchen wood look porcelain tile in warm brown or weathered grey tones. Add white cabinets, open wooden shelves and some vintage-style lighting. Cottage style makes spaces cozy and friendly.

Classic and Elegant

Marble porcelain tile kitchen designs work well for traditional or upscale homes. Hang some crown molding, use soft lights, and put pretty fixtures or handles on your drawers. Living floral arrangements add enduring beauty to your area.

Industrial or Urban

Dark grey matte porcelain tiles suit the industrial design of many kitchens. Complement these furnishings by adding black cabinets, some metal stools and putting up exposed brick walls. This gives the space a fashionable and useful style.

If you like, you can combine various tile types to identify different areas in your kitchen. For instance, set marble tiles under where you eat and wood-look ones around the stovetop.

Installation and Maintenance Tips

Installing porcelain tiles is not an easy task and takes skill. Errors during installation can result in uneven cracking or a bad shape. Call a pro if you haven’t worked with ceramic tiles before.

Check that the floor is both even and clean before you install. Pick the appropriate grout and sealant to ensure no water comes between your tiles and the walls. If the format tiles are large, careful spacing and reliable support are required.

Once they are installed, keeping porcelain tiles clean is not difficult. Here’s how to maintain your kitchen porcelain floors:

• Be sure to go over the floor every day to get rid of dust and crumbs.
• Mopping your tiles using a good cleaner and warm water is recommended every one or two weeks.
• It’s best not to use cleaners that contain bleach, acid, or wax.
• Clean up stains caused by wine or oil as soon as you notice them.
• Try to clean grout once a month so it stays looking fresh.
  

A chipped or broken tile can be easily replaced, even if the rest of the floor hasn’t been touched. Always have some spare tiles from your first order to use when you need to do repair work.

Conclusion

Your kitchen will look and function differently depending on what type of flooring you pick. Kitchen porcelain floor tile is strong, attractive, and won’t lose its value when properly maintained. Everything about this place blends great looks and usefulness.

If you’re after a minimalist, rustic, or fancy marble look, you will find the right porcelain tile for you. Every day cooking, cleaning, and traffic in your kitchen won’t affect these tiles since they will still make your kitchen look great for years.

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