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*Question & Answer Choosing a Kitchen Floor*

Dear Bob

What kind of floor is best for my kitchen?

Dear SM

For high-end homes these days, the first choices are always wood or natural stone. Midlevel would be porcelain or ceramic tile, and at the lower end, you have vinyl flooring. Wood floors require maintenance, because they don't do well with water and there is a lot of water in kitchens. Stone is susceptible to stains. Tiles and vinyl are more durable. Wood looks warm and is comfortable on the feet. It works well in a big kitchen. But for a smaller kitchen that will get more intense foot traffic, I would choose tile or stone. Remember, too, if you are in a kitchen that has a door to the outside, glazed tile and polished stone get slippery when wet. Think about using a rougher surface like slate or a honed stone.

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