BE FLOORED IN YOUR KITCHEN

WORDS LEANNE RICH

The kitchen is the heart of the home – that is true now more than ever. Kitchens are more than just the cooking zone, they are often a hangout hub, a homework station and the socialising epicenter. If you are planning a kitchen renovation or starting new, it’s important to get the look and feel right for this busy space and the flooring is a great place to start.

We talk with the experts at Gerrand Floorings about some common instore questions.

LOVE THE IDEA OF TIMBER?

The feeling of real timber underfoot is what many aspire to, and with a raft of timber widths, board grades and surface finishes you can always find a product to tick the box for your own needs. All modern prefinished timbers are pretty easy care with a lacquer or oil finish with a daily static mop and suppliers having matching and specialist weekly care products.

Timber is a premium flooring offering, so if you love the look but don’t quite have the budget to stretch, there are a raft of synthetic wood-look options from a traditional sheet vinyl through to a design vinyl wood plank with embossed timber features.

LIFETIME VALUE

There are pros and cons between real timber options versus a manmade looking style vinyl. Real timber products can be resurfaced in the years ahead giving you a complete refresh or total new look. Synthetic products are not able to be resurfaced but for the upfront investment you can pretty much uplift and fully replace this option in the years ahead with a completely new option for about the same upfront cost as a timber today.

LOVE THE IDEA OF CORK?

Just like timber the feeling of a solid cork floor underfoot is homely, friendly on the feet and body, cool in the summer, warm in the winter and again comes in a range of natural and coloured options and a mix of sizes to suit both modern and traditional homes and interiors. With cork being a little softer, it will be a little easier damaged than a hard surface.

WANT THE BOUJEE LOOK FOR A BUDGET INVESTMENT?

The reality of life is sometimes what we’d love is just a little out of reach – or the needs may be for a more cost effective option. The good old traditional sheet vinyl now available replicates everything from a historical mosaic heritage look through to checks, timbers, polished floors, bolds and all things in between.

LOVE THE IDEA OF SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?

If you want to retain a flooring product that is not cold or hard but keen on something a little outside the box, some food for thought is woven tiles, colourful marmoleum sheet vinyl, rubber or making your own design floor with a specialist design vinyl custom product.

HAS THE NEW E3 INTERNAL MOISTURE CODE LIMITED OUR OPTIONS?

The newly introduced code is welcomed to the industry to ensure homeowners are having the correct product installed correctly to their wet areas, including kitchens (carpet in the scullery anyone?) and this is fantastic.

Sadly, with this there are some who are of the understanding your kitchen flooring is purely limited to polished concrete, ceramic tiles with a maximum water absorption or traditional sheet vinyl. Please be assured this is not the case, you can absolutely still have your other options. It is simply a case of your architect or builder submitting your plans to council correctly with other products being submitted as an alternate solution and with any accompanying paperwork if required. There are a couple of additional processes for your specialist providers to ensure correct preparation and installation, but it does not restrict you from having that amazing timber flooring throughout!

Our Top Picks

Designer Vinyl Flooring

Globally renowned Amtico First.

Next level – Moduleo Moods Luxury Vinyl Flooring range lets you take the creative wheel. From Chevron patterns to parquet and more.

Timber

Oak Elegance from Godfrey Hirst – With a real European oak surface, true-to-life distinct knots and grain variation, Oak Elegance has the timeless look and feel of luxury.

Next level – Massimo by Quickstep.

Cork flooring

Environmentally friendly, cork flooring is resilient, comfortable underfoot and a stylish addition to your kitchen

Top pick: Pure Cork flooring.