Choosing the right materials for floor covering is again a compromise between taste, budget and maintenance. Kitchen floors have to survive the heaviest use and no matter what happens, the floor must not allow water to permeate it. The basic choice is between the soft and warm feeling of the corks, linoleum, vinyl and timbers as against the great looks but hard and cold touch of the tiles, stone and granites that may be slippery when wet.

Cork- 

Cork covering comes from the compressed bark of cork oaks, in tiles of 300mm by 300mm, the colour range is limited to Yellows - Orange. They last from 10 to 20 years but should be sanded and clear coated (three coats) once every 3 to 5 years. The tiles are glued to concrete or underlay sheeting. The clear coating may be affected by spills of boiling water and oils that need to be cleaned immediately.

Cork is nice and soft and relatively warm under the feet, in has a nice ambience and pleasing texture.

The cost of cork tiles laid professionally is about $90 per Square Meter.

Linoleum- 

This is a composite of oils, wood flour, resins, limestone and pigments, either in sheet form or in tiles that are a bit harder; they come in a great colour spectrum. It needs a smooth, rigid and very dry surface for laying, timber floors require an underlay sheeting. Linoleum is a long established product that lasts over 20 years, is easy to maintain by sweeping or mopping with water and detergent; but light colours could show scuffmarks.

Linoleum is probably the most economical floor covering, $50-$60 per square meter laid, but considering the small surface treated, this may not affect the overall cost of kitchen installation, if a different material was chosen.

Vinyl Sheet Flooring- 

Today's vinyl composite flooring is distinctly fashionable and indisputably durable. With an array of patterns and dazzling colours, vinyl can provide a distinctive look for your new kitchen. An underlay is recommended and joins can be 'radio frequency' welded. It is easy to clean and maintain, similarly to linoleum and no sealing is required.

Cost is about $50 -$60 per square meter if laid on concrete; and $60-$70 if laid on wooden floors.

Vinyl Tile-

Using bold colours and assorted geometry, vinyl tile is a  durable choice for your new kitchen, with high impact. It is harder than vinyl sheets but has the same installation/maintenance needs.

Natural Stone Tile-

Granite, Limestone, Slate - these are luxurious stone tiles from Mother Nature's palate. Timeless beauty that creates earthy elegance. They may be heavy and special underlay is required for timber floors; they are glued to the substrate, and the joins are grouted. For best protection they should be sealed and require resealing regularly in heavy-duty areas. Cleaning is easy with water and detergent

Ceramic Tiles-

In use for thousands of years, ceramic tile has a lasting and traditional beauty that is always in fashion. Today's tiles come in an enormous range of colours to compliment any decorating need. They come as vitrified tiles that have the same texture right through, or glazed tiles, that is glaze on a whitish base, that may show up when chipped. Installation and cleaning is similar to natural stone but sealing is not required.

Terracotta Tile Floor-

These are composed of baked clay with no surface coating, ranging pinkish, red to brown. These tiles come in larger sizes with wider joins, laid on cement base and need to be sealed or waxed; significant colour variation in the same batch is common. They can be porous and will absorb grease and oil stains that need to be washed off immediately with water and detergent. These tiles may also discolour over time.

Finished Hardwood-

Pre-finished hardwood flooring is available in a myriad of finishes and styles. The factory finish using the latest technology eliminates the need for sanding, staining and finishing in the home. This time saving element pays dividends with cost effectiveness. Parquet, accent borders, random and strip planks are just a few of the design possibilities that this genre of hardwood offers. Timber floors come as strips, planks or boards in any size, glued to cement or nailed to timber floors.
Of particular interest are the new "Floating Timber" floors, a full floor example of which can be seen in the Aneka Kitchen's Showroom. "Floating Timber" consists of a thin timber floor of pre-grooved beautiful timber strips, laid on a substrate. These timber floors are both beautiful, easy to maintain and can be laid very easily by the home handyman.

Professionally laid the cost is about $110 - $130 per Square Meter, depending on the colour (timber species) selected.

Softwoods should be avoided, as they are susceptible to indentations. After laying the floor is sanded and clear coated at least twice in either glossy or matt.

Carpet  

From a health, cleaning and maintenance point of view, carpet floor covering should not be a choice for the wet areas and the food preparation area of a kitchen, however it may be a preferred choice for the family/dining extension in the kitchen area.
The excellent website of the Australian Carpet Industry extols the advantages of carpet over other floor coverings, a part of which has been reproduced below. For further information regarding the acquisition process, types, materials and costing please refer to this www.carpetinstitute.com.au website.

Why Carpet? - Here are some good reasons...


UNLIMITED DÉCOR CHOICE. The choice of carpet styles, textures and constructions have never been greater. You can now make a decorating investment you'll enjoy for years.

WARMTH AND INSULATION. Carpet works to insulate any room, holding in warmth that would otherwise escape during the winter months. Equally, carpet insulates from extreme external heat during summer.

CUSHIONING FALLS. For small children, carpet cushions the falls that come with learning to crawl or walk. For the elderly, the slippery surface of a tile or wood floor can be extremely hazardous.

SOUND INSULATION. So, your favorite restaurant has gone the minimalist décor look and replaced the carpet with polished cement and stainless steel. Can't hear yourself over the din? Carpet softens harsh sounds and creates a quieter, more peaceful indoor environment.

DURABILITY. Hard floor surfaces may look good when new but most are prone to scratching and scuffing. Today's quality carpets will take the heaviest traffic load and if properly chosen and maintained, will provide many years of enjoyment and use.

VALUE-FOR-MONEY. Carpet represents great value for money compared to other floor coverings. When comparing prices on vinyl, wood, ceramic tiles, etc, remember that carpet is often sold and quoted by the lineal width (1m x 3.67m) while most other products are sold and described in square meter widths (1m x 1m). That is, you are getting around 3½ times more carpet for the comparable per square meter price of other products.

HEALTH. Carpets have been unfairly associated with dust mite allergen but there is a growing recognition that carpets actually reduce the circulation of airborne allergens in the home. It is true that some carpets, in some environments may harbour dust mites, but the general exposure risk to allergens from carpet is minimal and insignificant compared to allergen exposure from bedding. (Click for further information on Health issues)