One of the first things you are asked to pick before even the kitchen remodel gets started is the materials. You need to choose materials for the floor, the countertop, the cabinets – all parts of the kitchen. And although you have a freedom of choice – budget-permitted, and although there’s a wide range of options too, some materials should stay out of the kitchen. For your peace of mind alone.
Why?
Because not all materials are suitable for kitchens, unless you hardly use yours and just have it for show – something highly unlikely. Kitchen materials must be particularly strong and resistant to withstand the daily abuse and still remain healthy, beautiful, free of glitches.
All materials look stunning when they are new. Matte or glossy, with the right kitchen installation, the cabinets, the countertop, the island, the floor all look fantastic. No doubt. But give it time and this first chip you didn’t mind (too much) noticing will become two chips and then three. Before you know it, the floor will lose its edge and the cabinets won’t look nice anymore.
You need products, which can stand the test of time, so that you won’t need another kitchen remodeling any time soon. Resistant and durable materials, which will also be easy to clean and maintain. And, luckily, there are plenty of those. The most common ones to avoid?
Laminate (kitchen countertops and floors)
To the material’s defense, today there are some great laminate choices. Not all laminate options have this thin flake-like face so easy to chip and peel. Still, laminate is not particularly strong but is used broadly due to its low price. Don’t forget that the low price you pay today will rise significantly if you keep calling in for repairs or need a kitchen renovation contractor to replace the countertop in two years’ time.
Kitchen countertops made of laminate won’t last for long since the material cannot take any hardship and, surely, can’t stand moisture. For the same latter reason laminate is not a good option for the kitchen floor. If the dishwasher or the refrigerator leaks once, you can say goodbye to your laminate floor.
Carpet kitchen flooring
Wall-to-wall carpets are an excellent choice for bedrooms and rooms, where there’s no much shoe traffic and no moisture. Carpets don’t belong to the kitchen – the one room (along with the bathroom) that (water) accidents may happen. If a kitchen appliance leaks or the carpet gets constantly wet by spills of water and other drinks, its underlayment will be affected too and mold may grow. Avoid placing carpet flooring in the kitchen.
Marble (kitchen floors and countertops)
Marble is one of the most beautiful materials, due to the unique waves of the natural stone. But apart from its high price tag, it’s also very sensitive. Your kitchen may look stunning, at first, but for how long? Marble is easy to stain – takes very good maintenance not to. This is one of the most highly absorbent materials and so it’s best if you reserve it for other parts of the house, like your living room.
Vinyl kitchen flooring
Vinyl is as susceptible to moisture as laminate. Due to its low price, it’s often chosen for the kitchen floor but it won’t hold well under moisture – not to mention if an appliance leaks water. It will bubble.
Particle board kitchen cabinets
Particle board has a low price and is often preferred for the construction of kitchen cabinets. But it’s not very strong and so it may not hold well under the heavy load of all items stored in the cabinet. The worst part is that the material can easily warp, when exposed to moisture and humidity – can you avoid that in the kitchen?
Melamine kitchen cabinetry
Although melamine is a tad stronger than particle board, it’s also a no-no for the kitchen cabinets. It’s still not durable enough to hold the weight of all things put in the cabinet. And it will be a nightmare if the material absorbs moisture – let alone water. In this case, it’s easily saturated and ruined, putting at stake the integrity of the entire cabinetry.
