As much as aesthetics are important when choosing the kitchen floor tiles, it is also important to be practical and consider how you plan to use the kitchen space for day-to-day activities, and the foot traffic the floor will encounter. This will affect the choice of kitchen floor you will select for your home. The kitchen floor has to be the most hardworking surface in the house which automatically means more pressure is applied to it let alone the spills and stains, however, this doesn’t mean that the kitchen floor has to be ugly. It goes without saying that the right kitchen tiles in Kenya have to be durable, water-resistant, and at the same time aesthetically appealing.
Tiles are the most preferred flooring solution for the kitchen space since they are more durable and stronger compared to other floor options like vinyl and laminate floors. They also offer great aesthetic value.
Types of kitchen floor tiles available in Kenya
Kitchen tiles are available in three types which are;
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Ceramic tiles
Ceramic tiles are made from clay mixtures manufactured and made at high temperatures to produce hard durable tiles. Ceramic tiles are softer than porcelain and glazed to produce a hard wear surface in any color the glazing creates an impervious surface to water and hard spills and splashes.
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Porcelain tiles
Porcelain tile is a good choice for the kitchen and high-traffic areas because it has sand to the clay mixture and is made with high heat and pressure to make harder and less porous tiles
Porcelain is difficult to install because it requires special expertise and tools making it less DIY friendly.
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Natural stone
Stone kitchen floor tiles are made from natural stone. Naturally, stone tiles are usually porous and required to be sealed with a quality stone sealer from them to be functional.
Stone tiles are the most expensive because they require sealing frequently to make them less porous. They include slate, marble, limestone, and granite.
How to choose kitchen tiles
We have put together some tips below that will make choosing kitchen floor tiles a walk in the park for you
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Tile Maintenance
When purchasing kitchen floor tiles you should consider getting floor tiles that are easier to clean and maintain. Nothing beats ceramic tiles when it comes to ease of maintenance, they are easy to clean and maintain.
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Tile Installation
You need to choose tiles that are easy to install and can be more DIY projects, or in case professionals are involved it should not be labor intensive.
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Tile Durability
Given the heavy foot traffic and pressure that the kitchen encounters, you should choose floor tiles that are hard, highly durable, and water resistant for the kitchen floors. Porcelain tiles are a good choice for this.
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Tile Texture
You need to keep in mind that the kitchen will get wet and slippery from time to time so the texture of the tiles is important. Texture and safety go hand in hand. Textured and matt floor tiles are safer than glossy and smooth tiles.
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Tile Size
You should also consider the size of the tiles you want to install in your kitchen, ensure you have the exact measurements of the floor, the most commonly used tile sizes are 12-18 inches in size.
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Tile Color
As much as color selection is a personal choice and it comes down to personal preferences, it is also important to note that bright colors like white make your space look bigger while darker colors make the kitchen look smaller. so depending on the effect you want to achieve you can decide from the variety of colors available.
Conclusion
To wrap up this quick guide it is essential to note that the kitchen space is not only a place where meals are made, but it is also the heart of the home. It, therefore, needs to be well taken care of and properly maintained since it plays a very integral role in the functioning of the entire house.
