What's the best flooring for a kitchen that gets a lot of foot traffic?

For high-traffic New Brunswick kitchens, luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and porcelain tile are your top performers, offering the durability to handle busy family life while standing up to our province's muddy spring conditions and winter salt tracking.

Luxury vinyl plank has become the go-to choice for many New Brunswick homeowners, and for good reason. Quality LVP runs $4-8 per square foot installed and delivers exceptional scratch and water resistance. Look for products with a wear layer of at least 12 mil for heavy traffic areas. The planks handle temperature fluctuations well - important in older NB homes where kitchen floors might experience seasonal movement. Brands like Coretec, Shaw, and Mohawk offer excellent options that can handle dropped pots, pet claws, and constant foot traffic without showing wear.

Porcelain tile remains the premium choice for ultimate durability, running $8-15 per square foot installed. Choose larger format tiles (12"x24" or larger) to minimize grout lines, which are maintenance headaches in busy kitchens. Rectified edges give you tight grout lines that are easier to keep clean. The key is selecting tiles with a slip-resistance rating - especially important during our wet spring months when boots track in moisture.

Engineered hardwood can work in high-traffic kitchens if you choose wisely. Opt for harder species like hickory or white oak with aluminum oxide finishes. Expect to pay $8-12 per square foot installed. However, be realistic about maintenance - you'll need to address spills immediately and plan for refinishing every 7-10 years in heavy-use areas.

What to avoid: Laminate flooring, despite being budget-friendly at $3-6 per square foot, doesn't hold up to moisture around sinks and dishwashers. Traditional ceramic tile with wide grout lines becomes a cleaning nightmare. Solid hardwood, while beautiful, is prone to cupping and gapping in kitchens due to humidity changes.

Installation considerations: In older New Brunswick homes (common 1970s-1990s builds), check that your subfloor is level and solid before installation. Many contractors recommend a moisture barrier, especially in homes with crawl spaces or older concrete slabs.

Start by measuring your kitchen and getting samples of your top choices. Most flooring retailers in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John offer sample programs so you can see how materials look in your specific lighting conditions.

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