Tile Vs. LVT – A Tough Decision for Your New Kitchen

Kitchen renovations are filled with decisions that will affect your everyday life. You spend a good chunk of your time each day in the kitchen. And you are the one that is going to have to clean it too. So what flooring options are there that are both comfortable and easy to clean? 

We are going to discuss a few popular options and break down which is best for your kitchen renovation project. So, which is better; tile vs. LVT for kitchens? 

Getting Down to Basics – What Is LVT?

LVT stands for luxury vinyl tile and is a durable vinyl material that looks great and is forgiving to bare feet in the middle of the night. It is not too cold or too hard and it cleans up really well. 

LVT is made from plastic and can easily be replaced if a piece of the tile gets damaged. It is also waterproof and can last up to 15 years in your home if cared for properly! 

How Many Types of Kitchen Tile Are Out There?

Fortunately and unfortunately, there are a lot of flooring options on the market that offer high-quality, long-lasting results. You can rely on a number of materials that will provide a gorgeous floor to your kitchen masterpiece: 

• Stone tile
• Natural stone
• Luxury Vinyl Plank
• Sheet vinyl
• Ceramic tile
• Hardwood flooring

Whether you choose a tile installation or luxury vinyl flooring, you will be thrilled with the results. The flooring for your kitchen is one of the most vital pieces of your final project. Be sure to take a moment to consider tile vs. LVT for kitchens. 

What Is The Difference Between Tile And LVT?

Tile vs. LVT for kitchens come with their own set of pros and cons. Whether you want to consider the ease of installation or how time-consuming the setup may be, it is important to know what you’re getting into. 

Breaking Down the Pros and Cons

While both flooring types are extremely durable, you will find each has a selling point, and each has some disadvantages as well. It is rare to find perfect flooring with no adverse aspects. You just have to prioritize what is important to you when it comes to tile vs. LVT for your kitchen. 

Luxury Vinyl Tile for Kitchen Flooring

Imagine this gorgeous flooring in your kitchen as the final touch that pulls the whole kitchen together. You can choose tiles with natural-looking wood grain that will not warp or rot over time. LVT works hand in hand with beautiful trim and finishing details in your kitchen. 

Enjoy the aesthetics of a beautiful kitchen floor while reaping the benefits of LVT’s convenience at the same time. 

Pros of Using LVT

• Durable Material: Vinyl is ultimately made from plastic, which is very durable. It can be textured to appear closer to wood flooring. It is not slippery. It will not peel or discolor. Your LVT will remain as beautiful and clean as the first day you installed it. 

• Easy to Clean: Luxury vinyl is so easy to clean. Clean up spills and grime with a damp cloth or mop. Dust or sweep it regularly to keep up on maintenance. And if you have a scratch or stain that will not come out, you can pull up the plank and replace it with a brand new piece. 

• Easy to Replace: Sometimes vinyl can chip or dent. If you have an accident where you dropped a heavy object or a piece of furniture left a dent in the vinyl flooring, you can easily replace the damaged areas. 

• Water Resistant: You do not have to worry about warping with LVT. Spill a glass of milk and wipe it clean with no residual damage.

• Soft on Your Feet: LVT is much more forgiving than ceramic or stone tile. You won’t have to worry about getting shin splints from walking on your own floor. When you have long days in the kitchen meal-prepping or cooking Thanksgiving dinner, you can stand on a forgiving surface that will not cause you pain later. 

• Warm to the Touch: Luxury vinyl stays at room temperature instead of being cold all the time. It will not freeze your feet in the winter. You can walk across the floor barefoot without a shock to your system. 

• Easy Installation: When it is time to install LVT, you do not need years of experience in construction work. Forget the grout and tools. Forget lining up the pieces just right. If you can spend a few hours on your knees, you can install LVT by snapping the planks into place. It takes a minimal hassle and is easy to navigate. Add a gorgeous trim, and you’ve got yourself a new kitchen floor in just one Saturday afternoon. 

• Beautiful Styles: Luxury vinyl flooring comes in a variety of styles. You can choose different colors to create a pattern. Or you can match the hardwood flooring look you’ve always wanted without the maintenance and cost. 

• Cost-Saving: The LVT product costs less than tile supplies. While LVT is $4-7 per square foot, ceramic or stone tile can be $5-20 per square foot. These costs are without installation, and tile installation is sure to cost more money than LVT as it requires more steps and expertise. 

Cons of Using LVT

• Seams Are Not Waterproof: You won’t find anyone installing LVT in a shower like they do tile. While tile can withstand pouring or standing water for hours on end if it must, LVT is not as waterproof. While the planks themselves are easy to wipe up after a spill, the seams are not waterproof. If LVT were in a shower, the water would breach into the product’s seams and cause bubbling in the vinyl. 

• Does Not Last As Long: While LVT does last 15 years, ceramic tile can last 20 or more years. The tile is a bit more durable than LVT in that aspect. Both last a very long time with proper maintenance. 

As you weigh the pros and cons of LVT, you will see that the cons list is very short. You will decide based on the look you are going for with tile vs. LVT for kitchens when it comes down to it. With that said, it’s clear that luxury vinyl tiles cannot be the wrong choice. 

Tile for Kitchen Flooring

Tile is a timeless look, whether it be natural stone or ceramic tile. It is a flooring material that is easy to clean, universally loved and used throughout every bathroom, and has unmatched versatility. Tile offers an excellent solution for your kitchen needs. But is it the right choice when considering tile vs. LVT for kitchens? 

Pros of Using Tile

• Cool in the Summer: While we discussed the coldness of tile being a con during the winter months, it can be very refreshing during the summer. It feels nice to step onto a cool floor when it is hot outside, and your air conditioning is barely keeping up. Dogs even love to lay out on tile in the summer to cool down. 

• Indoor/Outdoor: Tile is so versatile it can be used indoors in the bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, and main living area. It can also be used outside on the patio, pool deck, or garden walls. Extreme weather conditions and harsh temperatures have nothing on the durability of tile. 

• Resistance to Water: Tile is perfect for showers in that they are totally resistant to water, including the grouted seams. Watch for cracks in the grout or tile to be sure they remain water-resistant. 

• Universally Accepted for Resale: More homebuyers may be more comfortable with tile in the home as opposed to the lesser-known LVT. In addition, as tile is more expensive, it is considered more high-end in the home market as well. 

• Lasts for 20+ Years: Tile is one of the most long-lasting flooring options out there. Tile can last forever and stay looking shiny and flawless as ever. In addition, tile is easy to clean and hard to stain. Some people even choose to paint and seal tile to update its look in their homes. In addition, you can add patterns and color. This contributes even more years to the life of tile with a modern design touch. 

• Available in Beautiful Variations: The newest trend is a wood-look tile that appears to be a hardwood floor but is actually a durable, moisture-friendly tile. It looks beautiful in offices and luxury homes. You can choose from any color you can imagine to create the look that you desire for your kitchen renovation. 

Cons of Using Tile

• Grout Is Hard to Clean: One downside to tile is the grout. It is porous and can collect dirt that is difficult to scrub out. Sometimes, people have to get down and use a toothbrush to scrub out the dirt from the white grout between tiles. It is a lengthy and tedious project to undertake. 

• Higher Cost: Ceramic and stone tiles are more expensive materials than LVT. You will find that you can spend more than double on tile flooring than you would on LVT. And tile is very difficult to remove and can require professional help, which is also expensive. 

• Complex Installation: It is rare for a DIY homeowner to take on a tile project without help. Laying tile requires many steps and is a lengthy project. It is also hard to get right if you don’t line up the pieces precisely. 

• Cold and Hard: Nobody is grabbing a blanket and pillow and snuggling up on the tile floor. While tile may be an okay material for your kitchen, be cautious about laying it in your whole home unless you want to buy thick rugs to throw over it. 

Tile definitely has many things about it that are appealing. You can build a beautiful new kitchen with tile flooring. However, if you are focused on the day-to-day maintenance and installation, then tile may not be the option for you. 

The Verdict

Ultimately, you are in charge of your kitchen remodeling project and what you want to do with it. As you run through each scenario in your mind, remember there is no wrong answer to tile vs. LVT for kitchens. Both flooring options are beneficial to your kitchen remodeling project, you can’t go wrong with either one. Depending on the needs and circumstances surrounding you and your family, pick the best option for yourself and your budget.

Let Magnolia Home Remodeling Group Renovate Your Kitchen

What is your style when it comes to tile vs. LVT for kitchens? Magnolia Home Remodeling Group can help you decide the best style for your home. When you partner with a reputable company like ours, you will know that your kitchen remodeling project is in good hands. 

It doesn’t matter which flooring you choose – what matters is if the job is done right. With years in the business, tackling various remodeling projects, and leaving every homeowner satisfied, you can rely on our team to get the job done right. So contact us today to set up your first planning meeting.