Kitchen floor, tiled or polished concrete

longwalks1

We are finally getting the extension we've been planning for the last couple of years, and are deciding on the kitchen/dining area floor, do we go for large tiles, or polished concrete? We want to have underfloor heating in there, what are the pros and cons of each floor finish please?

Fire_Fox

Exciting times ahead.

Anything dropped on a hard floor has a decent charge of smashing or denting (obviously!). The same incident could crack a tile, which can be a pig to replace.

Non slip tiles accumulate grease and grime in the textured surface and grout lines over time (gym changing rooms/ showers/ poolside experience an accelerated version of this). Don't have a clue how polished concrete compares.

Depending on your kitchen layout and materials adjacent to the floor, you may need to periodically 'deep clean' manually or be able to use a chemical-gadget combo.

FreeBear

Large format tiles require careful laying - They should be "back buttered", bedded down gently, and leveled with one of the tile leveling systems out there. Failing to back butter opens up the chance that voids will be left in the adhesive and the tiles will crack when pressure is put on this area. If a tile leveling system is not used, lippage would be of major concern.

Polished concrete - If you intend to just polish the existing slab rather than using Beton Cere, then mix in plenty of coloured aggregates to add interest. Also, any cracks forming in the slab will stand out - If you go for polished concrete, be it Beton Cere or any of the other micro-cement toppings, leave the slab as long as you can to dry out and settle (six months or more if possible). The resin used to finish the floor will seal the concrete and provide an easy to clean surface - Will also be quite slippery when wet.

WillLife

What sort of style are you wanting? Have you considered luxury vinyl tiles? They are waterproof, underfloor heating compatible and they look very much like real tiles.

Particular brands are Amtico and Karndean. They are the creme de-la creme of LVT.