Kitchen Floors That Are Easy On Your Bones

SUSTAINABLE LIVING | by CELESTE TELL

WHEN REMODELING A KITCHEN, FLOORING IS A CRITICAL DECISION. For hygienic reasons, many people think that installing hard-surface tile in your kitchen is the best way to go. Yet ceramic, granite and marble tile can take a physical toll on the body, especially as we age.

CORK FLOORING SOURCE: EXPANKO.COM

While commercial kitchens often have hard-surface floors for hygiene and maintenance purposes, professional chefs know that industrial-strength rubber mats have to be added on top to prevent injury, fatigue, and back and leg strain.

For those of us not running full commercial kitchens, wood, bamboo, cork and linoleum are all acceptably hygienic, yet have much more “give” and are easier on aging bones:

Wood. Wood floors provide warmth and beauty. Look for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood to ensure it comes from managed forests.

Bamboo. Similar to wood, bamboo floors are beautiful, easy to clean — and a renewable resource.

Cork. Cork is a renewable resource made from tree bark. It comes in both tiles and floating floor systems. Cork comes in a variety of patterns and beautiful natural colors.

Linoleum. Unlike vinyl, which is made from petroleum, linoleum is made from linseed oil, a natural substance. It comes in tile and sheet goods in a huge range of colors.

If you love to cook and spend any appreciable amount of time in the kitchen, a softer floor will give you years of healthy payback.