The Best Restaurant Kitchen Floor Ideas – TheFlooringlady

Choosing a flooring for any kitchen is always a complicated task, as you need to take into consideration style, comfort, durability and the ability for the flooring to stand up to spills of all sorts. When you are choosing a flooring for a commercial kitchen, the needs for all of the above are even greater and the choice for the best can become more complicated. 

In this post, we will break down some of the different options for restaurant kitchen flooring, compare the pros and cons of each, all in hopes that having this information in front of you makes it a little easier on you to make a decision for your restaurant kitchen floor that you will be happy with for many years to come!

What To Look For In A Commercial Kitchen Flooring

Primarily, a restaurant kitchen floor needs to comply with health codes. Before making any permanent decisions, confirm that you will be meeting all health and building codes for your area. It’s always better to do your homework up front, rather than trying to backtrack after you’ve already started the process.

After complying with codes, you need to choose a kitchen flooring that is durable, easy to clean, and safe. On top of all of that, the flooring for a restaurant kitchen should also look good. Working in a clean, pleasant, aesthetically appealing environment will make everyone happier and really has a positive effect on the atmosphere.

Commercial kitchen flooring should be more durable than home kitchen flooring. Rubber kitchen flooring mats for restaurants can be laid over restaurant kitchen flooring to create a safer and more comfortable work space. Commercial kitchen floors, or restaurant kitchen floors, take a lot of abuse, so choose well and have a resilient floor that will last for years.

Choosing flooring for a restaurant kitchen is a very important decision. Commercial kitchen flooring needs to be very durable, easy to clean, and not too hard to stand on for cooks that stand all day preparing food. There are several different options to choose from when considering restaurant kitchen flooring.

So, the basics you must meet when choosing your commercial kitchen floors:

  • Durable
  • Waterproof
  • Easy to Clean

The additional things to look for that may make you exceptionally happy with your restaurant kitchen floors include:

  • Slip Resistant
  • Comfortable Underfoot
  • Grease Resistant
  • Beautiful

Types Of Restaurant Kitchen Floors: Strengths, Weaknesses, And Choices

Most commercial kitchen flooring options out there are the same as residential flooring, just a higher grade. The higher grade makes these types of floors more durable, but also means they have a slightly higher price tag. There are also restrictions as to the kind of flooring that can be installed into a commercial kitchen, controlled by the health department. Additionally, a few options may be more durable or easier to clean than others are, and you may find one option will fit your needs better than the others. Some of the most common restaurant kitchen flooring choices include ceramic tile, concrete, laminate and rubber flooring. From this point, we will break down some of the things that make each of these viable options for commercial kitchens.

One thing that restaurant owners and staff despise is closing the shop down for maintenance work. A faulty restaurant kitchen flooring can cause considerable difficulties to everyone involved. This is why it is important that you get it right the first time. Studying various restaurant kitchen floor ideas available and making an informed decision assumes great importance in such a scenario.

Ceramic Tile Restaurant Kitchen Flooring

Pros:

Ceramic tile flooring is a very popular choice for restaurant kitchen floors. The ability of ceramic tiles to stand up to the heavy use and abuse found in kitchens makes it an ideal choice. The color selection of tiles makes it a beautiful choice as well as a practical one. Mixing the colors to create a checkerboard effect or other design is one common use for tiles. And with some creativity, you can design a custom look with ceramic tiles. Tile is environmentally friendly because it doesn’t use petroleum products in its manufacture. As long as you get the grout sealed on tile flooring, you have a durable and readily cleanable flooring surface. That’s ideal for restaurant kitchens.

And the best things about these are they are highly durable and easy to clean.

Cons:

Along with being durable, ceramic tiles are incredibly hard. You must have rubber mats on your ceramic tile floors in your restaurant kitchen to save the staff from joint and back pain from standing on the ceramic all day. Additionally, ceramic tiles are fairly difficult to install, so if you intend to install the flooring yourself, this could be a deal breaker. Perhaps the biggest deal breaker for a restaurant kitchen floor for ceramic or porcelain tile floors is that the porous nature of ceramic and porcelain leaves them susceptible to kitchen stains, both in the tile itself as well as the grout.

Concrete Restaurant Flooring 

Pros:

Another option that is inexpensive as well as durable is to install a concrete flooring. You will want to paint or stain your concrete floor to keep it protected, and this also means you can make some really fantastic and unique design choices with concrete. As long as it is sealed well and then regularly resealed, a concrete restaurant kitchen flooring will hold up well to high traffic and other wear and tear. The best thing is that with the range of staining and painting options available, you can be as creative as your imagination allows you to be. With concrete, you can even create a faux stone look or other interesting designs, giving your restaurant kitchen flooring a custom, modern look. Concrete floors throughout a restaurant, not just in the kitchen, are very trendy and give off a charming feel, so you are seeing more and more restaurants installing concrete floors these days.

Cons:

The biggest negative to installing concrete floors in your restaurant are that they must be regularly re-sealed in order to provide lasting protection. Concrete by nature is very porous, so without regular resealing, concrete is prone to cracking and staining.

Also, similarly to porcelain or ceramic tile flooring, concrete is very hard, so you will have to use rubber flooring mats over top of the concrete floors for your staff in the kitchen. Additionally, make sure you are careful to use a sealant for the floors that will not be slick when wet or as a result of grease spills.

Rubber Restaurant Kitchen Flooring

Pros:

Rubber kitchen flooring for restaurants is also a great idea. Rubber flooring can be laid all over the kitchen floors or you can just put rubber flooring in the areas where people will be standing a great deal. Rubber flooring reduces fatigue in your legs and back that comes from standing a great deal. It also helps reduce slips on wet or greasy floors, is grease resistant, and is easy to clean. Rubber mats are very commonly used in restaurant kitchens, but if you install an entirely rubber kitchen flooring, you eliminate the tripping hazard of having rubber mats laying in areas throughout the kitchen. Kitchen staff especially will appreciate a rubber kitchen flooring in a restaurant, as it relieves back and joint pain common to those who work on their feet.

Additionally, not needing rubber mats makes for significantly easier cleaning, as the rubber mats won’t need to be dragged out of the restaurant every night to mop the kitchen flooring. Rubber flooring is also available in tiles, making it easy to install and to replace any damaged tiles without having to halt the restaurant for an expensive re-install.

Rubber floors are fire resistant, impervious to water damage, and significantly help to reduce sound echoing throughout the restaurant. If the budget allows for it and the overall look of the flooring is not as important as the functionality, I think rubber flooring tiles are the best option for a restaurant kitchen flooring.

Cons:

The biggest negative to installing a rubber flooring in a commercial or restaurant kitchen is that it is one of the most expensive flooring choices. Additionally, grease stains can cause permanent damage to rubber floors.

Laminate or Vinyl Restaurant Kitchen Flooring

Pros:

“Laminate” and “vinyl” are terms often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two different materials. The difference between laminate and vinyl is that they are manufactured types of flooring. These look very nice and can be designed to look like any style you may want in a kitchen flooring, they are inexpensive and more comfortable underfoot than ceramic, stone or concrete. Modern vinyl flooring is also water resistant, anti-microbial, and very durable.

Cons:

While vinyl and laminate are softer underfoot than concrete or ceramic, most people who will be working on their feet as long as restaurant kitchen staff typically work will still need some additional cushioning underfoot, like a rubber mat. However, there are some laminate tiles that come with a rubber matting already applied to the underside for additional comfort. Vinyl and laminate can also be slippery unless specifically made to be slip-resistant. Additionally, vinyl and laminate do not have an MOH (measure of hardness rating) as high as something like concrete or ceramic tile would, but they are fairly flexible so they do tend to stand up to wear well. However, dents, dings, and scratches are common.

Natural Stone Restaurant Kitchen Flooring

Pros:

Natural stone flooring offers a unique look to it and a high end appeal. Stone is a natural flooring choice, offering a lower environmental impact than many other restaurant kitchen flooring options. Stone tiles, typically made of granite or slate, offer a durability comparable to ceramic or concrete.

Cons:

In order to prevent slippage, stone restaurant flooring needs to be fairly abrasive. However, this can cause issues with cleanliness and health codes, as crevices and cracks are a breeding ground for bacteria. If the look of natural stone is what you are after, advancements in laminate flooring design can provide the look of natural stone without the cost of actual natural stone.

Also, similarly to porcelain or ceramic tiles, installation is involved and will most likely need to be done by a professional.

Brick Paver Restaurant Kitchen Flooring

Pros:

Brick pavers are quite possibly my favorite flooring option for a restaurant kitchen flooring, especially if the kitchen area is visible to customers. Brick pavers add dimension, color and texture to a flooring, are inexpensive and are durable. Also, as brick floors are fire and heat resistant and supremely durable, they make a great choice for a kitchen flooring.

Cons:

The negatives to using a brick flooring in a restaurant kitchen are the maintenance, the comfort underfoot, and the perviousness. Brick is very susceptible to moisture damage, and must be sealed regularly, similarly to concrete. Also, this means brick pavers can take on stains and discoloration. This additional “character” adds to the appeal of brick for some, but if perfection is the look you are going for, brick pavers are not going to be the right flooring solution in your restaurant kitchen. They do not provide the comfort underfoot that rubber mats or even laminate can offer. A brick paver restaurant kitchen is probably better reserved for a smaller restaurant kitchen, like a bakery or smaller café, rather than in a larger commercial setting.

Making The Choice For Restaurant Kitchen Flooring

Commercial kitchen floors do not have to be boring. Whether you choose ceramic tile, rubber flooring, or to paint a concrete slab, create an area that inspires everyone involved with the restaurant to be creative. If you need help making your choice, you can always consult with a professional designer who can advise you on how to transform your restaurant into a scintillating  masterpiece. Choose a commercial kitchen flooring that satisfies health department codes, provides a functional, durable work space, and fits aesthetically with the design of the restaurant, so your restaurant kitchen is a place for all involved to be proud of.

29 thoughts on “The Best Restaurant Kitchen Floor Ideas – TheFlooringlady”

  1. Hi Flooring Lady,
    I thought would inform you about a Poured in Place, UV stable, grease impervious, polyurethane sealed, pebble appearance rubberized surface called AQUA-FLEX. It is a new offering from PEBBLE-FLEX, which is a terrific outdoor surface for playgrounds, pool decks, splash-pads, patios etc. It also consists of Polyurethane Bonded Urethane Pebbles but is left porous to allow for drainage. No fading, 3/8″ of slightly cushioned deck, supreme crack resistance, easy repair, cooler than most other surfaces- it has become our sole product offering we are so pleased with it. Just figured I’d inform the Flooring Lady ;-) Please check out our website and pebbleflex dot com too.

    Reply
  2. Thank you Jason,
    Normally I delete “advertising” posts, but I checked out your website and it does appear to be a very good product. So……… I’m leaving your comment up and I thank you for dropping in and telling us about it!

    Reply
  3. I am trying to find a commercial grade laminate (wood grain) for a restaurant floor. I am concerned about sound dampening and understand there are products with a “rubberized” backing which should help in that regard. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

    Reply
  4. Hi tjk — yes, there are such products and they work well. Another alternative (pointed out to me by another reader just the other day!) is to install a layer of cork underneath regular laminate flooring. Sometimes it’s more cost effective.

    Reply
  5. We are going to be cleaning the kitchen floor area for a Cafe & Bakery. The concrete floor is 10-yrs old and was poured with color mixed in. After cleaning the floors, what do you recommend as a sealer?
    Don

    Reply
  6. I would recommend purchasing and ‘industrial’ flooring sealer, they’re usually more durable. Just be sure to buy one in the type of floor finish you want, low sheen, medium sheen, high sheen (matte, satin or glossy finish). You might also have to use a buffer to achieve the high gloss finish.

    Reply
  7. Hi, I just scrubbed a cement floor in a restaurant kitchen, so now all the grease is off…the paint is chipped and worn a lot. I would like to re-paint it using rollers. What would be the best paint for this purpose, also, muswt I put a protective layer over the paint after I paint or can I buy a product that is all in one? Thanks!

    Reply
  8. I am in the industrial, commercial, and residential flooring business. For concrete kitchen floors in a restaurant I would recommend a quartz broadcast overlay. This type of flooring is extremely durable, very slip resistant, impervious to stains, and easy to clean. There are many restaurant chains that are using this type of floor. Also a urethane overlay is a good choice for this type of application. both of these types can be power washed, steam cleaned, etc and are resistant to all types of chemicals, cleaners, de-greasers and thermal shock.
    Good luck……Bill Hallmark….Mid Continent Epoxy

    Reply
  9. looking for a 4×4 cory red tile for commercial kithen, it seems to have diamond pattern to it, where can i locate this prduct thanks jason

    Reply
  10. Question for grout that has been stained: This is a recently installed application, but already the grout is stained…it’s a church kitchen, gray quarry tile, and light gray grout. How can these stains be cleaned? Once we seal the grout, how often should we re-seal?

    Reply
  11. Hi Lanie,
    Cleaning the stained grout would depend on what it has been stained with. StainSolver is great for removing stains and would be better than OxyClean because it’s got more bleaching action. As far as sealers go, it will depend on what has been already used to seal the flooring. I would recommend sealing the entire floor, not just the grout. Any way to find out if anything was used when it was installed? Once you know, you can then choose a product to seal the entire floor – it has to be the same type of product (water based or chemical based). Have a look at the products at AquaMix to get a good idea of what types of products can be used on stone tiles.

    Reply
  12. Does anyone know: Can you paint a rubber floor? I need a cheap solution to ugly rubber tiles and I don’t want to spend a lot of money…
    Thanks!
    Michelle

    Reply
  13. Hi, I stained a new concrete floor in a restaurant kitchen and then applied clear epoxy and urethane coatings. Two months later, the coatings began to blister and look terrible. I now believe I didn’t give the concrete enough time and warmth for the water to evaporate fully, and the trapped moisture caused the lamination failure. This is a 7-day-a-week restaurant. I could clean the floor one night and apply new coatings the next, but what product can cure fast enough to be ready by 9:00 or 10:00 the next morning? Thanks. Ron

    Reply

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