Kitchen flooring needs to meet special criteria. It should be non–slip, suitable for high foot traffic, resistant to staining and moisture resistant. Furthermore kitchen floors should be hard enough to withstand scratches and other damages. The non–slip properties are usually obtained from a matte or textured finish which are becoming increasingly popular over gloss finishes.

There are a variety of stone floor options to choose from for kitchen flooring, but marble is typically not recommended. Marble is medium–high when rated on a hardness scale but is highly porous and susceptible to staining, especially with acids. Marble is actually limestone that has crystallized because of the higher heat to which it was exposed at the formative stage.

Limestone is porous, relatively soft and stains easily. Limestone floors are available in varying hardness; nonetheless it is not the ideal choice for kitchen flooring which is a high–traffic area liable to damage.

Granite is a volcanic rock that has been quarried from great depths. It is extremely hard–wearing which makes granite floors a great choice for kitchens. However granite is susceptible to stains with the advantage that these can usually be removed.

Slate is another good kitchen flooring option. It has fine grains that reveal a textured rustic appearance. Slate floors are non–porous and have a high resistance to staining. It is extremely durable and far more slip resistant than marble, granite or limestone.

Travertine flooring is another good choice because of its durability and resistance to acids and bases. Travertine has natural pits which some contractors prefer to leave as is to give it a rougher more slip–resistant surface.