The kitchen, in residential units, tops the list as the busiest room in the entire home, and it, therefore, is the ultimate face of the home.
As such, keeping it clean, neat, and fresh, ceramic tiles come in handy.
From its versatility to water resistance, ceramic tiles improve the value and essence. With this in mind, let us find the answers to all questions related to the tiling of the kitchen.
1. What Is The Total Area Of The Kitchen Floor?
The smallest kitchen floor has surface areas of 70 sq. feet. The average-sized kitchen floor is 160 sq. feet, and the largest is 200 sq. feet.
In most cases, the size of the kitchen is relative to the size of the home, which factors in the number of people that would live in the home as everyone in the household will access the kitchen at least once a day.
Depending on the structural layout of the kitchen, whether it is square, triangular, or otherwise, the space that becomes available after cabinets have been installed should be enough to handle the following;
- Workspace.
- Flow of traffic
- Storage
There are four types of shape or layout from which a kitchen can take its form.
- L- Shaped
- U- Shaped
- Peninsula or G-Shaped
- Gallery shaped
Regardless of the initial shape of the kitchen area, the arrangement of all kitchen accessories will leave the kitchen with a workspace best known as the work triangle.
2. How Long Does It Take To Tile The Kitchen Floor?
Typically, an individual with moderate skills can tile the floor in around 12 hours, while an expert can tile the floor in as little as 10 hours.
But if the person handling the project has an extra pair of hands to handle the job, then less than a day is quite sufficient.
Remember that grouting is done at least 24hours after the tiles have been laid to allow the adhesive to dry off.
But that does not guarantee that the kitchen is automatically ready for use after finishing another day or more (depending on the agency); keeping the kitchen after the job has been successfully done is good.
This will allow the tiles and the grouting to dry off without interference, which affects the floor’s longevity.
Can You Tile A Kitchen In A Day?
A kitchen with a smaller surface area can be tiled in a day, but a much bigger kitchen will need more hours to do the job.
Part of laying down the tiles is preparing the subfloor with adhesive and skillfully filling the spaces between tiles.
These are mainly the things that will slow down the process, but in general, a well-done job is done with patience and care.
In the case of a renovation, the job will take up more time than when laying tiles on a brand new kitchen.
This is true because the old tiles in place need to be removed and the floor prepared for the task ahead.
3. What Will It Cost To Tile A Kitchen Floor?
Based on the area code and the type of tiles used, a medium-size kitchen of roughly 130-160 square feet will cost anywhere between $800 and $2,000 to purchase and install the tile.
This is in consideration that the tile’s size is 1-foot square, and each cost an average of $1-$3 or $7-$35 per square meter.
9 1ft square tiles make 1 square meter.
Assuming that labor will cost an average of $7-$14 per square foot or $175 a day, it then means that the total labor cost of tiling a standard kitchen will be $91 – $200.
This is, of course, the rough estimate of the whole project if the job should be completed in a day.
Otherwise, an additional $200 or so might still be needed.
Below is a table of contents outlining the estimated cost of tiling the kitchen, considering the size of the floor and the cost of material against the cost of labor per square foot.
| Square ft. | Material cost | Labor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3 | $10 | $13 |
| 100 | $300 | $1000 | $1300 |
| 240 | $720 | $2400 | $3120 |
4. Can You Tile A Kitchen Floor Without Removing Cabinets?
Yes, it is possible to tile the kitchen with pre-existing cabinets, but it needs wits and a sharp mind to maneuver through the challenges and skillfully execute the task.
In the right order of things, tiles should always go under cabinets to present a brilliant finish with no rough or unprofessionally done edges.
However, every now and again, a case of pre-existing cabinets arises, necessitating the use of off-the-shelf abilities. So, can you replace kitchen floor tiles without removing cabinets? Find out more here.
One of the best ways to tackle the problem is by peeling off the existing tiles then cutting off the tiles underneath the cabinets.
This is not an easy task, and the tiles might break in the wrong places creating gaps that must be filled.
5. How Hard Is It To Tile A Kitchen Floor?
Tiling isn’t difficult! it is, however, laborious and time-consuming thus it’s something that takes a bit of preparation.
Here is why tiling of the kitchen is considered a delicate job:
- The kitchen floor sees a lot of movement daily. This, therefore, means it carries a lot of weight. If the tiles are not laid outright, their lifespan will be compromised, and financial loss will be witnessed.
- The kitchen is the face of the home; the size of tiles chosen, color variations, pattern, and the type of tiles to use are the prerogatives of a seasoned and skilled professional.
This goes without saying that the wrong choice in any of the above will negatively affect the project’s outcome.
- Any kitchen makeover or upgrade eventually elevates the general value of a home in the event of a home sale. And because tiling costs money already, it is in the homeowner’s best interest to have the kitchen professionally tiled to make gains in the long run.
So is laying kitchen tiles a hard job? Probably not.
The decisions made, however, about every aspect of the kitchen, including the layout, is imperative to:
- Longevity of the tiles
- The outlook of the entire project
- Water resistance
- Distribution of weight, among others.
6. 5 Tips About Tiling Your Kitchen
Tiling the kitchen is the ultimate and all-tile renovation/remodeling style that will elevate your kitchen and boost the market value of your home.
Here are the things you should know;
- Adds aesthetic to the home
- Makes it easy to clean
- The tiles come before any furniture
- Bigger tiles used in bigger rooms
- Tiles last longer
Aesthetics
Most tiles are either glossy with tone variations and come in different patterns. And because the concrete floor on itself is quite plain, tiling the kitchen brings in the sense of style and color to the kitchen.
This is considering that the kitchen is a visible area and one of the busiest in the entire home.
Consider that aesthetics is value in return.
Easy Maintenance
Tiles have certain attributes such as;
- Easy to clean and therefore it makes it easy to maintain hygiene.
- Its glossy surface makes it hard to stain.
- It is water-resistant so the kitchen does not grow mold because water and moisture are not absorbed into the fabric of the building.
First Things First
In the correct order of things, the tiles in the kitchen should be installed first to ensure that they offer the base for other kitchen furniture.
But with humans, everything has an exception, and anything is possible.
That is why during kitchen renovations, new tiles can be installed with tearing apart cabinets.
This saves time and money in the end.
Bigger Tiles, Bigger Rooms
One thing about bigger tiles is that they are much easier to install in terms of time and logistics.
The other is that bigger tiles make rooms appear more spacious.
This goes a long way in saving money both in the purchase of materials and in the cost of labor.
Tiles Last Longer
Tiles last longer, that’s true.
It means that it gives the owner a lifetime of service or if it needs to be replaced then it is not until many years have passed.
This brings ease to the pocket and adds satisfaction to one’s life.
Final Thought
After all, it is said and done, the kitchen space can be efficient meaning that only the necessary personnel can access the kitchen to limit foot traffic.
As such, it creates more space for the use of the counter or the kitchen space could be sufficient enough to enable sufficient storage, workspace as well as handle movement.
Tilling, in general, is quite expensive but very affordable for the long term as the purchase of the right tile that will suit your kitchen.
In addition, the correct and skillful installation will make your kitchen go for many years without the need to change or renovate.
