You are right about the ceramic and also you would have to have a subfloor installed to install tile. Mannington floors makes a very nice luxry vinyl planf floor that looks like wood and is very easy to install It is called Adura plank and will give you the look of hardwood for a very good price.and can be installed over the existing floor .

Durability requirements are different from person to person. A ceramic floor is the most durable but will take quite a bit of preperation to get it to "install ready". A vinyl/lino option is your next most durable but will require some work if the original floor isn't perfect. A cork floating floor can be installed straight over top the old vinyl. A couple of coats of polyurethane makes it water resistant. In a communal kitchen (very close to commercial grade flooring required) a cork floor will require a coat of polyurethane every 3 years or so.

Cork will be the most comfortable but will have some of the concerns a hardwood floor will have = can be scratched. It also has the advantages of reducing pain while standing.

Durability to some = won't scratch. Durability to others = will last for 25 years (residential warranty). All of these floors can be damaged in some way. All of these floors can last 15-20 years with appropriate maintenance. The question becomes: which ways UPSETS you THE LEAST?

Larry,

You will need to lay a sub-floor as was mentioned earlier. However, I would install porcelain tiles instead of ceramic as they are much more durable and less likely to chip should something hard fall on them. Pricing for porcelain tile is coming down to ceramic levels so it shouldn't be difficult to find at a reasonable price.

Hope this helps.

Anytime. Good luck with your renovation.