Lived on tile over slab floor for 15 years or so. No question that it is hard on the knees/body, especially if you're a person who walks about barefoot. The aches/pains may be temporary from all the work you're doing at the moment.. I put engineered hardwood in all of the bedrooms (hand scraped hickory) and it was floating over an underlayment (not plywood, just a rollout underlayment). It was VERY comfortable. If I ever live on concrete slab again, I would go for the floating hardwood floor. Could always do the luxury vinyl tile/plank as well. Definitely easier on the body, in my opinion. P.S. in cold climate--- might check into adding some electric radiant (unless you're on radiant slab already) heat. For warmth, the hardwood or vinyl would be my choice. Good luck.

I agree 100% no tile floor in a space where you spen a large amount of time like a kitchen But I guess this question should have been asked before you oredered the tile. Maybe now just use those anti fatique mats in front of the range and sink.

I custom built a home 27 years ago when I was in my early 30s. I'd planned on putting a tile floor in the kitchen and hardwood throughout the rest of the first floor. During the design phase, I went to the kitchen design showroom after work dressed in heels. Hubby and I spent about 2-3 hours on our feet working with the designer. Afterwards, my back was killing me. I changed my mind and put the wood in the kitchen, skipping the tile. We also put wood in the foyer, bucking the trend to install marble or tile there. Over the years, I was so happy I made that decision. I'm now 61 and in a new build. It's totally open concept so really no other choice, but selected wood again in the kitchen.

If I were in your shoes, I'd reconsider the tile.

I like tile in a kitchen, no secret about that. In your case, ask yourself how much time you actually spend in the kitchen. If it's only for short periods during the day, then stick with the tile, standing on a hard surface for short periods of time isn't a big deal. But, if you're going to be using your kitchen a lot, it is something to reconsider if you're concerned about aches and pains. Not everyone spends a lot of time in the kitchen. I know some empty-nesters who rarely cook.

The reasons why I do not like tile in a kitchen are: (1) as you and other commenters already mentioned, it is hard on the back and feet to stand for a while to cook a meal and also to clean up afterward; (2) the grout gets grungy after a while, even if you have the newer grout that is supposed not to stain, it still gets grungy IMHO; and (3) if you drop a glass or dish on a tile floor it will 100% surely break, but if you drop on a wood floor it may or may not break because the wood has more give. I've dropped many things on my oak floors over the years that have not broken, and just a few that have.

The downside of a wood floor is that it can scratch. We do not wear shoes in the house, so that helps. We do have dogs and cats with nails, and yet the few scratches I can see only when the sun is shining directly on them. I put the felt bottoms on chair legs and replace them every year or two. It is key to get good quality wood, and also top-quality finish for a floor to stay looking nice - do not skimp on that.

We just moved into a house that has Saltillo flooring in the living room, dining room, and kitchen. It is really pretty, but it’s slippery (VERY slippery), and hard on the back and feet. I rescinded by 20-year no-shoes-in-the-house policy. And we joke all the time that this is definitely not an age-in-place situation.

I moved into my home with tile floors coming from hard wood. The truth is that your feet are going to be achy. After a month I am fine. Get yourself some comfy house shoes.

I am also in my 60's and I love tile. I have no problem standing on it and I do have many aches and pains - just not from the tile.

When we remodeled our Kitchen, we put in tile b/c we have two dogs and were concerned about scratching up anything else.

At the time, I was in my early 50s. I had no problem standing, etc., on the floor for a long time for several years. I did get a GelPro mat to stand on, so it may have been part of the reason. (I'm also a "barefoot" person, I much prefer bare feet to shoes!)

Fast forward to today when I'm in my 60s -- I now have issues whenever I spend too much time standing/working in the Kitchen. It's not just baking cookies, it's also sometimes the day-to-day cooking and cleaning up. I still have a gel mat and I now wear sneakers in the Kitchen, but I still have an aching back and feet.

My recommendation is to cancel the tile and go with something else that's "softer".

We're planning to redo most of the other flooring in our home and I'm seriously considering replacing the tile with hardwood, LVT, cork, or other (still looking at options).

Regarding Shannon's list of issues -- ALL are true! (Our grout is supposedly the "no stain" grout, but it has definitely stained - it stained as early as just 3 to 5 years after installation.)

Bottom line -- I definitely regret the tile now!

I am also 60 and did not want tile because of my bad knees and grout. Me and grout have an ongoing battle because I am a clean freak. I can't even imaging dealing with it in the kitchen, it is bad enough in the bathrooms. I am constantly using vinegar and steam, or scrubber attached to a drill and believe me it gets old.

If I wasn't able to save the wood floors under the linoleum and sub floor I was going with LVT. Much easier to clean and much less stress on the knees.

My in-laws had a beautiful MCM home, and replaced the original (cork?) flooring with porcelain tile after a flood. FWIW, soon thereafter they were beset with back and leg pain that continued for the rest of their lives. Whenever I visited for a weekend, my back would hurt until I left. I have hardwood flooring, and love it.

All of this is moot since you already ordered it. Yes, for older folks it is not best choice.

But, you didn't say how old you are. It might be fine.

That said, you may need to invest in those cushioned kitchen mats. Place one at sink, one at the stove if you find you are having an issue.

I wish you have here first. Another is luxury vinyl tiless or planks. So easy on the knees and back.

For the reasons stated above I don't like tile. I'm in a cold climate. My bath has a tile floor over an insulated garage. The tile is freezing in winter. It is like walking on ice. The floor is nothing but bath mats because of the cold. I can only imagine the tile ontop of concrete. My basment is carpet and in the dead of winter I could still feel the cold radiating up through the concrete when my office was down there. I would use LVP, laminate, wood (not a fan of) , or linoleum.

I’ve always had tile in my kitchens and so that’s the choice that I went with when we renovated our kitchen five years ago. All was good until the last couple years. I’m in my early 60’s now and standing on the tile to prep meals causes pain in my hips and back. Our next kitchen will definitely not be tile.

Working your %#& off to prep a kitchen for remodel isn't the same as normal kitchen use. :)

Check out linoleum (not vinyl. I mean vinyl is okay but linoleum is awesome.). It's really nice. Warm, squishy, seamless, easy to care for (no you don't have to wax it or whatever that guy who always logs in to say linoleum is bad says), just generally nice. Forbo's Marmoleum comes in a color for everything.

If you go with the tile you can have anti-fatigue mats where you work if needed. Rugs can be tripping hazards as we age but if you just have them in front of the sink, prep, and cooking areas, you'll get trained pretty well on where they are.

Tile is super easy to clean and inexpensive. Get yourself a good pair of slippers and you’ll be fine. Older people should always wear footwear with nonslip soles. Tile is not that much harder than wood or vinyl; just don’t wear nonsupportive crap on your feet.

My husband loves LL Beane moccasin slippers and I prefer Vionics (so does Oprah).

Another thumb up for Marmoleum! I have it in my laundry room and it makes me happy every time I open that door. Comfortable and comes in a gazillion colors and patterns.

Love my porcelain tile. Just hate that the grout lines get dirty. I love how durable it is. I think there are matts you can use to help with leg fatigue in the kitchen. I have not noticed any issues, but I dont cook much. I also wear my tennis shoes in the house.

Just adding that I had it installed with some sort of presealed grout. It’s amazing how easy it is to clean the grout. I would recommend looking for this if you can find it.

Fori, I never had linoleum until we bought our camp a few years ago. It is over a barely heated basement and some over a crawl space. I was surprised the first winter that it was warm on the feet. It is 30 years old and not a dent, scratch, rip or tear in it. I just mop it with vinegar water with a little baby oil in it. I heard it is costly though.

Linoleum is one of my favorite things in my sorta vintage-ish kitchen. You can also use radiant heat under it (which I do not have).

I have 5/8 engineered wood floors throughout my house. Most of them are over plywood subfloor, portions are an addition that has a concrete slab. It’s shocking how different the two areas feel- you can tell I mediator when you go from the older portion to the addition. That said, the wood glued to the slab basically feels the same as the tile in my bathrooms…

"My husband and I are in our 60's. I'm seriously considering cancelling the order and sending it back."

Yes, Lori did say how old they are. She also said that she is considering cancelling the order or sending the tile back.