The floor covering for kitchen floors should be moisture resistant and easy and quick to clean from grease stains.
Traditionally, tiles were used for this purpose. In recent years, laminate flooring in the kitchen has begun to replace cold, slippery ceramics.
Expert opinion
Eduard Radikhovsky
She has been working at the Decorico design agency for 14 years. Shares his experience on the old days of our online magazine.
Ask a Question
This material looks attractive and you can walk on it without warm slippers. Especially for rooms where water may be spilled, manufacturers have created types of coating that are resistant to moisture.
What is the difference between waterproof and moisture-resistant laminate
There are three categories of laminate:
- Ordinary. This type of flooring becomes deformed and becomes unusable when wet.
- Moisture resistant. The material has an outer coating that allows you to briefly protect the floor from contact with water.
- Water resistant. The coating retains its appearance and does not deform even when completely immersed in liquid. Class 34 waterproof has these qualities.
How to turn regular laminate into waterproof
You can turn cheap material into waterproof material at home.
To protect the floor from moisture, you will have to treat each lamella separately with wax or mastic before installation. Water-repellent agents are periodically applied to the interlocking joints and the floor. Wax creates a protective film that allows the coating to resist moisture.
Important! Mastics are applied using a brush. Almost all mixtures are sold ready-to-use. To avoid making mistakes, you should first read the manufacturer’s recommendations on the packaging.
Which laminate is better to choose for the kitchen?
In specialized stores where a wide range of floor coverings are presented, it is difficult for the consumer to make a choice. Napple flooring offers a wide selection of flooring and related products. Which laminate is best for the kitchen? Recommended class 34 laminate flooring for the kitchen, more expensive than conventional flooring.
The manufacturer of this product additionally treats the locking surfaces of the slats with wax. When installing products, paraffin seals the joints, preventing water from seeping through the cracks.
Structure and materials of waterproof slats
Wet, slippery floors can cause injury. The floor in the kitchen should have a rough matte surface. Multilayer lamellas with water-repellent impregnation can have a PVC coating or a plastic base.
On sale you can find:
- Cork laminate. The coating has a multilayer structure. Paper and resins are used to make it. A decorative cork layer and PVC film are applied to the slats.
- Modular marmoleum. The top layer of finishing material is made of linoleum. Marmoleum is environmentally friendly, moisture resistant, and does not fade. There are models on sale from 21 to 40 classes.
The kitchen floor can be covered with any laminated material that has a sufficient margin of safety.
Key rules for combining
There are several unspoken rules regarding mixed gender. They will allow you to create a beautiful and noble composition that will become a worthy decoration of any room.
Light shades of materials should be used in small rooms with low levels of natural light. They visually enlarge the room and make it more spacious.
A dark floor is suitable for a large room with high ceilings. In most cases, it looks a little more luxurious and sophisticated.
However, dark coatings are dirty. Therefore, they will require more thorough and frequent cleaning, possibly also using special products.
We must not forget that warm tones should be combined exclusively with warm ones; The problem is also with cold shades. To make the composition look thoughtful and neat, it will be good if the laminate design contains at least one of the colors found on the tiles.
If your tiles have an intricate and eye-catching design, you should choose laminate in soothing shades. For multi-colored planks that have an unusual pattern, you will need a second solid material.
In order for such combinations to look neat and complete, it is necessary to take care of the correct finishing of the junction of materials. For these purposes they usually use:
- The most resistant metals are considered: aluminum, brass or steel. They are not subject to mechanical damage, but may look too rough in light, bright rooms with an abundance of textiles and glass elements.
- Wooden boards. They have a more aesthetic appearance, but are not suitable for compositions with rounded edges.
- Plastic moldings. They are distinguished by their low cost and a large number of colors.
- Cork substrates. Thanks to the plasticity of this material, it is possible to qualitatively fill the entire space between the slats and the tiles, while the seam will become almost invisible. It is worth noting that cork has excellent shock-absorbing properties, ensures reliability and stability of the structure and is easily hidden by any decorative elements.
- They are presented in a wide range, depending on the main component included in their composition. This can be construction foam, putty or silicone mortar. They are quite easy to use, hide the seam well, but have a short shelf life. This means that you will need to constantly monitor their condition and reapply them regularly.
- Specialized profiles. For example, Step Flex. Their advantage is that they can take any necessary shape, that is, they are suitable for decorating the most non-standard patterns. In addition, they have edges that are curved downwards, which ensures a strong and tight fit to other materials.
The combination of tiles and laminate will give your interior a stylish design that will remain relevant and in demand for a long time. These materials are considered very practical and easy to use.
Thanks to them, each space will acquire a new look that will delight you and your guests for more than a year.
Color and texture of waterproof laminate
The question remains: how to choose laminate for the kitchen, what factors need to be taken into account. The finishing material looks good if its color and texture are logically connected with the rest of the objects in the room. Gray laminate in the kitchen can be combined with the colors of wallpaper and furniture:
- white;
- red;
- black;
- lilac;
- purple;
- silver - pink.
In a kitchen with gray furniture and walls, the floor of the same color looks dull and dull. There are fans of monochrome design solutions; in pictures such interiors look unusual. In reality, monochromatic interiors quickly become boring.
In stores, most of the samples imitate wooden parquet. Some models can be confused with tiles. When choosing the right option, take into account the style of the interior.
Choice of coating colors
Color is a matter of personal taste. Of course, there are selection criteria based on the color of the kitchen unit, the style of wall decoration, etc. But the priority in this case has always been and will be the personal view of the kitchen owner on this or that material, its color and the general sensations that a person has that serve as a measure of the suitability of the coating.
All recommendations in this case are ineffective, although there are many tips on how to choose the color of laminate for a large or small kitchen . Thus, it is believed that material that is too dark over a large area begins to dominate and attract the eye.
A light coating is more neutral in this regard. In addition, dark surfaces make dust, scratches or crumbs of debris more noticeable, which constantly appear in the kitchen while cooking. One way or another, the choice is a personal matter for the owner.
Strength classes
The wear resistance of the floor covering is determined based on test results. Requirements for product quality, methods and methods for calculating the load are described in GOST. The standard contains a list of tests for prototypes:
- abrasion resistance;
- impact resistance (a small metal ball is shot into the part);
- resistance to moving furniture, chairs on wheels;
- fire resistance (from a dropped cigarette, spark);
- resistance to stains (juice, fruit, oil);
- moisture resistance (swelling rate).
The load class and technical characteristics of the product are determined based on the results of product research. Until recently, classes 21, 22, 23 were recommended for home use, and classes 31 to 34 for use in industrial premises.
Over the past few years, low safety products have disappeared, so priorities have shifted. The floors in apartments and country houses are covered with class 31-32 coatings; for the kitchen and bathroom they buy class 34. What class of laminate is intended for private housing is indicated on the labeling
Design Features
When working on the style, it is important to assess the size of the board. Typically, rectangular variations are used for the kitchen, the length of which is 1200 mm. The width should not exceed 200 mm. It is important to note that there are various variations on the market, with a wide variety of elements in width and length.
The second position is associated with the presence or absence of a chamfer. If the product is sharpened to look like wood, then the latter has special grooves. They set a non-standard effect and allow you to specify a non-standard design.
Important! When choosing, pay attention to the markings 2V and 4V, which indicate the number of sides with a chamfer.
It is important to pay attention to the design of the laminate - it is often designed to look like wood, which looks quite beautiful
As for design, wood-look variations are currently popular. That is why solutions called “oak”, “ash” and so on are presented on the market. Each option has a nuance. For example, oak has more than 50 of them. The pattern on the planks may differ. The more expensive the material, the more varied the pattern will be presented. Products imitated with natural stone deserve special consideration, as they allow for heat retention and a non-standard design.
Methods and nuances of laying laminate flooring in the kitchen
Floor coverings are laid in rooms with high humidity in two ways:
- Glue. This method consists of treating the locking joints of each lamella with a sealant or any other composition of a similar effect.
- Use of waterproof grades of material. Use impregnated, ready-to-lay laminate.
During industrial processing, the boards are repeatedly impregnated with chemical compounds and evenly covered with an insulating film. As a result, the quality of products and their ability to withstand loads increases several times. This effect is difficult to achieve using the artisanal method of applying mastic.
Stepson rules
Two weeks after planting the seedlings, pinching is carried out. During this period, the plant grows by 5-7 cm, which indicates that they are ready for this treatment. Stepping is carried out in the morning. Carefully form a bush, removing the lower leaves, ovaries in the axils and additional stems. The treatment is carried out in such a way that the bush has a maximum of two good, thick stems. It is advisable to remove all other branches.
Further, for high-quality development, it is necessary to observe the correct feeding and watering regime throughout the entire period of tomato growth. Only in this case can a rich and high-quality harvest be achieved.
Rules of care
Laminate floors require proper maintenance. The coating is vacuumed, swept, and wiped with a damp cloth. Immediately after this, wipe with a dry soft cloth.
To prevent potholes and scratches from forming on the top layer, it is recommended to put covers on furniture legs.
Stains are removed with special cleaning agents. Cutting and sharp objects should not be used. Dirt, splashes from juice, and wine are removed immediately so that they do not have time to become embedded. If the housewife is in doubt about which gel or powder to choose, she needs a less aggressive product.
Laminate and warm floor
To avoid trouble, you need to look at the markings of the laminated material. Not all models are suitable for heated floors. A laminate with a special protective film is suitable for this. This building material has increased strength and is resistant to moisture.
How to calculate quantity
The number of slats can be calculated only if you know the exact area of the room, width, and length of the working surface of the slats.
You can make a drawing on paper, use it to calculate the number of parts required to lay one square meter, then multiply the result by the footage of the home.
Popular laminate manufacturers
Products from well-known companies are in demand among consumers:
- Pergo;
- Berry Alloc;
- Kaindl;
https://youtu.be/gX7Dy-W2q30
- Kronotex;
- Balterio;
- CLASSEN;
- Tarkett;
- Quick-Step.
Reviews of laminate flooring in the kitchen
Buyers who have installed laminate flooring in the kitchen receive good reviews from those who purchased the appropriate class of material. People who have saved on quality remain dissatisfied with the fact that the floors require additional care.
Kristina, Moscow
We installed laminate flooring in the kitchen two years ago. We also had to install a washing machine because there is no room in the bathroom. Six months later the washer leaked. It’s good that I saw it in time and wiped off all the water. I think if the laminate was not moisture resistant, the entire coating would have to be changed.
Zakhar, Murmansk
We have a small child, so it was immediately decided to lay moisture-resistant laminate flooring in the kitchen. But! We also have heated floors installed. We didn’t decide for a long time, because whatever you say, it’s chemistry... But we were convinced of the quality of one good laminate. By the way, the markings made it possible to lay them on a warm floor. It seems like no problem. It really costs more, I would say significantly more, but it’s been in the kitchen for three years now!
Nikita, Arkhangelsk
I am convinced that if there is a kitchen, then it is either tiles or moisture-resistant laminate. There is no other option. An ordinary laminate will become unusable in a maximum of a year if you do not carefully monitor it and do not immediately wipe off moisture and water... It’s up to you
Color spectrum
Laminate slats perfectly imitate wood panels, ranging from the lightest types of wood to the darkest, most saturated colors.
Note!
- Kitchen floor tiles: pros and cons of tile flooring. The best kitchen design ideas with photo reviews
Kitchen floor: TOP-140 photos of flooring ideas, pros and cons of varieties. Choosing flooring materials in the kitchen
- Linoleum for the kitchen - master classes on installing linoleum in the kitchen interior. The best design ideas and color schemes (120 photos)
The second popular option is laminate flooring for kitchen tiles, which allows you to decorate the kitchen in a traditional finish, but without the coldness of stone or ceramics.
Photo of laminate flooring in the kitchen
After looking through a photo catalog in a specialized shopping center or on the Internet, you can choose a laminated flooring design for the premises in your apartment.
The photo shows how to properly combine bright furniture with cool gray floors.
How do you like the article?
