The range of floor coverings is very wide. Choosing the right material for finishing the floor in the kitchen is quite difficult. Kitchen coverings must meet special requirements. One of the main requirements is durability, because kitchen flooring is exposed to many negative factors: dirt, soot, high temperature, frequent washing.
It is important to find a balance between aesthetics and practicality of flooring. The coating must not only serve for a long time, but also be part of the interior.
Before purchasing coverage, you need to consider some nuances. The floor should not be afraid of grease, moisture and scratches, it should be easy to clean and remove difficult stains.
You can divide the kitchen into zones, and use several types of coating in each. Any type of flooring is suitable for the dining area, but for the working area – a durable and non-deforming coating.
The material for flooring can be different: tiles, granite, linoleum, laminate, natural or artificial stone.
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Linoleum
The most popular option is linoleum. This material is practical, high quality and easy to clean.
It is resistant to damage that occurs in the kitchen. It is not afraid of humidity and steam, the pattern hardly wears off over time. The material does not require special care; simply sweep and wipe with a damp cloth.
When sharp objects fall, marks may remain that cannot be corrected later, so you need to be careful with knives and forks. The fall of heavy objects, for example, a pan, will not affect the well-groomed appearance of the surface.
Linoleum is often used in various rooms due to its low price and large selection of colors. In addition to color, you can choose to imitate any surface: marble, tile, stone, wood or parquet board.
The disadvantage of the coating is subsidence. It occurs due to heavy furniture and is visible when rearranged. But if you don’t like permutations, then this minus will not be noticeable.
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You can lay linoleum yourself, if you have the necessary tools with you.
Prices
For comparison, we calculated the cost of each material for laying 9 sq.m. in a kitchen. Prices are average for the market and are indicated without taking into account the cost of work and consumables.
Material/Price | Lowest, c.u. | Average, c.u. | Dear, u.e. | Very expensive, e.g. |
Tile | 125 | 400 | 700 or more | 4000 or more |
Porcelain tiles | 100 | 500 | 900 or more | 3000 or more |
Laminate | ||||
31st grade | 30 | 70 | 200 or more | |
32nd grade | 35 | 120 | 200 or more | |
33rd grade | 40 | 130 | 200 or more | |
34th grade | 50 | 210 | 300 or more | |
Linoleum | 20 | 45 | 70 or more | |
Cork | 140 | 190 | 400 or more | |
Tree | 60 | 100 | 150 or more | |
Self-leveling floor | From 200 to 900 or more |
Laminate
Although this coating has good characteristics, it should not be laid in the work area.
It is difficult to remove stains from it and does not like moisture. More suitable for a work area.
There are types of laminate that are suitable for installing heated floors.
Or maybe a combination?
It is difficult to definitively answer the question of what type of flooring to choose for the kitchen. Each of the materials discussed above has its own advantages and disadvantages, positive and negative characteristics. This is probably why designers advise combining two types of coating at once. This should be done taking into account the functions of the space.
The most common option is when tiles and laminate are combined in one kitchen. The first material is indispensable for the work area - the place next to the sink and stove, refrigerator and work surfaces. And warm laminate flooring is ideal for the dining area. The main thing to consider is that both materials must be the same thickness, otherwise you will constantly trip.
A good tandem of tiles and linoleum. It also helps to zone the kitchen space, but at the same time is cheaper than laminate flooring. The symbiosis of porcelain stoneware and laminate looks stylish and expensive. In those places that are exposed to grease and water, it is recommended to lay porcelain stoneware - preferably matte, because it does not slip, washes well and is not afraid of the effects of household chemicals.
Ceramic tile
Ceramic is an excellent coating option. It is convenient and practical to use. The advantage is the price and various design solutions.
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Caring for the surface is very simple - just sweep and wash with a cloth. Almost all detergents are suitable for it, so it won’t be difficult to choose.
Moisture does not damage the tiles, so it does not matter how often you spill water. Rough glossy tiles are better suited for the kitchen, because glossy smooth surfaces often cause people to slip and get injured.
The disadvantage of tiles is the cold. For those who are used to walking barefoot, it is better to choose a different covering option or install a heated floor. It is also very fragile; when heavy and sharp objects fall, chips and cracks appear, and replacing the damaged area is difficult.
First, consider the initial data of the kitchen
Look at your kitchen with an open mind: what size is it, whether it is dark or light, think about the chosen interior style. It is worth adding to this list how often you cook, what kind of family you have, whether you have pets, how much time you are willing to spend on cleaning and how often you will do it.
It is clear that if a person lives alone, the only pet he has is a cactus on the window, he runs into the kitchen in the morning to drink coffee, and in the evening to prepare a quick dinner, then the coating may be more demanding to clean. There won't be much to wash or clean. But if you have a large family, there are children, cats and dogs, then in order to save energy, nerves, and time, it is worth choosing a material that will not cause much trouble.
But that's not all: you also need to think about comfort. Is your apartment warm? What floor do you live on or is it a private house? And here we move on to an important point, namely floor insulation.
Parquet
Wear resistance is the main advantage of parquet. A variety of colors and shades are produced.
This is not the cheapest material, but it is environmentally friendly and safe for humans, beautiful and pleasant to the senses. It is not suitable for the kitchen due to its low moisture resistance. It can additionally be treated with varnish, but it is still not recommended to spill the liquid.
For the kitchen, parquet boards in dark shades are suitable for 100% stain removal. Installation and processing is expensive, but it is cheaper than laying a wooden floor
"Liquid linoleum" or self-leveling floor
Self-leveling polymer coating, also called “liquid linoleum,” has appeared recently. It has the longest service life of any synthetic flooring material. It can be created according to your own drawings, which allows you to create a different interior. It can visually enlarge the space because it simulates the effect in 3D.
An excellent option, it attracts with its variety of patterns and lack of seams, reliability and practicality.
A flight of fancy will give you the opportunity to come up with an individual design.
A negative feature of the coating is the destruction of the entire surface if it is necessary to dismantle it.
Among its practical properties, “liquid linoleum” has good waterproofing, hygroscopicity and water resistance. It is a harmless, environmentally friendly and biologically resistant material because it is made from epoxy or polyurethane resin.
In the future, if you decide to make a kitchen floor from a different material, then self-leveling will serve as an ideal base because it is even and smooth.
To install it, you need to invite a specialist with experience, because the filling process is not simple. Therefore, the cost of self-leveling flooring will be high.
What else could a kitchen flooring be like?
In this section we will talk about less common materials and methods. Partly these are new materials, partly they are not very popular due to their high cost or not the most suitable characteristics.
Kitchen flooring made of cork (left) and self-leveling floors (right)
Laminate
Laminate is a popular material for flooring. It perfectly imitates a wooden surface and creates an atmosphere of comfort and tranquility. There are different color solutions - from almost white to almost black. There are even colored options - painted wood. In general, from an aesthetics point of view, everything is good. It also feels good - your feet are comfortable and warm, the laminate floor is easy to clean, it absorbs shocks well, so dropped dishes hit less often.
But from a practicality point of view, installing laminate flooring in the kitchen is not the most brilliant idea. Yes, there are moisture-resistant types. But moisture resistance is about the surface, and the side edges remain the same material - pressed paper. If the puddle on the floor is not removed for a long time (everyone is at work) - several hours - then the moisture-resistant laminate swells, and after drying it remains warped.
Even moisture-resistant laminate swells after prolonged contact with water.
It is also worth noting the high cost of moisture-resistant laminate (33 classes) - from $10 to $40 per square meter. The work is estimated at $3-6 per square, depending on the complexity of the installation scheme and the qualifications of the craftsman. Apparently this is why this type of flooring for kitchens is not very popular.
Read how to lay laminate flooring with your own hands here.
Cork covering
Cork flooring in the kitchen is used even less often than laminate. But it’s not the characteristics of the material that are to blame for this, but its price—it turns out to be an expensive pleasure. The coating itself costs from $15 to $50 per square meter, installation services - from $7 per square meter. This is provided that the base is perfectly smooth and clean.
Cork for the kitchen
Floor cork is available with or without backing. It is better to take it to the kitchen without a backing. The substrate is the same as on the laminate - MDF, but it reacts poorly to water (swells). When using an adhesive plug, it is glued to the floor with special glue and covered with 2-3 layers of varnish, which creates a waterproof film. With this installation, even a flood is not scary.
Cork kitchen flooring looks very stylish, creates a feeling of coziness, and is easy to clean (due to the applied varnish). But if the water remains for a long time, the varnish turns white. You can restore its transparency, but it takes a long time. In general, beautiful, expensive, cozy.
Porcelain tiles
Porcelain stoneware kitchen flooring is durable and beautiful. This material is painted in mass, very dense and hard. So abrasions, even if they form, are not visible. The material has the same advantages and disadvantages as ceramic tiles, only the material itself is more expensive (from $10 per square meter) and the work on laying it is also from $10-12 per square.
Porcelain tiles can be polished or not
Why is it rarely used? Firstly, this is not a cheap pleasure. Secondly, your feet are cold, and heating is ineffective - the slabs are thick and the thermal conductivity is low. And thirdly, it looks beautiful, but on large areas.
Self-leveling floors or liquid linoleum
This technology appeared relatively recently, so not many people know about this possibility. First of all, self-leveling floors are useful when leveling the base. This solution has the property of self-leveling - it is distributed over the surface, and it levels itself, forming a perfectly flat surface. On this base you can put any other floor covering you have chosen for the kitchen, or you can do the finishing using the same technology - use a polymer self-leveling floor or acrylic with the ability to make it with a 3D effect. This technology is also called “liquid linoleum,” although this is far from the same thing.
Polymer and acrylic self-leveling flooring in the kitchen
Polymer self-leveling floor - plain, matte or glossy, with varying degrees of gloss. The surface can be flat and smooth, or it can be rough. Acrylic is a transparent polymer, under which a film with a pattern is placed on a prepared base. This drawing is filled with liquid acrylic, resulting in a three-dimensional image.
It is difficult to say in general about the cost of self-leveling flooring. It all depends on the amount of preparatory work. You remember that first you need to level the base. Moreover, it is advisable to use a leveler, and then the finishing composition of the self-leveling floor so that the deviation is no more than 1 mm per square. Only applying the polymer composition without preparation costs from $5 per square meter. If this is an option with a 3D drawing - from $15. All preparatory work is assessed separately. In general, the idea is not cheap, but the result is excellent both in appearance and in performance.
Vinyl tiles
This material is new. It is called vinyl or PVC tiles, design tiles, or LVT from the English name luxury vinyl tile. To put it simply, this is vinyl linoleum cut into pieces. Geometry can be different - squares, rectangles, complex shapes. It can be laid according to the same patterns as laminate or parquet; you can come up with unique combinations, since there are more colors, as well as geometric shapes.
Assortment in one small store and this is only one type
Vinyl tiles differ from their predecessor - linoleum - in the form of release (cut into pieces) and the method of installation. Some are made from pure vinyl, some with the addition of quartz sand. This material is called quartz-vinyl tiles (sometimes spelled together - quartz-vinyl coating). Quartz vinyl is more dense and wear-resistant. Area of application - areas with high load (commercial premises with high traffic). This material will last a long time at home. If you don’t need such durability (like to change the design often), choose from pure PVC (class 32-42 is suitable for the kitchen).
Laying and types of tiles
In terms of substrate requirements, vinyl tiles have more stringent requirements. It should be smooth and rigid. Suitable for concrete, cement floors, CSP or self-leveling screed, plywood, OSB, chipboard. Such tiles cannot be laid on a soft porous base (old linoleum). Moreover, this base should have a difference of no more than 2 mm per 2 meters of area with two extreme points (the lowest and highest point).
There are several different types of PVC tiles and several different installation methods:
- Tiles that are glued with special glue (it is indicated in the instructions which one is preferable to use).
- Self-adhesive. The back side is coated with adhesive and protected with paper. Before installation, it is removed and pressed to the base. She connects one tile to another end-to-end. the geometry is good, there are no problems on a level surface.
- With adhesive locks. In this case, the tile itself is not glued to the base. The coating turns out to be floating, incoherent and almost monolithic, since the locks are wide - several centimeters, and covered with an adhesive composition. Adhesive lock on vinyl tiles. This option is preferable as a floor covering for the kitchen.
- With mechanical locks. This type of vinyl tile is also not glued to the base; the fragments are connected to each other using the tongue-and-groove principle.
How this material compares favorably with linoleum and laminate is its ease of installation. With any installation method, do-it-yourself installation is no problem, with little time investment. The most important thing is to choose the design you want to create. It is cut with a regular stationery knife. A gap must be left around the perimeter of the room to compensate for thermal expansion (which specific one is indicated on the packaging, since different materials can be used).
Advantages and disadvantages
If we talk about the price, it is comparable to commercial linoleum, but has an even longer service life, is easier to install and clean (even models with relief). It may look very similar to parquet or laminate, or it may look like tiles, porcelain stoneware, marble, etc. Underfoot it feels about like laminate flooring - warm, but not as loud (doesn’t “click” when you walk).
May look like parquet Another option for a “parquet” layout is made of vinyl tiles. This looks like ceramic tiles or porcelain tiles.
The surface is hard and is not pressed down by heels or furniture (including furniture on wheels). This is all based on reviews from those already using it. From all this we can conclude that this kitchen flooring is an excellent choice and its only drawback is the high price, but it is compensated by its long service life.
Wooden floor
Natural wood flooring has been popular in ancient times. Because it was the only thing that was better to make flooring out of. It is very expensive compared to linoleum and laminate, even if you find an inexpensive type of wood. Currently, many people also want to install this type due to a number of advantages.
Wooden floors look elegant and rich. It is often used for classic interiors and country style, but it is also possible in other types.
Caring for wood is difficult because it is highly susceptible to liquids and can become deformed due to temperature changes. Since unexpected situations often happen in the kitchen, installing a wooden floor is not recommended. With proper care: oiling, varnishing, regular cleaning and careful cooking to reduce the amount of dirt, you can install wood.
Additional disadvantages:
Shrinkage | Occurs in winter due to a decrease in air temperature if the house does not have high-quality heating. The wood shrinks and gaps may appear between the boards. |
Impossibility of insulation | When installing a heated floor under boards, it can cause drying out and damage in a couple of years. |
Change of color | Nature dictates that wood can change structure or color. Therefore, this change can happen at any moment. But some people are not upset by this property; it is an additional change of scenery. |
When choosing which flooring material is best, regardless of the shortcomings, wood is considered one of them. It is the safest for human health, as well as respectable and beautiful. If the difficulties of maintenance frighten you, then you can purchase laminate or parquet that imitates wooden boards.
To make your choice easier, let’s compare the characteristics
As you can see from the characteristics presented above, all floor coverings have specific advantages, but are not without certain disadvantages. For clarity, we can summarize the results by highlighting their main qualities in tabular form:
Name of floor covering | Advantages | Flaws |
Linoleum PVC | — price availability; - ease of installation; — relative durability; - variety of colors and patterns; - easy to clean from dirt and grease; — water resistance and non-hygroscopicity; - resistance to detergents; - high wear resistance. | - synthetic base; - furniture legs leave dents on the surface of the material; — linoleum is sensitive to very high and low temperatures; — unstable to solvents; - not restored. |
PVC linoleum tiles | - has all the qualities of linoleum. - possibility of quick restoration - easy replacement of individual sections of tiles. | The same disadvantages as linoleum, plus instability to moisture due to the large number of joints. |
Natural linoleum | - environmentally friendly material; — has bactericidal and antistatic properties; — long service life; — high wear resistance, comparable to commercial linoleum; — the material is resistant to damage, oily substances, moisture, and is not hygroscopic; — the coating goes well with the “warm floor” system. | - has a high price; - difficult to install, as it is brittle, and therefore requires a professional approach to installation. |
Laminate | - affordable price; - elegant appearance; — relative ease of self-installation; — ease of everyday cleaning; — hygiene; - has different wear resistance, depending on the class; — variety of textured wood patterns and colors; — it is possible to select a type designed for installation on a “warm floor” system. | Many types are not resistant to moisture - they delaminate and become deformed. |
Ceramic tile | — the coating made of this material is highly durable; - easy to care for; — does not deform from increased loads; — hygiene; — resistance to chemicals and high humidity; - goes well with the “warm floor” system | - “cold” material; - pronounced fragility, that is, vulnerability to accentuated blows; — considerable complexity of high-quality installation; — many types have increased slipperiness compared to other coatings. |
Cork covering | — the material has heat and sound insulating qualities; — resistant to moisture and non-hygroscopic; inert to household chemicals; — not susceptible to damage by insects and harmful microorganisms; — the cork coating is durable, as it withstands mechanical stress and abrasive loads well. | - the material has a high price; — quite difficult to install; — dents from heavy furniture may remain on it; - Requires renewal of the protective coating over time. |
Solid board | - wood is durable, reliable and strong; - has an aesthetic appearance; - the material is “warm” and most favorable for humans; — there is the possibility of restoration of damaged areas. | - requires proper processing and scraping; — a high-quality board has a fairly high price; — requires professional installation; — the need for proper care and renewal of the protective coating |
Parquet and parquet boards | - environmentally friendly material; - durability with proper care; — possibility of restoration of damaged areas; — additional sound and heat insulation of the floor. | - high cost of both the material itself and installation work; - requires special care; - damaged by excess moisture or, conversely, drying out. |
Choosing flooring for such a specific room as a kitchen requires a serious approach. In order to avoid unnecessary hassle later, it is necessary to very meticulously evaluate all the pros and cons of this or that option, taking into account not only the individual qualities of the materials, but also the possibility of everyday care for them.
Chipboard panels
If you are looking for the best flooring to install in the kitchen without going broke, then look at budget laminate flooring. Laminate is chipboard panels that have been pressed and glued with specially processed paper with a pattern.
A well-made laminate, with a wood pattern, is difficult to distinguish from a parquet board. Many models have recently begun to be covered with patterns of marble, ceramics, metals, and stones.
If the board is damaged, replacement is very simple. And it’s not difficult to care for the surface; you need to regularly sweep and wipe the floor without aggressive chemicals, because the pattern of the laminate can be damaged. If liquid is spilled, wipe it up immediately. If it remains on the panel for a long time, the chipboard will swell and a complete replacement will be needed.
Laminate is relatively warm and provides some noise insulation.
Most popular options
When people talk about kitchen flooring, the first two materials that come up are ceramic tiles and linoleum. They are chosen in most cases. Although these materials are popular, they are not without their drawbacks.
Don't know what floors are best for your kitchen? Let's find out...
Kitchen floor tiles
In terms of practicality, ceramic floor tiles for wet areas are the best choice. It does not absorb any substances. Water, oil, or any other liquid will remain on the surface until you remove it. Where the liquid can be absorbed is into the seams. To prevent this from happening, choose moisture-resistant grout and fill the joints well. In terms of practicality and ease of maintenance, this kitchen flooring is among the first.
The advantages of this type of material also include a huge range. You can find any size, shape, color, with or without patterns. The choice is really large.
These were the advantages. Now about the cons:
- The tiled kitchen flooring feels “cold”. To make your feet comfortable, you can lay an electric heated floor under it (and you can also install water heated floors in the house).
- If you drop breakable dishes, they will break in 100% of cases. Moreover, the fragments scatter in different directions and then take a long time to collect them.
- Falling on tiles is very painful.
- Some species are very slippery even when dry. Those with a rough, embossed surface are much better in this regard - you won’t slip on them. But dirt gets clogged into the “relief” and you have to wash it out with a stiff brush, making considerable effort. Kitchen flooring tiles can be matte or glossy
- After some time - 3-5 years - abrasions begin to appear in places of active movement (stove-table-refrigerator). At first almost invisible, then more and more visible. Moreover, on expensive collections these abrasions also appear, maybe a little later. There are, of course, non-slippery and non-rubbing options, but they don’t look inspiring.
- The high cost of laying floor tiles. On average - $15 per square.
As you can see, there are also plenty of disadvantages. There is another consideration - on what base the tiles will be laid. If the floor is concrete, everything is simple. If necessary, it is leveled with a rough screed and then the tiles can be laid. If the floor is wooden, it is best to disassemble it and make a screed according to all the rules, and therefore lay the tiles on the finished floor. As a result, the total cost of floor repairs will be considerable.
Linoleum in the kitchen
The second most popular kitchen flooring is linoleum. As usual, let's start with the positives. If you take a whole piece of linoleum, then in terms of resistance to water this type of coating will not be inferior to ceramic tiles. Moreover, installation will take only a few hours, not days. You can lay linoleum on the floor yourself, but even if you have to hire a professional, this type of work is estimated at an average of $4-5 per square meter.
White linoleum in the kitchen with imitation wood flooring
If we talk about the range, it is no less than that of ceramic tiles. There are different options - from smoothly painted, to imitation wooden flooring, laminate or parquet, the same tiles, mosaics, etc. True, in order for linoleum in the kitchen to serve for a long time, you need to take a commercial or semi-commercial class, without a backing. It is more durable and has a hard top layer. In a house or apartment, it is almost eternal. But such material costs a lot: $25-35 per square meter is a completely normal price. So the price is about the same as laying tiles.
The advantages of linoleum in the kitchen also include a more comfortable atmosphere, as well as the fact that it is not so hard and, if dropped, some things have a chance to “survive”. Cleaning is no worse than tiles, even easier - streaks are usually not visible. In general, a good option.
Let's move on to the cons:
- You will have to pay a lot of money for a wear-resistant coating.
- The material is not environmentally friendly, although there is natural linoleum - marmoleum. The price is not lower than the commercial one, but the service life is much shorter.
Linoleum in the form of tiles - why not))
There seem to be few disadvantages, but they are significant. You also need to remember that linoleum must be laid on a flat base. It doesn't matter which one. The main thing is even, whole, clean. If the floor is concrete, you can go on it, but, again, it must be level. It is possible on a wooden floor, but if the boards are uneven, it is better to lay suitable sheet material on them - plywood, fiberboard, OSB, GVL. Choose for yourself. Linoleum is placed on top of a flat base, often gluing it over the entire surface. This kitchen flooring will be warm and durable.
Concrete floors
Some people think that concrete is only used for exterior decoration, but this is not true. Designers for modern interiors use concrete flooring for the kitchen, which allows them to create an interesting environment in the style of minimalism, hi-tech, etc.
The floor can last almost forever. He is not afraid of moisture, hot oil, heavy cauldrons and knives that may accidentally fall, as well as bulky furniture with sharp legs. It does not fade, is not damaged by chemicals or temperature.
This floor is very cold, you cannot walk barefoot. You can lay carpets. But carpets are not very suitable for the kitchen due to frequent contamination. Modern technologies have come up with the idea of placing heated floors into the screed system. Although it is much more expensive, consider the durability of the coating, because it will last for many years and it will be more pleasant to walk on a warm surface.
Gray is not the only shade that a concrete floor can have. Using acid painting technology, dull concrete can become any color and texture, even similar to marble or ceramics.
Cork floors
If you are choosing what is best to lay on the floor in the kitchen and, in addition to practicality, health safety is important to you, then cork flooring is suitable for you. It is made from natural material – cork oak bark. The health benefits are that it is good for the skin on your feet. It is recommended to lay it in rooms where people suffering from asthma and allergies live, because the floor does not attract small debris and dust.
Caring for cork is not difficult; it is not afraid of fats and moisture. But it must be well treated with protective varnish. Cork oak bark can be used to create unusual designs due to the wide variety of texture types and colors.
Recently, this coating has been gaining popularity. The material does not rot, is a good thermal and sound insulator, and does not emit harmful fumes. But due to the high cost and complexity of installation, not everyone chooses it.
The floor can be damaged if sharp or heavy objects, such as a kitchen knife, are dropped, and contact with hot fat is unacceptable. To protect against such surprises, the material is coated with a protective varnish and a special wax impregnation. A more durable material that is glued to the base in the form of rolls. Models based on MDF, in the form of a laminated board, are less suitable for the kitchen, because moisture can get into the joints and deformation will occur.
Brief overview of coating types
Before finishing the kitchen floor in an apartment, you should study reviews from buyers and designers, all the features of the material, and the advisability of its use in the kitchen, where you will have to deal with high humidity, grease and other persistent contaminants.
According to reviews, the leading position is occupied by tiles, which today are presented in three versions:
- porcelain stoneware;
- ceramic;
- polyvinyl chloride.
The second place is occupied by linoleum, characterized by such characteristics as practicality, resistance to damage, and durability.
Laminate is also suitable for finishing the kitchen floor in an apartment. Unlike linoleum, which is mainly made from synthetic materials, it is environmentally friendly. In general, laminate is a fiberboard or MDF board, onto the surface of which a decorative film imitating wood is glued, and then a special protective layer is applied. Thanks to this layer, the laminate is highly wear-resistant.
One of the most modern coating options is self-leveling floors. They allow you to create an extraordinary surface in the room, turning the usual floor into a real highlight of the kitchen. But the most environmentally friendly, according to experts, is cork flooring. It has good technical and operational properties and is well suited for the kitchen.
Porcelain tiles
Porcelain tiles do not absorb moisture, have high hardness and are invulnerable to high temperatures. Tiles can complement any kitchen interior. In the kitchen, you should use a matte look of tiles.
Its difference from ceramic tiles is that it does not have internal voids, porosity or microcracks, which increases strength. Does not deteriorate from various chemical detergents and temperature changes. It is harder than natural granite, making it very suitable for kitchen use. But with a very strong impact it can crack, so you still need to be careful.
A little about the practicality of color
Seamless tiles
When choosing a color scheme for the floor, you need to take into account that on very dark and very light coatings all the crumbs and drops are visible. I'll have to clean more often.
On a tile floor, light grout becomes dirty very quickly. There will be fewer problems with dirt if you treat the floor from dirt with a special protective compound.
Marmoleum
Natural coating appeared relatively recently. Presented in the form of tiles or rolls.
It is made from plant resin, jute, and cork. Some models add flax oil, chalk, and wood flour to the composition. Dyes are added to the resulting composition, and then the mass is pressed and cut to the required sizes.
The technology for laying marmoleum is similar to installing linoleum, but is attached with a special glue. The coating can last about 50 years. Stains are easily removed from this coating, so it is easy to maintain.
The advantage of marmoleum is its antibacterial effect. Safe for allergy sufferers due to completely natural ingredients. It is able to withstand high temperatures, so you can install a floor heating system underneath it and does not fade in the sun.
Due to the strong hardness of the material, it is easy to damage during transportation and installation.
It's not cheap, but it can last up to 50 years and is completely safe for people, so it's worth the cost.
Do-it-yourself floor installation
Before laying a new floor, it is necessary to dismantle the old one, clean the base and level the surface.
To level the floor, you can use a cement screed. The screed can isolate the surface from extraneous noise. The thickness of the screed should not exceed 3 cm.
Installation of the floor covering is carried out within a month. Now, there are compositions of cement screeds that allow installation to begin within 5 days.
PVC tiles: budget but stylish
What floor is best to make in an apartment kitchen so that it is both warm and durable? Try looking at PVC tiles. It usually consists of several layers:
- bottom adhesive with a protective film, which will need to be removed when installing the product;
- basic vinyl;
- decorative;
- polyurethane;
- protective moisture-repellent.
These tiles are squares or rectangles that imitate parquet. When installed correctly, this tile will look like a completely seamless coating. Among its advantages are such characteristics as:
- moisture resistance;
- wear resistance;
- good soundproofing qualities;
- durable non-slip surface;
- resistance to household chemicals.
Installing PVC tiles will take very little time, but first you will need to level the floor when renovating the kitchen in your apartment. There should be no dents or bulges left on the surface.
Features of screed and insulation
Before covering a surface, you need to determine what will lie underneath. The evenness and durability of the floor will depend on this.
When laying tiles, no matter what is underneath, you can use regular cement mortar. With laminate, a gypsum screed is made from a plaster mixture to increase heat and impermeability to moisture.
The selected type of insulation also affects the thickness of the screed. For example, with a standard ceiling height of 2.5 m, it is not appropriate to lay wooden flooring on a strongly raised screed, because taking away the extra 9-12 cm will greatly affect the visual perception, especially if you additionally want to make a suspended ceiling.
If you want to make a combined floor in the kitchen, for example, tiles and laminate, then the joints between them can be sealed:
- thresholds made of steel, plastic, aluminum - it is inserted into the gap of the coverings and the installation is completed. But it is impossible for them to create a smooth line and there are interiors in which metal is not suitable;
- sealant is the least expensive method, but the joint will often become dirty and will chip over time;
- cork gasket - it is located under the edges of the joints and it becomes almost invisible;
- modern Step Flex profiles - they are specially created for joining floor coverings and adapt to any joint geometry.
What determines the price of a parquet board?
The price of parquet boards varies depending on:
- Manufacturers - well-known, well-established brands sell their products more expensive, little-known new brands sell cheaper, and some manufacturers simply produce low-quality material;
- Wood species;
- Number of strips in a die - single strips are more expensive, since here one die consists of one cut of wood. But the number of stripes does not affect the quality, so you need to choose based on your design idea and budget;
- The type of connection can be adhesive or locking - the locking type costs a little more because it is easier to install. The glue method is cheaper, but in this case you also need to buy glue;
- Parquet boards can be oiled or varnished and applied in different numbers of layers. The more layers, the more durable, and therefore more expensive the floor covering will be.
Price per 1 sq. m of parquet board is 320-2600 rubles.
Photos of examples of kitchen floor design
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