What you need to know when choosing a laminate for the kitchen

The requirements for kitchen flooring are especially high due to the specifics of the room. The most common solution is ceramic tiles. However, it is increasingly being replaced by a moisture-resistant waterproof laminate, which has a number of advantages.

The kitchen is a room with an abundance of steam in the air and splashes and pollution constantly falling on the floor. Mechanical loads on the floor are increased - abrasion due to constant walking, the possibility of falling various objects.

Laminate can be accidentally scratched with a sharp object (a dropped knife, for example). Therefore, only varieties of laminate specifically designed for the kitchen are suitable here.

When choosing, you should consider a number of points:

• wear class. Minimum - 32, and optimally - 33 class. This guarantees operation without loss of appearance for at least 15 years. 34 is even more durable, but it is much more expensive.
• It is obligatory to indicate in the marking on water resistance (the image of a tap with water, an umbrella, the Latin word aqua);
• A laminate board without a bevel is preferred - this reduces the penetration of moisture through the gaps inward.
• Connecting locks should ensure the solidity of the coating without wide gaps.
• Manufacturer - do not save money by choosing cheap material made by an unknown person. The cheapest laminate from a well-known manufacturer is preferable to a product from an unknown one. It is advisable to pay attention to the manufacturer's warranty.
• Formaldehyde emission class - it is desirable to choose a material labeled E1, and if financially possible - E0: the safety of the health of those living in the house depends on this.
• Laminate for the kitchen is preferable with a rough surface (smooth is easier to slip on).
• Antistatic treatment of lamellas is desirable.
• Thickness - A thicker laminate is preferable for the kitchen.

It is worth remembering that the laminate can produce noise - "clatter" and a ringing knock when walking or falling objects. This effect is especially noticeable in the presence of an air gap under the laid coating.

To avoid this, lay the laminate on a soundproof substrate. Laying on an unprepared floor is possible if the surface is even. To reduce the "noise" of the floor allows a substrate of expanded polystyrene or cork with a thickness of 1-2 mm.

Pros and cons of the material

Like any material, laminate has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of laminate flooring:

• The material is affordable and easy to install, not demanding in operation, easy to clean.
• Warmer than tiles - it is more pleasant to walk barefoot on the laminate, and you can not be afraid of catching a cold. And a number of types of laminate allow the installation of a warm floor.
• Unlike, it does not slip through the legs of kitchen furniture and a refrigerator.
• multilayer material.
• A high-quality coating is not afraid of mechanical damage, temperature changes, fading in the sun, stains, and is resistant to abrasion. It does not form chips and scratches.
• In appearance, the laminate is similar to natural wood, gives the room a gloss. It has many varieties of external coating, allowing you to choose a coating for any style of the room.

The material also has weaknesses:

• Sensitivity to prolonged exposure to water, especially if the laminate is not waterproof, but moisture resistant. If flooding occurs in the absence of the owners, it is highly likely that the entire coating will have to be replaced.
• Laminate flooring is not as sensitive to damage as solid board or parquet. But chips and cracks can also appear on it. Such defects are easily masked with the help of special wax pencils of the corresponding color.
• "Noise" of the coating in the absence of a soundproof substrate. The problem is solved by laying the substrate at the stage of installation of the coating or by using noiseless shoes, rugs in the walking area.
• May contain formaldehyde, which is used to process wood-based materials during industrial processing. Laminate with a safe formaldehyde content is indicated in the E1 or E0 marking.

Tip: For kitchen flooring, the “butt-to-butt” installation method, without locking, is preferable. In this case, the seams of the plates can be treated with a water-repellent compound. The only negative is that if one lamella breaks, the entire coating will have to be dismantled.

Laminate - moisture resistant or water resistant?

Waterproof and moisture resistant laminate are two different materials. The difference affects their behavior in the water.

The surface of the moisture-resistant laminate does not let water through, but the joints between the plates are the vulnerable part. When it hits the joint, water seeps into the inside of the structure, causing the sheet to swell. If it managed to deform, it will not work to return to its original shape.

The basis of a waterproof laminate is a plastic plate, into which water cannot be absorbed. The basis of a waterproof laminate plate is a dense wood board with a fibrous structure.

The top layer is a strong adhesive composition and a decorative layer of water-repellent polymer on top. This protects against moisture and mechanical damage.

For increased protection against water, the joints of a moisture-resistant laminate are often treated with a special grout. And in any case, prolonged contact with water is unacceptable - it is advisable to wipe the spilled liquid no later than within 15-20 minutes.

Types of textures and colors

A variety of textures and colors allows you to choose from different types of laminate so that it fits perfectly into the kitchen of any style. They produce a laminate that imitates the surface of natural wood or stone, stylized as a tile.

Colors are offered in a variety of colors - white, light shades, gray, black, brown in various shades. It is possible to find a laminate with a texture that imitates semi-antique "scuffing". There are varieties of expensive laminate that copy the surface of the skin of exotic animals.

The most common laminate, with a color and texture that mimics natural wood. This floor looks beautiful and affordable. The most popular are varieties stylized as oak, cherry, beech, walnut.

There are different types of processing that form different surfaces:

• Fine-grained - imitates fresh wood with a porous structure.
• Synchronous texture - looks like a natural relief pattern of a tree.
• Rustic embossing - looks like wood after traditional processing.
• Oil finish - the characteristic look and matt sheen of solid wood, the laminate feels velvety to the touch.

The options for finishing the surface of the laminate to give it a resemblance to wood are different:

• Embossing - a thick protective layer is pressed through or cut along the length of the plank, has increased strength.
• Brushing - embossing and coloring of the furrows is combined with the repeated application of a protective coating.
• Embossed in register - the pattern cut into the protective coating follows the grooves of the decorative finish.
• Chrome zone - the grooves are decorated with a chromium alloy.

Most often, a laminate is chosen that imitates light-colored wood - this adds light to the room and makes it visually more spacious. For oriental-style kitchens, there is a laminate that repeats the structure of bamboo. And for styles and country often choose a dark brown or black laminate that mimics the structure of wenge.

Tiles or laminate?

At a superficial glance, the choice is obvious: it is picky in care and is not afraid of water and moisture. It is practical, easy to care for, easy to clean.

However, it has a number of significant disadvantages:

• The coating turns out to be cold, walking barefoot on it is not very pleasant, and there is a risk of catching a cold.
• The organization of a warm floor under a tile is quite expensive.
• A smooth surface creates the risk of slipping and injury.
• The working area around the sink and stove over time can take on the appearance of a “lunar landscape”.
• Falling solid heavy objects (cup, pan, meat hatchet, etc.) can lead to chips and gouges, and even to cracking tiles.
• Tiled flooring is expensive in itself - tiles, glue, grout, laying work - because laying such a flooring requires certain skills, and you can not do it on your own.

Laminate specifically designed for areas such as the kitchen (moisture resistant or water resistant, high strength) is free from these disadvantages. This coating looks good and meets operational requirements.

Cover installation rules

The material is easy to install, but there are a number of rules that must be observed in order for the quality of the coating to be preserved for a long time.

Before installation, it is necessary to level the subfloor (permissible difference of 2 m.p. - no more than 1 mm).

Use of the self-leveling bulk structures is possible. A flat floor should be treated with coating waterproofing near the sink, water and sewer pipes.

To eliminate various noises, a substrate is laid under the laminate in the future. It will also absorb mechanical loads on the floor. The substrate is cork or polypropylene. Lay the joint in the joint, without overlaps. Connect with tape.

Insert 15 mm thick dies into the gap between the wall and the laminate to be laid. The gap is necessary to compensate for the expansion of the floor covering. The lamellas are laid perpendicular to the window - a source of natural light.

The joints of each subsequent row must be offset relative to the joints of the already laid one. The offset between the joints in adjacent rows is not less than 40 cm. When laying, the maximum fit of the lamellas is achieved. After laying the dies are removed from the gaps, and the skirting boards are installed.