How to choose a good laminate for the kitchen

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.

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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.

Lamella structure

There are 2 types of waterproof laminate on the modern market.

A matrix that is made using polymers.
Composite laminate, which is created using pressed cellulose. Various polyurethane and polyethylene compounds are added to the latter.

The cheapest and most affordable laminate is considered to be the one made from polymer-wood composite materials. A similar line is created according to standards that allow it to resist liquid for 5 hours. Please note that such a coating has good thermal insulation. Among the disadvantages, one can point out the short matrix, which causes greater fragility during installation. To carry out installation, it is imperative to create a flat floor, as well as to ensure careful connection of the locks. Please note that such a product, in terms of technical parameters, is often compared to a decking board.

A cheaper waterproof laminate is considered to be one made using polymer-wood composite materials.

As for the polymer waterproof laminate, it is produced on the basis of polyvinyl chloride. Its shape is set using high pressure through special molds. Please note that the intermediate layer is made from polypropylene or polyethylene. The upper part is made using paper, PVC or other film. Products of this type have impressive strength. You can check by creating physical activity or changing temperature conditions.

Important! On such a floor you can not only use aggressive detergents, but also completely fill it with water for 20 hours.

moisture resistant laminate

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.

Let's sum it up

So, the best laminate for the kitchen is moisture-resistant, class 33, with a non-slip surface with a slight texture. There is a higher wear resistance class - 34. This laminate is stronger, but it also costs significantly more. In our opinion, there is no point in overpaying.

Most modern options have a sound-absorbing layer 1-2 mm thick. If you don’t have it, buy a backing.

Click locks allow you to lay floors with base differences of up to 3 mm per linear meter. After installation, it is recommended to treat the panel joints with a special impregnation.

Don’t buy no-name laminate – don’t be fooled by the bargain price. If you are limited in finances, choose inexpensive coverage from a well-known brand, for example, Praktik or Decormatch. And look at the content of harmful substances, formaldehyde. Choose laminate marked E0 or E1 - it is safe for health.

For those who take into account the characteristics of the material, the coating will last a long time and retain its original appearance for the next ten years.

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.

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.

Mistake 1: Installing floating parquet on an uneven floor

A floating laminate floor requires a perfectly level floor (no ripples). The triple thickness of the laminate gives it greater mechanical strength and some flexibility. Do not hesitate to ask a mason to update the floor surfaces and level the floor. Then wait until everything is completely dry before lowering your floating floor. It does not tolerate moisture.

Also, before installing underlayment and floating flooring, contact a plumber and electrician to change awkward piping or add outlets. Otherwise, you risk incurring large costs later!

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.

Important consumer properties

The advent of laminate with a PVC base made it possible to use this material in the kitchen. It does not absorb water (more than 2%), has strength, thermal insulation and sound insulation properties, and has a beautiful appearance.

Strength class

The accuracy class is characterized by a two-digit number, which means the permissible load (corresponds to the first number) and the degree of protection (corresponds to the second number).

A waterproof laminate with high strength and a security level of class 32 or 33 is suitable for the kitchen.

Water resistance

The high water resistance of the laminate is achieved by using PVC plastic in the structure of its main layer. He is not afraid of water.

The highest degree of resistance to water and household loads corresponds to class 33 laminate.

Do not confuse the indicator “water resistance” with “moisture resistance”. Moisture-resistant laminate, although highly durable, has a moisture absorption rate of up to 8%, which makes it unsuitable for the kitchen.

Design

In kitchens, preference is given to laminate with imitation of valuable wood. Oak imitation is used in a particularly large palette.

The color of the laminate in a white kitchen looks good: monochromatic, calm, with a small, not particularly catchy pattern. This color without contrast will harmonize with both the walls and household appliances.

To imitate a wooden floor, use laminate:

with one stripe,
two stripes
with several stripes.

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.

Price

The market offers laminate from various manufacturers. Their products may differ in quality and price:

low quality (costs less, does not last long);
counterfeits (manufactured under the brand name of well-known brands, the quality is inferior to the original products);
high-quality products sold to order with prepayment (cost more, meet standard requirements).

Products from Tarkett, Gastilla, Egger, and Meister are in high demand.

The price depends on the type, quality, brand, strength class, and ranges from 400 to 2500 rubles. for M2.

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.

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