Rules for choosing tiles for laminate: pros and cons of the material in the interior of the kitchen and corridor

One of the most practical solutions in designing the interior of a kitchen or hallway is the use of ceramic tiles under laminate. Choosing ceramic tiles and then laying them correctly as in the photo allows you to get an excellent result - an externally “warm” floor, which also has excellent waterproofing characteristics. The advantages of such material are obvious, but are there any disadvantages? Laminate floor tiles are a new development in modern industry that have an interesting exterior. Its outer side perfectly imitates wood, which allows you to give the floor a look that is entirely similar to a wooden covering. In turn, everyone knows that wood goes perfectly with any decorative items in the interior.

Tiles for laminate from the Freedom collection of the Italon factory close up

Pros and cons of tile flooring with imitation laminate

The reason for the popularity of laminate tiles imitating natural laminate is the strength and durability of this floor covering.

After laying the laminate, the lamellas do not fit tightly together or come in waves. Laminate flooring requires some time for each element to “settle” on the substrate.

The protective coating on the surface of natural laminate wears off quite quickly; after just a year, the lamellas lose their shine and brightness.

Modern laminate floor tiles are characterized by increased wear resistance due to the presence of a protective layer of silicon and aluminum. Innovative technologies make it possible to accurately convey the structure and pattern of natural wood.

Ceramic coating is moisture-resistant, unlike laminate or parquet, is not subject to corrosion and is easy to clean from dirt.

The service life of tiles is 30-40 years.

Disadvantages of the material

Ceramic coating has a number of disadvantages:

• high price;
• difficulties in replacing damaged elements;
• high-quality grouting of tile joints is required;
• uncomfortable tactile sensations (cold and hard surface).

Why are combined floors laid?

None of the above floor coverings can be called ideal, since each option has disadvantages. You can solve the problem by installing a combined floor in the kitchen. A combination of finishing materials of different types will also help to divide the space into functional zones.

Pros and cons of combined flooring

Stylish combination of different materials on the kitchen floor
A modern popular trend is the visual division of the kitchen into a dining room and a food preparation area. When approaching the issue of combined floors, you need to pay attention to the combination of floor coverings.

The main advantages of the combination of materials:

• the ability to make the kitchen cozy more economically;
• it’s easy to keep the food preparation area clean, and to create a more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable surface near the dining table;
• proper zoning of the kitchen space;
• practicality and hygiene;
• protection from premature wear of materials in those areas that bear the maximum load.

The disadvantages of this combination include the difficulty in selecting materials from which a harmonious combination can be made, the need for additional processing of joints, and the asymmetry of the room in case of ill-conceived placement of different surfaces.

If combining laminate with traditional porcelain tiles is not difficult, then the combination of tiles and linoleum should be considered at the stage of leveling the surface.

Types of tiles for the kitchen

Manufacturers offer a huge variety of tiles that can be used as flooring in the kitchen. It comes in a variety of designs and is divided into groups depending on its appearance.

All offered decorative facing tiles can be divided into several types, depending on the material of manufacture:

• ceramic tile;
• glass;
• stone;
• porcelain stoneware

Kitchen tiles come in matte, glossy, sprayed finishes; in an assortment of glass types, you can choose transparent or colored options.

Choosing a laminate

Features of choosing a laminate
Laminate can be used as a flooring for the kitchen, but subject to the correct choice of type and class, as well as proper preparation of the base. When choosing laminate or porcelain tiles in the kitchen, it is worth considering that the first one is pleasant to walk on even barefoot.

Parameters to pay attention to:

• Wear resistance class. The higher it is, the greater the load the coating can withstand.
• Level of moisture resistance (the presence in the description of markings with drops of water, a tap, the words water resistance, waterproof, aqua block, aqua protect).
• Lock connection type. A more reliable and convenient option is the Click dismountable system.
• Manufacturer and guarantees. If your budget is limited, it is better to choose linoleum or tiles.
• Thickness. For a kitchen, hallway or corridor, a coating no thinner than 9 mm is recommended.
• Presence of chamfer. Models without chamfers are more suitable for the kitchen, since dirt and moisture are always retained in the recesses.
• Formaldehyde emission class. Health-safe markings - E0 or E1.
• Anti-slip surface.

The best choice is a moisture-resistant laminate of class 33, 8-12 mm thick, with a durable top protective layer, matte, slightly embossed, non-slip surface.

Types of ceramics for laminate

There are only three options for ceramic flooring under laminate:

• clay products;
• PVC floor panel;
• porcelain stoneware covering.

The products of leading manufacturing companies are distinguished by an ideal pattern that accurately conveys the structure of natural laminate.

Quite often, companies produce tiles with the same pattern, made from different materials.

For a non-specialist it is difficult to visually understand what it is: parquet, laminate, porcelain tile or vinyl

Where to place the joint

The bases of tiles and laminate have different rigidity and degree of expansion, so the joining line will appear in any case. There are several ways to solve the joint problem:

• The use of decorative aluminum strips used to secure linoleum near walls and thresholds;
• Masking the seam with a vinyl overlay;
• Arrangement of the podium at the junction.

When choosing a joining location, make sure that the seam line does not pose a danger and does not interfere with movement around the kitchen. The joint should be parallel to the movement of people or in a low-traffic area.

Often, tiles on the kitchen floor are laid in the shape of the letter L, with most of the material located under the set, and in front of it an area about one and a half steps wide is formed. This location of the joint allows you to move freely around the kitchen without fear of catching a seam or hitting the podium. The rest of the floor is laid out with laminated boards to create a more lively, cozy environment.

The joint between the laminate and the tile is sometimes designed in the same way as when laying linoleum in the kitchen. The seam is placed parallel to the kitchen unit, along the cabinets. When arranging the podium, the area with tiles is made 2-3 cm below the main surface.

Ceramic flooring for laminate

The most common category of tile flooring. Ceramic tiles for laminate are available in many color variations, textures and patterns.

To accurately convey the wood structure, double printing is used - the design is applied before and after firing.

Ceramic tiles are easy to cut and lay, and have good thermal insulation.

For the kitchen and bathroom, installation with a minimum joint width is used; for the hall, techniques with wider tile joints are suitable. This coating exactly conveys the structure of the most popular brands of laminate.

Features of porcelain stoneware

The coating made using a special technology is characterized by increased durability. Porcelain stoneware tiles are dense. This coating is cold; it is used in the kitchen or veranda.

The texture of porcelain stoneware maximally conveys the structure of natural wood.

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.

Design tips

In appearance, it is quite difficult to distinguish laminate tiles from natural wooden slats.

On the websites of flooring manufacturers, under each model it is indicated for which room it is intended.

The most popular models are made in the Loft style; the flooring has the appearance of a classic plank floor. Loft tiles are most often made from ceramics; the most popular pattern is old oak.

Tiles made of ceramics and porcelain stoneware, with imitation laminate in ash or walnut color, take second place in popularity. Mosaic and rustic also fall into the category of popular coatings.

The universal pattern allows you to use tiles under laminate in any room where frequent wet cleaning is carried out.

Tile sizes

The standard tile shape is a rectangle, with an aspect ratio of 1:2 and 1:4; square tiles are less common (the most convenient size for work is 30x60 cm). It all depends on the designers' ideas. There are samples measuring 15x90 cm or 20x160 cm.

Using ceramics under laminate you can achieve interesting design effects

In what rooms are tiles laid?

Tiled flooring is widely used not only in residential premises, but also in offices, shopping centers, and municipal institutions. The grain of natural wood gives commercial spaces a more homely feel.

In the house, porcelain tiles are laid in the bathrooms. In the kitchen and living room, ceramics are more suitable for heated floors.

Grouting joints

If the tiles and laminate are located at the same height and the gap between them is minimal, instead of using special layers and thresholds, you can try to rub the joint with a special compound. The butt-to-butt method allows you to implement:

• Sealant. Depending on the size of the gap and the desired effect, you can choose a transparent composition or give preference to a colored material;
• Conventional construction foam;
• Special grouting paste, available in a wide range of colors;
• Fugue for tiles;
• Liquid plug described above.

The characteristics of the listed compositions may differ significantly. When choosing the appropriate option, you should make sure that they have sufficient adhesion to the surface of the tiles and laminate. Otherwise, the desired effect will not be achieved.

Tile laying technology

The easiest laminate floor tiles to install are PVC tiles. It does not require special adjustment. There is already an adhesive on the back side. The main thing is to maintain the same width of joints over the entire surface.

Laying PVC tiles

The tiles are attached to each other with special locks, and often to the floor with glue. This coating is usually done in light colors, which allows you to hide the joints.

Laying tiles and porcelain tiles

Tile and porcelain tiles are laid on an adhesive base made of a mixture of cement, latex and acrylic. Glue is applied to the floor, and tiles treated with a primer are laid on top.

When working, you must follow the following rules:

1. Control the height of the front surface.
2. Grout the seam between the panels with a special grout.

Some models are laid in a continuous layer, without tile joints.

DIY installation features

Despite the apparent complexity, most of the finishing work in your home can be done on your own if desired. Laying a combined floor with your own hands is no exception. There are some installation features that you should familiarize yourself with in advance. This will allow you to avoid common mistakes and help you complete the planned amount of work efficiently.

To achieve a high-quality result, you should initially try to bring part of the floor surface, decorated with laminate, and the second part, covered with tiles, to the same level. To do this, before you start laying the tiles, you need to know exactly which laminated panels will be laid and how thick the backing will be.

If the difference is small and the tiles are thicker, the existing height difference can be compensated for using tile adhesive. Apply a layer of sufficient thickness and then lay the selected finishing material. Otherwise, you will need to fill the self-leveling unit to level the surface and compensate for the difference in height.

When starting to lay laminate flooring, you should pay special attention to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. It describes in detail the procedure and also indicates the need for compensating gaps between the wall and the floor surface to be laid. At the junction of the laminated panels and tiles, we cut off part of the backing and film, leaving about 10 cm of the base uncovered. We cut the laminated panels to size and check the quality of the joint. Remove the outermost row and put it aside.

We fix the outer row of the laminate using a plastic adhesive composition that has good adhesion to both types of flooring and has sufficient plasticity. Apply the prepared composition to the previously cleared substrate.

On the applied adhesive composition we lay the previously adjusted to size outer row. When laying laminated panels, we ensure the formation of an equal gap between the tiles and the laminate. To obtain the desired result and simplify the work, special devices are used.

After a day, after waiting for the adhesive composition to dry completely, the joint venture can be removed. As a result, a perfectly flat surface is formed between the tiles and the laminate.

We fill the gap between the tiles and the laminate with a sealing compound. It is advisable to choose a sealant whose color is close to the installed floor covering. We ensure high-quality filling of the space between layers.

We level the sealing compound and remove its excess using a special device. If desired, it can be placed at an angle and form a beautiful chamfer at the transition point of the laminate to the tile. We constantly dip a rubber spatula into the soap solution to prevent streaks from appearing on the floor surface.

This should be done as often as possible in order to get a quality result in the end.

If you decide to use a threshold to design the transition, the work will be performed slightly differently. In this case, it is not necessary to align the mating surfaces in the same plane. We invite you to watch a video that will help you get high-quality results without much effort:

The method for forming a non-standard joint is presented in the following video:

What classes are there?

The laminate classification does not apply to all material samples, but only to products from companies that are members of the Association of Laminate Flooring Manufacturers (EPLF).

However, today all manufacturers label their products, designating one class or another on it to indicate the degree of resistance of the material to mechanical loads.

The strength class determines precisely the mechanical strength and degree of wear resistance. This marking does not apply to moisture resistance.

According to the degree of strength, laminate is classified as follows:

• 31st grade . It has a low degree of resistance to mechanical stress and is intended for use in apartments or small office spaces with a small number of employees.
• Class 32 is considered the most preferable in terms of price-quality ratio. It is intended for medium-sized offices, shops, public buildings with average traffic. For an apartment this is the best option. It has a wide selection of colors, textures, and other laminate parameters at relatively low prices .
• class 33 is considered the highest. The material is suitable for use in the most difficult conditions. The price of such a laminate is high; it is used in large offices, conference rooms, and large stores using carts for goods.
• Class 34 still exists in the form of a proposed type of material; it has not been officially adopted; discussions are underway on the need for its introduction. At the same time, marking is already underway. A somewhat paradoxical situation has arisen - the material exists, but the class has not yet been accepted. At the same time, class 34 laminate is the most stable; it is used in airports, gyms, large shopping or entertainment centers, and on dance floors . It has a very high price, but there are relatively few options for choosing colors or textures.

All of these classes have tile laminate samples that are used in accordance with the level of resistance to loads in certain conditions.

What to look for when choosing products

Before selecting slabs, it is necessary to determine the color scheme, type of wood pattern, surface texture characteristics, weight, caliber, thickness of finishing blocks.

The weight of 1 m² of porcelain stoneware slab with a thickness of 8 mm is at least 18 kg. Material that weighs less than standard is not reliable enough. For high-quality and durable installation, material of the same caliber is required.

It is important to select the required level of hardness of the composition, because slabs are produced with different wear resistance and degrees of resistance to mechanical damage. The strength parameter is indicated in the marking with PEI symbols and a digital code. A higher value implies a high degree of resistance to damage. PEI V coating is used for pedestrian areas and public buildings. For interior decoration of apartments and cottages, materials marked PEI III are recommended.

The coefficient of friction is indicated by the symbol R and a number. For slabs, the optimal indicator is at least R 11.

Disadvantages of Keramoizol

• High price
  . The price of Keramoizol is relatively high, however, if you consider that it can act as both insulation and finishing material, the expense is justified.
• It is advisable to apply to leveled surfaces
  . This way you can avoid overspending and the formation of cold bridges.
• Thickens quickly
  . Keramoizol heat-insulating paint must be applied quickly, otherwise it will harden. However, this problem can be solved. It is enough to dilute the product with water or a special solvent (for varnish-based substances).
• Relatively short service life
  . Compared to traditional insulation materials (mineral wool, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam), Keramoizol lasts a little more than seven years.