What is the best way to make a floor in the kitchen, so that you will not regret it later

Agree, this place in the apartment is special. Loved ones get together, discuss plans, share stories. That is why it is so important here to create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort, which would be conducive to communication.

Many designers seriously consider the kitchen, and in modern new buildings the kitchen-living room is the most important room in the house. And you can’t argue with that! Where do we spend most of our time? Therefore, it is not surprising that, starting the transformation and improvement of the zone, one involuntarily asks the question: what materials should you give preference to? This is especially true for flooring, which is more susceptible to wear and tear. Therefore, ideally, it should not be afraid of an overturned cup of tea, a broken plate and splashing oil, be durable and at the same time easy to clean. Now let’s look at all the pros and cons.

Linoleum: more pluses

This material is at the top of the rating. It is not afraid of moisture, cold and hot effects, ideal for cleaning, has good heat and sound insulation. You can learn how to install it yourself. The assortment is varied, which allows you to bring to life even the most intricate design solution. Linoleum can be monochromatic or imitating stone, laminate, tile, parquet. And the price is reasonable.

Among the disadvantages is a very relative resistance to deformation. Dents can form where furniture stands. Additional pads on the legs of cabinets or chairs will help to avoid this. Another disadvantage is that some designers consider linoleum to be one of the ugliest interior trends.

And yet linoleum has more advantages than disadvantages. For the kitchen, it is better to purchase not the cheapest household option, but a commercial one with a thicker protective layer. Then its service life will increase significantly.

Conventionally, linoleum can be divided into three classes of wear resistance: household, commercial and industrial. This takes into account the type of room and the intensity of the loads, that is, how many people and equipment will, on average, affect the coating. So, the first type (even judging by the definition) is more suitable for residential premises, the second – for office and office, the third, respectively, for industrial premises.

Laminate: beautiful, but doubtful

This material is similar to parquet made of fiberboard (chipboard) with paper glued on top. What kind of drawings are not present! This democratic coating is often mistaken for granite, marble, ceramics.

Laminate is comfortable, beautiful, but extremely impractical for the kitchen. This is due to the fear of moisture. Have you spilled liquid on the floor and forgot to wipe it off? As a result, the board is damaged and needs to be replaced. And yet, if you decide to opt for a laminate, buy with an operating class of at least 31-33 – it is laid even in restaurants.

Ceramic tiles: the top of practicality

A durable surface, color fastness, lack of reaction to excess moisture – all this speaks in favor of ceramic tiles. In addition, modern versions of this material are like copies of valuable wood, natural leather, marble and even precious metals. They will surely help you create a kitchen in any style you like. Refined, noble, practical, but …

Significant disadvantages of ceramics are slippery coating, deformation when a heavy object falls and a cold surface, especially in winter. If the first drawback can be avoided by purchasing matte or embossed tiles, then in the second case, the tiles will definitely have to be replaced. The third problem will be solved by a rug on the floor or pre-installation of a floor heating system.

Wood: a classic for centuries

An environmentally friendly and safe coating is chosen by people with taste and means. The main thing is to give preference to hardwood parquet: beech, oak, walnut, maple. Thermomodification technology gives additional reliability to the wooden board. Please note that this material repels water and does not react to temperature changes, therefore, retains all its properties and appearance.

Ordinary parquet, without any treatment, is rather capricious in its care. It is important to strictly observe the temperature regime and monitor the humidity in the room. Therefore, one cannot do without professional advice.

Cork floor: the future belongs to it

It is not afraid of moisture, does not deform, does not rot and at the same time is warm, soft, hypoallergenic (dust does not accumulate, the fungus does not take root). It also absorbs sounds and gives comfort to the legs, reducing stress on the joints and spine. Despite the obvious advantages, most are still suspicious of cork floors, considering them fragile and vulnerable. Although in vain.

Polymer coating: an expensive pleasure

Just imagine: under the mirror surface of liquid polyurethane you can admire any design solution – from small objects to volumetric images. At lunch, gaze at the seabed or mysterious outer space – the choice is yours.

However, when designing a 3D drawing, it is important to maintain balance and avoid bad taste. The bottomless sea with sharks is, of course, spectacular, but on the kitchen floor, you see, is not the best idea.

Polymer floors are moisture resistant, durable, and easy to maintain. Perhaps the only negative is their cost.

Vinyl tiles: an interesting novelty

In other words, it is vinyl linoleum cut into pieces of different geometric shapes. Thanks to this, you can come up with unique styling compositions. The improved version of the coating is quartz-vinyl. It is quartz sand that makes the tiles denser and more durable. An important requirement: the surface on which the material is laid must be perfectly flat and rigid. Such tiles cannot be laid on the floor without a screed. The option is not cheap, but the costs are offset by its durability.

Combined floor – an unusual solution

Do you like laminate and ceramic tiles? If desired, it is quite possible to combine both materials. Laminate (or, for example, parquet) is more suitable for a dining area, and tiles for a work area, with a stove and cupboards. At the junction, we put a bar in the tone of the coating or, conversely, in a contrasting color, thereby visually dividing the zones.

What is the best way to make a floor in the kitchen, so that you will not regret it later