What to choose a laminate for the kitchen and hallway. How to choose a good laminate for the kitchen - the full guide Select the lock system

Floor finishing with laminate is a popular solution in modern, and in classic interiors.
But many are afraid to use this coating in the kitchen. How should I want to add a beautiful texture to the interior without losing in practicality? What should be the laminate for the kitchen: how to choose the design of the coating and protect the kitchen floor from moisture, reviews, price review and photo in the interior.

Is it possible to lay a laminate in the kitchen?

Yes, if you correctly select the type and class of coating, it is good to prepare the base and protect the joints from moisture.

The best floor is a moisture-resistant 33 class, a thickness of 8-12 mm, with a solid upper protective layer, matte, slightly embossed, non-slip surface. After laying the joints of the panels, you need to be treated with a special water repellent composition.

Lamets consists of four layers. The main is the moisture-proof HDF plate or fiberboard. Figure: Egger.

What to pay attention to when choosing

1. Class of wear resistance. What he is higher, the greater the load can withstand the coating. For a kitchen, a corridor and an entrance hall, a minimum of 32 laminate is suitable, and better than 33 class. Without force majeures, it will last no less than 15 years, without losing sight. 34th grade is even stronger, but more expensive. In most cases, overpays for it there is no need.

2. The level of moisture resistance. Make sure the laminate that you looked at the kitchen is protected from moisture. Search in the description of labeling with water drops, crane, words Water Resistance, Waterproof, Aqua Block, Aqua Protect, etc.

3. Type of lock connection. The global floor coverings are two: click (Collapsible system) and Lock (Latching Castle). Click is more reliable and convenient: the floor will last longer, it is easier to lay it (even the newcomer can cope), and the base can have a drop to 3 mm on the trafficphone meter. Coatings with the LOCK system are cheaper, but less reliable, harder in the installation (better hire a professional) and require perfectly levels.

4. Manufacturer and warranty. Do not take the cheapest laminate of unknown manufacturers in the construction market. If the budget is limited, take a look at inexpensive coatings of famous brands or semi-memorable linoleum with a pattern under a board and a tree texture.

5. Thickness. The thicker the laminated parquet, the stronger, is more durable and more expensive. For kitchen, hallway and corridor, choose a coating no thinner of 9 mm.

6. The presence of chamfer. It is believed that in the kitchen laminate without chamfering better (in the recesses, dirt and moisture are deepened). To the floor look more realistic, manufacturers have come up with an optical chamfer. The panels on the edges are made slightly darker in color, visually highlighting the contours of each board.

7. Formaldehyde emission class. Safe health is the material with marking E0 or E1.

8. Level of noise absorption. Some species of expensive laminate have a sound-absorbing layer with a thickness of 1-2 mm (Sound Protect et al.). But most coatings do not have it, and the substrate will have to buy separately.

9. Anti-slip surface. For the kitchen, choose grungy, relief laminate: on smoothly easy to slip and get injured.

Pros and cons of laminate in the kitchen

Benefits

The high-quality floor is not afraid of shocks, scratches, cracks, temperature drops and does not fade in the sun. It is easy to wash, he is resistant to abrasion and is not afraid of spots.
Laminate panels The warmer of ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware - more pleasant to walk barefoot. Some types of this cover allow you to make a warm floor in the kitchen.
Unlike linoleum, it does not remain dents from the legs of the refrigerator and kitchen furniture.
It is appreciated by the similarity with a floor of a natural tree and a variety of design. Economical owners, he attracts an affordable price, and practical - ease of laying.

disadvantages

May appear and swell. If your absence breaks the pipe with hot water, the likelihood is high that the floor in the kitchen will have to be changed.

Decision. Treat the seams between the boards with a special sealant (for example, Hydrokit, Click Guard, etc.). From the Flood it will not save, but under normal conditions the risk to spoil the coating will become less.

Laminate is moisture-proof or waterproof. These are two different types of coating. They are made of different materials and behave differently when contact with water.

The surface of the moisture-proof laminate has a protective layer and does not transmit water, and the lock connections are impregnated with wax-containing compositions. But if you pour a lot of water, it leans into the junctions between the panels. The plates can be discouted, and the seams wake up. If the kitchen floor is deformed, the initial species will not return to him.

Tip: If you shed liquid to the floors from the laminate, it is better to wipe it for 15-20 minutes.

Waterproof laminate is insured against such trouble. Its base is made of plastic, and not fiberboard. But the choice of design at waterproof coatings is limited, and the price of them is higher.

"Cocanier" and a ringing knock. Laminated floors often scold for noise - a characteristic ringing sound from the steps, claws of pets and fallen objects. If there is no substrate between the coating and base, the air gap between them creates the effect of the drum. If the gender is poorly aligned, the lamellas begin to creak over time.

Decision. Avoid problems helps a sound-absorbing substrate from cork or polystyrene foam. It shocks steps, smoothes the irregularities of the base and roughly halve the shock noise.

Scratches and chips. Laminate is not so capricious as a massive or parquet board. But on its surface, serious damage may also appear, as in the photo below:

Deep track on the floor left the wrong door

Decision. You can buy special wax pencils under the color of your floor and disguise the defect.

Laminate and warm floor

Many manufacturers offer coatings under which you can lay a warm floor system. But under a number of conditions.

Laminated parquet can not be kept on the floor heating system. Due to the rapid and uneven heating, the bar can be deformed, the slots will appear between them. It is better to use water or infrared film warm floors.
Raise the temperature gradually. The main thing is to not allow the surface to be heated more than 27-28 degrees. We will have to set temperature sensors and a retail for smooth temperature control.
During the heating season, the air humidifier will have to use. To laminate, the humidity in the kitchen should be at least 50%.

Design options

Board size
The most popular laminate format for the kitchen is a rectangular bar with a length of 1200-1380 mm and a width of 190-200 mm. But all major manufacturers offer collections with longer or short, narrower or wide elements.

Egger.

With champions or without
Laminate under the tree sometimes has a chamfer - beveled edges. When connecting panels, grooves are obtained - they emphasize the similarity of panels with a massive board floor or natural piece parquet. Planks can have a chamfer only with two (indicated by marking 2V) or from all four sides (4V).

Sample laminate with double-sided headquarters in the kitchen interior

Number of bands
"Wooden" floor can have one or more stripes in a rash. Examples - in the photo below:

Single-band laminate - one drawing is located across the entire width of the board

Two-band - the dice "shares" in half

Multibone laminate in the kitchen combined with the living room

Decors

Wood
Modern laminate under the tree or board mimics different breeds: traditional oak, ash, pine, nut, chestnut, exotic Merbau, Wenge, Zebrano, etc.

The accent floor will take all the attention

Most of all variations in laminate under oak - natural, bleached, migrant, aged, tinted, under varnish or oil ...

Oak Arizona

White Oil

Oak Balmoral

Colonial

In low-cost collections drawing on the dies of the same type. Expensive coverage looks more naturally: more boards with different pattern, there are transitions from light to dark, and the image is so clear that you can see the pores of the tree.

The calm color of the laminate is perfect for the kitchen and in classic, and in modern style

Tile, stone or concrete
Laminate under the tile or stone (slate, travertine, limestone, etc.) - a good choice if you like the type of tiles in the interior, but I don't want to put up with such disadvantages as forever ice floors and guaranteed beating dishes.

In the modern Loft style interior, minimalism or high-tech will perfectly fit under concrete laminate (there is Kronotex, Alloc, Pergo, Parador, Balterio, etc.).

Calculation of quantity

Buy floor covering with a reserve at least 5%. If the floor is injured, you can easily replace the damaged part.

If you plan to lay a diagonal or are going to do an independently, take the material by 12-15%.

For a kitchen-living room, a complex shape, for example, with a bucket or a large number of corners, focus on 15-17%.

Nuances styling

Do not want to problems with the floor - follow the instructions: each manufacturer of the laminated coating provides detailed recommendations on its laying.
Laminate can be put on a concrete screed, wooden floor, ceramic tiles, glued linoleum. The main thing is that the base is dry (humidity is less than 2%) and even (the height drop is not more than 2 mm per meter for panels with a thickness of 6-7 mm and 3 mm per meter for steam plane thicker 8 mm).
The joints between the panels are less noticeable if laying the layers in the direction of light from the window.

For a large kitchen or kitchen-living room, the optimal option is a combination of floor ceramic tiles in the "wet" zone and laminate on the rest of the space

Wooden floor beautifully combined with patchwork tiles

Prices and manufacturers

Inexpensive 33 class laminate in Moscow online stores can be bought from 400-450 rubles per square meter. Moisture-resistant finish suitable for a warm floor is an average of 700-1500 rubles per square. European-made covers will cost you from 1000 to 2500 rubles per meter.

What laminate collections are suitable for the kitchen

Tarkett / Russia: Robinson, Estetica, Pilot, Woodstock Family, Riviera, Artisan
KRONOSTAR / Russia: Salzburg, Symbio, Synchro-Tec, De Facto
KRONOSPAN / Belarus and Russia: Titan Prestige, Forte Classic, Quick Style
Kronotex / Germany: AMAZONE, RIBUSTO, MAMMUT
Ritter / Russia: Nefertiti, Karl Great
EGGER / Germany: Classic 8-33 or 11-33, Classic Aqua
Quick-Step / Belgium and Russia: Classic, Arte, Impressive, Impressive Ultra
Imperial / China: Lux, Ibiza, Lumia, Exclusive
CLASSEN / GERMANY: EXTREME, IMPRESSION, NATURAL PRESTIGE, FORCE
PERGO / Sweden: Original Explence, Sensation

Put or not laminate in the kitchen? And how to choose the material right? Answers in the article.

Photo: Askville.amazon.com.

The traditional tile in our latitudes, where at least half a year of the weather can not be called warm, will require the floor heating installation, especially if children or older people live in the apartment, for which contact with cold ceramics lives. And the correct laying is a very time-consuming process and requiring special skills and knowledge. Modern linoleum, although it pleases us a variety of textures, colors and species, can also be rejected for various reasons.
Laminate as an outdoor coating likes very many, but it is afraid of water, and in the kitchen, contact with moisture inevitably. Meanwhile, now many manufacturers of laminate (for example, Pergo, Parador, Alloc, Witex, etc.) produce collections that are positioned as waterproof.

So is it possible to lay a laminate on the floor in the kitchen? And what is it - waterproof laminate?

How does waterproof laminate differ from the usual?

Photo: Parquet-online.ru.

Laminate usually has four- or five-layer structure:

The first layer (the topmost one, which we mine, clean and, of course, the total) is a solid protective film. It minimizes the integrity of the coating, the occurrence of static electricity, fading into the sun, is resistant to thermal and some chemical influences. It is she who defines the class of wear-resistance, from the resistance of the laminate to abrasion. Elastic and durable it also imitates the texture of the next layer.
Next is the decorative layer of paper impregnated with special composition. It is she who gives the laminate that the form and invoice that attracts us.
The main layer is pressed under high pressure and impregnated with resins, the wood plate of very high density - HDF or MDF. Thanks to the manufacturing technology, the laminate is obtained very durable. This middle layer is more determined by the product characteristics.
The bottom layer is called stabilizing and performs several functions: moisture protection, does not allow deformation and noise insulating. For greater supply of silence, the coating is equipped with an additional insulating layer.

Features of waterproof laminate:

wear resistance - 32, 33 or 34;
the main layer is HDF - an elevated density plate (from 850 kg / m.kub. up to 900 kg / m.Kub.). This material can stay in water for a long time, while not swelling and not losing its properties;
waterproof laminate locks are hydropobizators;
in the HDF itself, the plate in the manufacture of many manufacturers also add water repellent substances. Such plates can be painted in a greenish color (by analogy with moisture resistant plasterboard);
additionally, waterproof laminate is treated with antibacterial and antifungal agents.

When choosing a material, take into account the hydrophobizer, only the edges of the plate can be processed, and maybe all the stove.

Council.To extend the service life of laminate, and manufacturers, and experienced repairmen call for consumers to use sealants for connecting seams.

Laminate in the kitchen - pros and cons

High-quality waterproof laminate can be used for the kitchen. Judging by numerous reviews, no one has problems with exploitation.

Photo: Alisaparket.ru.

Here are some typical reviews from the forums:

"We have moisture-resistant Egger, 32 class, for two years. There are no problems yet. " (Sage, forum.littleone.ru)

"The kitchen has a laminate for 3 years. Pipes do not flow, TC audit during the repair spent, and the glass of water laminate is not afraid. There are no complaints. What happens something is easy. " (Barrick, Forum.IxBT.com)

"In my whole apartment on the floor, the Norwegian Alloc ... has been lying for 4 years. Two little baby at home ... no problems at all. Including in the kitchen. My very calm ... shedding something on the floor regularly. Once flooded neighbors ... neither swolves, no seats »(Martyshev, www.forumhouse.ru)

Advantages of Laminate

withstands without loss of quality, even very strong short-term flooding;
easily remove stains of different origin;
large selection of colors and textures. Moisture-resistant laminate perfectly imitates any breed of wood, and now also ceramic tiles, stone or almost any other material;
the dishes in the fall will not break down, and if it turns out - it will not hit much.

When are difficulties?

Reviews about the excellent service of laminate in the kitchen relate to the main product of branded producers. And the price of such a coating is quite high - mostly from 1000 to 2000 rubles per square meter. meter.

The danger for high-quality laminate in the kitchen is not moisture, but fallen knives and dishes (if it all beats). In this case, scratches can remain on the floor.

Council. You can disguise scratches on the laminate with the help of a furniture pencil.

Moisture-resistant laminate - this does not mean that nothing happens to him if he stays in water for several hours. The coating may be spoiled if the water will "stand" on the laminate for a long time. For example - you will go on vacation and neighbors will flood you. Or turn off the light - and flows the refrigerator, and the puddle will be on the floor for a few days. Or break the pipe. For several days in the water, even high-quality coverage will not endure. And if the laminate will swell very much, he will not accept the original form. That is why this material is not put in the bathroom. There, the coating is exposed to moisture regularly, and it is not worth counting on long service life.

Photo: 5masterov.ru.

Put or put laminate in the kitchen?

Of the available information about the waterproof laminate, some conclusions can be made:

If you want the floor covering to light as long as possible, then you need to choose a high quality product.
Are you often leaving for a long time? Then laminate is not the best option for your kitchen. Or agree that someone regularly visited the apartment in your absence;
A good solution will combine laminate and tile - in the working area, near the washing, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe dishwasher, plates put the tile. To date, the drawing and texture will not be chosen, and the transition can be closed by a connecting profile.
To extend the operational period of laminate, it is necessary to use it carefully, protecting against excess scratches and shocks of sharp items. Actually, neat and gentleproof is recommended with any floor covering.

Photo: Hominspire.com

Final selection to do, of course, you. We wish you a good repair!

Laminate is one of the most popular materials for decoration of residential premises. They laid out residential rooms and corridors, but in premises with high humidity he has not found wide use. This is primarily due to the fact that a simple laminate for the kitchen has insufficient moisture resistance - when water gets into its surface, it loses its properties, can appear and swallow.

Progress does not stand still and the decision was the emergence of new types of water resistant materials. Solving what laminate to choose for the kitchen, you need to know the features of moisture-resistant types.

Product specifications

Laminated plates have a rectangular view with an average size of 1300 mm. 190 mm. and a thickness of about 8 mm. and consist of a multiple layers compressed under high pressure:

The main layer is an extruded bearing stove.
The decorative layer is a dense paper with a pattern and color of the coating.
Protective layer - a special durable insoluble melamine coating that determines the wear resistance of the laminate.
Nizhny layer - firming and stabilizing load dense kraft paper.

The plate of the main layer of laminate depending on the density and rigidity can have two marks: HDF (high density fibreboard) - the structure of high density material and MDF (MIDDLE DENSITY FIBREBOARD) - material that is average density. In moisture-resistant types of laminate, waterproof plastic is used as the lower layer.

Laminate structure

The main characteristic of the material is its wear resistance, it is divided into several classes with digital designation:

21 - 23 - old types of laminate, are not currently produced, have a very small service life;
31 - the least resistant to abrasion from modern species, at home can serve no more than 10 years, in offices 2 years;
32 - designed for 15 years of service in apartments and 3 - 5 years in office premises;
33 - the service life at home is increased to 20 years and in offices up to 6 years;
34 - "Sports" laminate, limit of its capabilities. Very roads, can withstand the huge passability of people 1000 per day, applied in specialized purposes. In the apartment there may be an unlimited amount of time, in everyday life this laminate class is rarely used.

Features of the laminate and its types

Laminate received widespread in everyday life due to its distinctive features.

Simple laminate in the kitchen, pros and cons:

A wide range of prices allowing almost any homeowner to purchase a budget option.
A wide variety of textures and patterns that imitate natural materials on floor covering, a wide range of color scheme, allowing you to choose a laminate for the kitchen and an entrance hall to almost any interior.
The material is resistant to temperature differences and exposure to direct sunlight.
Although laminate and does not apply to environmentally friendly products, it does not release substances harmful to the human body.
Laminate is easy to care, it is enough to wipe slightly damp cloth
One of the most important qualities of the laminate floors is the ease of installation and maintainability - you can remove the damaged panel and replace it with a new one, however, it will have to dismiss the part of the floor.

Moisture resistant laminates for the kitchen

Solving what laminate to choose for the kitchen should take into account the low moisture resistance of the simple laminate, therefore, two types of its varieties are used in the kitchen premises with high humidity: moisture resistant and waterproof.

Often water from the sink falls on the floor, in advance what type of laminate to install in the kitchen

Moisture-resistant laminate

The laminate for the kitchen moisture-resistant differs from the usual fact that its basis is the HDF plate of increased strength with a high resin content. In addition, the ends of the plates and the outer coating are additionally treated with water-repellent material on a wax or silicone basis.

Installation of floors To avoid penetration of moisture to the joints of the joints, it is often produced using water-repellent adhesive, after assembling the floor, the joint is additionally processed by the waterproofing composition, as a result, the floor is not dismantled without damage to the panels.

Moisture-resistant species are called "aqua laminates", the name is present in their designation and on the packaging. The floors with such a coating are withstanding about 6 hours of exposure to water without loss of their performance.

Water can not be leaked between special plates, thereby protecting laminate from swolling

Waterproof laminate

Quartz-vinyl laminate is a relatively new material in the field of floor coatings, an innovative technology developed by the Japanese concern Shinko Kasei is manufactured. The waterproofing board has about 9 layers, the main ones are: a base plastic, a layer of fiberglass, a micro ceramic layer of ground seafront and quartz sand, upper protective vinyl layer.

Waterproof laminate in the kitchen, main characteristics

Safe for people and domestic animals, the level of emission of toxic substances into the environment (Leed) makes it safe when used in medical and children's institutions.
Quartz-vinyl material is very bad. In case of fire, it does not allocate poisonous gases. This is due to the fact that the composition includes non-combustible chlorides, and 60-70% of its structure makes up a seven and crushed quartz.
PVC wear resistance tile significantly exceeds its competitors (commercial linoleum, HDF-based laminate). It has 34 and 43 class of resistance to abrasion, its service life in residential premises is unlimited.
The coating has a good resistance to harsh shock, without losing its appearance, has a shock absorbing effect.
Moisture-resistant PVC does not pass the electric current and is not electrostatical, unlike the melamine surface of the usual laminate.
PVC tile has good noise absorption that reduces the shock level of noise at 19 decibels. This is due to the structure of the material itself and to the greatest extent with the method of laying - the installation of the floor in most cases occurs by sticker plates on a massive surface.
The coating is resistant to most liquid chemicals, widely used in everyday life: gasoline, alcohol, grade 646 solvent, White spirit.
PVC tiles have an anti-slip effect, which avoids injury to small children and adults.
Floors are perfectly clean, any contamination is easily rubbed from their surface.
Easy laying allows you to save money during self-installation.

Waterproof laminate is slightly different in its structure

Care rules

Waterproof laminated floors for antistatic kitchen, they do not attract dust. For cleaning, it is enough time to wipe them well pressed with a cloth.

Laminated floors over time are subject to divergence of the joints, to maintain the kitchen floor in good condition, it is recommended to regularly process the joints of the joints by branded compositions from the manufacturer based on wax. In this way, you can mask scratches and lifting the labor-based spots.

In order to avoid damage to the surface of the floor when moving the refrigerator or kitchen furniture, you can stick on their legs with a soft material: felt, porous plastic.

To impart a laminate coating gloss, a mixture of water with a vinegar with respect to 20 K 1 is used: the composition is sprayed into a contaminated surface and rubs off, after drying it with a rag.

How to make a choice?

When choosing moisture-proof or waterproof laminate for the kitchen, you must consider the following.

In order not to confuse the type of laminate, in the design of the moisture-proof species specifies AQUA, a drop of water with a crane or an umbrella is usually depicted on the package.

In the construction market, the range of laminate is very wide, you can easily find the appropriate option for the price and quality.

Solving which laminate is better for the kitchen, first of all it is necessary to choose the manufacturer. The floors of the French brand Dumafloor and Belgian Aqua-Step have been widespread and well. Products of these manufacturers are distinguished by a wide selection of decor, imitating the tree: pine, beech, oak, with a variety of color shades.

For those who prefer not a classic, and the modern type of coverage, companies offer imitation of stone breeds, metal. No less well known manufacturers of laminate: Ritter, Classen, Ecoflooring, their products are distinguished by high quality.

To avoid fakes when buying, it is better to check the availability of a certificate to the product, where its name should be specified, the country is a manufacturer, a party, etc. To obtain reliable information about the manufacturer, you can also check the internal marking on the panel itself: Country Manufacturer Indicates .

It is desirable to choose a more dense material, not less than 900 kg / cubic meters, the higher this indicator, the better. The kitchen room is characterized by the highest permeability in the entire apartment, so moisture-proof laminate for the kitchen should be purchased 32 or 33 classes.

Determining which chosen class of laminate, many stop at a higher 33 class, it is not only wear-resistant, but also often has a higher moisture resistance in contrast to the types of low class.

When choosing, such a laminate indicator is useful as the swelling coefficient showing its behavior at 24 hours in water. The norm is an indicator of 18%, but the lower, the better for the kitchen.

Water falls on the floor in the kitchen, water is most often getting caught in the kitchen, it will practically choose a coating with a slightly rough surface.

The swollen laminate does not only look aesthetically, it deforms it faster, and also creates discomfort when walking on it

Many are recommended to acquire a laminate for a waterproof kitchen with a new-fashioned fabul. For the kitchen, this option is not recommended, water can accumulate in the chamfer and lead to a damage of moisture-proof laminate.

If a moisture-resistant cloth variant of the laminate is stacked into the kitchen, the cork substrate will not fit and use the moisture-resistant substrate from PVC.

By purchasing a waterproof laminate for kitchen, usually make a stock of 10-15% to replace damaged panels.

In the uneven base, which laminate is stacked, it will fade in the pits, which will lead to the deformation of the seams and as a result, loss of tightness, which is especially important for the waterproof floor. Therefore, the smooth surface of the draft floor in the kitchen, unlike other premises in the apartment, is most relevant.

Choosing a waterproof laminate for the kitchen, you should look at the warranty period - the best manufacturers are 25 - 50 years old.

When choosing a material for kitchen floor, not many think about the laminate, considering this coating is not the most suitable for this room. However, the modern market of building materials offers a rather extensive selection of various varieties of laminate, among which there are those that are just perfect for the kitchen. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, you need to know how to choose a laminate for the kitchen, and then it will not be happy with its excellent appearance and high wear resistance.

Why it is worth choosing for kitchen just laminate

Speaking about why for the kitchen floor it is worth choosing such a material as a laminate, one can note a few of its advantages of both decorative and practical. Laminate can imitate a variety of materials, so it is not difficult to choose the desired option for the kitchen in any style, color and manner of design. You can choose a laminate for the kitchen under the tile, various breeds and textures of a tree, imitating a stone or simply with a smooth monophonic surface. Unlike those materials that it can imitate, the laminate sometimes has a much more democratic cost, which also should not be noted as one of the advantages of this material. It is also impossible not to mention that the laminate is one of the simplest in the laying of materials, because some additional flooring is required. If the floor surface is flat, the laminate can be laid even the old floor coating - carpet, linoleum, parquet or wooden floor. If desired, laminate, more precisely, to say some kinds of its species, can also be used in that kitchen on which a warm floor is planned to be equipped. Choosing a laminate for these purposes, you need to pay attention to its marking.

How to choose the right laminate for the kitchen

Before you choose a laminate for the kitchen, you need to carefully read what kind of laminate is most suitable for the premises of this type.

If we talk about the class of laminate, then for the kitchen it is best to choose 31 or 32 class. Some sellers in stores can advise to acquire a lower class laminate, saying that 31 and 32 class are intended for use in public spaces - offices, shops, restaurants, i.e. Where there is an increased load on the floor, but this argument should not be taken into account. The higher the class of laminate, the more wear-resistant it will also be the less he will be afraid of moisture, blows, scratches and other damage that can occur during its operation.

Moisture-resistant and waterproof laminate

Choosing a laminate for the kitchen, it is worth stopping the choice on moisture-proof or waterproof laminate, which are more optimally suitable for this room, where an increased level of humidity is often noted, and water can be hit on the floor.

Moisture-resistant laminate for the kitchen moves well to enter its surface, but this applies directly to the surface of the products, but not junctions between them. In the event that the water falls and for a long time remains on the place of the joint of two sheets of laminate, there is a swelling of its internal structure, which leads to deformation and upper layer of the plate. Unfortunately, even after complete drying, it will not be possible to restore the initial appearance of the laminate. In order for anything like this not, it is necessary when laying a laminate, and possibly in the process of its further operation, process the joints with a special mastic that will protect the laminate from the penetration of moisture through the joints.

The waterproof laminate for the kitchen, which is also often used for sex in the bathroom, is significantly different from other types of laminate and significantly exceeds its characteristics moisture-proof laminate. The main difference lies in the fact that the basis of the moisture-proof laminate is wood stove, having increased density and fibrous structure, while the foundation of the waterproof laminate is a plastic plate, which is simply not able to absorb moisture, and, it means that it will not swell even with constant contact with Water and as a result of the impact of humidity. The upper layer of waterproof laminate is also quite strong and is a glue composition, with which a decorative layer is applied to the surface, and an additional layer of a water-repellent polymer, which even more reliably protects the laminate both from moisture and mechanical damage.

In any case, no matter what laminate for the kitchen will be selected, it is necessary to try to prevent too long with water with water, especially in the case of moisture-resistant laminate, and wipe the liquid from the floor surface for 15 minutes.

Disadvantages of kitchen laminate

Almost every material, along with advantages, has certain flaws about which it is necessary to know.

The main disadvantage of the laminate, if not to take into account the waterproof laminate, is its fear of long exposure to moisture - if water leakage occurred in the kitchen at the time when no one was at home, there is a risk that you will have to fully replace the laminate in this room.

As another drawback, it is possible to note a rather ringing sound of steps on this coating. You can solve this problem with a small rug, which can be placed in the movement zone or using shoes with a soft sole.

Many people know that laminate, like almost any material having a wood base and the past industrial processing, may contain formaldehyde - a substance that in large quantities can adversely affect our organism. A certain amount of formaldehyde is contained in furniture, wooden doors and many other products. In order to understand how safely the laminate is, it is necessary to pay attention to the appropriate labeling - if the E-1 marking on the laminate packaging is present, it means that it contains a minimum amount of formaldehyde, which is not dangerous for a person.

How to care for laminate in the kitchen

Laminate in the kitchen does not require any special care - it is enough to regularly produce its cleaning with the help of not too damp cloth. If you wish, you can use special laminate care products that will help to give the floor shine and a more recent appearance. There are also means that will help disguise small scratches and damage to the surface of the laminate in the event of their occurrence.

The cost of laminate differs depending on its class, as well as additional characteristics of wear resistance and manufacturer's fame. It is not worth saving when choosing this material, since only really high-quality laminate will be able to last long enough and will not upset his owner with its appearance.

You should not be afraid to acquire a laminate as a material for kitchen floor, the main thing is not to be mistaken with the choice of the material necessary according to the characteristics of the material during its purchase, as well as take into account the characteristics of the laminate in the process of its further operation.

If a solution is made as a flooring to use laminate, then the question arises which coating will be the most durable and durable. After all, the kitchen is a place where the most domestic pollution is. What to choose a laminate for the kitchen to power all the loads and served faithfully and the truth for many years?

In order to make the right choice, consider - from which the laminated floor coatings produce and which components are used in the production process.

The structure of the laminate and materials used in its production

Laminated coating plates, as seen in the photo, have several layers, tightly pressed under pressure at high temperatures.

The main carrier layer - MDF plate or chipboard;
Decorative layerwhich provides a coating color consisting of a dense paper material;
Protective top layerconsisting of impregnation with melamine (insoluble durable chemical compound) or other safe connections (at the discretion of the manufacturer);
Lower firming layer - Tight kraft paper.

A chipboard (HDF) of varying degrees of hardness and durability is used as the laminate base. These indicators depend on the amount of wood as part of the slab. The more denser the material, the less emptiness in it, and the moisture resistance of the laminate increases. The choice of laminate for the kitchen involves the strength of the coating and its resistance to impact, i.e. . After all, quite often it is in the kitchen something heavy falls on the floor, unfortunately.

Some manufacturers for increasing the strength of the laminate are added to the protective layer various reinforcing fillers:

fine silicon dioxide;
finely dispersed cellulose fibers;
thin-chopped alpha aluminum alpha oxide - corundum.

The number of fillers and plasticizers in the material - the know-how manufacturer.

The variety of colors and the textures of the laminate is provided by the pattern, tightly attached to the chipboard. Difficulties in the question of which laminate to choose to the kitchen on design and pattern does not occur. It all depends on the overall style and design of the kitchen.

The most important thing in the question is how to choose a laminate for the kitchen, a protective coating of the laminate. Until recently, manufacturers offered only moisture-resistant variants of such coatings. But now in the building materials market, you can see the laminate samples, positioned as waterproof ,.

Council. By purchasing laminated kitchen floor covering, it is better to stay on the materials of the moisture resistant to the exposure to moisture - waterproof. Although the price for such a laminate is higher, but the buyer is guaranteed in the stability of the material to high humidity.

What is the difference between moisture-proof and waterproof laminate

Knowing how to choose a laminate for the kitchen correctly, the buyer will not be disappointed in its solution. It is in the kitchen very high risk of flooring. Therefore, for kitchen premises, it is recommended to use moisture-proof or, even better. What is the principal difference between these two coatings?

A feature of this floor cover is that the ends of the lamellae are processed by additional water-repellent compositions. As well as an external, protective layer of material, additionally has a coating that protects against moisture. Instructions for the installation of moisture-resistant laminate involves the use of water-repellent adhesive compositions for lamellae joints.

Since the weakest place of any laminate is the joints between the panels, their additional repulsive water processing guarantees a long service life of the coating.

On the Internet, you can find a lot of video materials according to both the method of lock clutch and the substrate using adhesive compositions.

Council. For the kitchen it is better to stop on the installation of the laminate of the joint in the joint, without a lock clutch. This will further process the seams with water-repellent glue. The only negative of this method of installation is if you damage one lamels during operation, it cannot be replaced. We will have to dismantle the coating.

If it is decided to mount the floor from the laminate in the kitchen with your own hands, then carefully additionally seal the joints of the slats with a special sealant.

Waterproof laminate

Production technology is constantly being improved and in stores you can find the laminate is absolutely resistant to water. Manufacturers ensure that this material may be in water for more than twenty-four hours and will retain all its specifications.

What a laminate to choose for the kitchen is moisture-proof or waterproof. After all, the price of these materials is distinguished by almost twice.

Waterproof laminate for the kitchen is still preferable. Especially if the owners often take a long time for a long time, and neighbors forget to turn off the water in the bathroom on top.
Features of finishing and texture

There are several options for laminate finishing to give it natural wood texture:

Embossing;
Stamping in the register;
Braching;
Chromium zone.

Each of these textures has its own distinctive features of production and operating conditions.

Embossing

In this case, the method on the lamellas is applied a thicker protective layer, which is pushed or cut along the length of the plank. The photo shows that a complete illusion of the use of natural wood is created.

Such a coating is possible to wash much less often, and contamination is not too visible on it. In addition, the material acquires extra strength.

Embossing in the register

The grooves cut on the protective layer coincide with the painter of wood finish. It looks very impressive and stylish. The choice of laminate for the kitchen can be stopped in this embodiment. Especially if such a laminate has moisture resistance.

Braching

Treatment combines embossing and staining of grooves with re-coating with a protective layer. This gives material strength and resistance to abrasion.

Chrome zone

Chromium alloy, which decorate the grooves on the lamellas, not only strengthens the material, but also makes it extremely spectacular.

So, what to choose a laminate for the kitchen:

Resistant to moisture;
With a solid basis - not lower than the abrasion of 33;

Council. Whatever the sellers of laminate in Russia, the specifications of the abrasion class 3 is not.

With antistatic surface treatment;
Environmentally safe.

Whatever the choice of laminate for the kitchen was not made, the main thing is that the material is high-quality. And depends only on tastes and the preferences of the home.