What is better in the kitchen: tile or laminate

Repair in the kitchen requires, above all, a competent approach. It is necessary to carefully study all the features of different materials, choose a kitchen set and decide on the exhaust system. But the greatest attention should be paid to the floor covering. When confronted with the laying of the floor, many wonder what kind of flooring is better for the kitchen: tile or laminate?

The kitchen is the most visited place in the whole house. In the kitchen, gather with friends over a cup of coffee or at a family dinner with the family. That is why the kitchen floor should meet the following requirements:

• Initially, the kitchen floor should be as comfortable as possible.
• The coating must meet hygienic requirements.
• The kitchen floor must be distinguished by high wear resistance.
• All dirt should be easily removed from the surface.

The requirements for kitchen cover are more demanding than the floor in the bedroom, hallway or living room. The fact is that during the cooking process, the kitchen floor is exposed to more pollution, as a result of which more often it is necessary to clean and wash the floor. Therefore, materials for flooring should be resistant to various chemical cleaning products.

And, of course, the kitchen floor should be attractive in appearance. If the room is made in a specific color or style, it is necessary to take this into account in order to select the appropriate floor.

Laminate is a very common flooring today. It is a laminated chipboard or fiberboard. The structure of the laminate consists of the following materials:

• The top layer of the coating has a protective function. This is a laminating film, which is made from melamine or acrylic resin. The main objective of this material is to prevent fading and abrasion of the surface.
• The second layer is paper, on which a drawing imitating various textures is applied.
• The third layer is the main one; it is made of chipboard or fiberboard.
• The final layer is waterproof melamine. His task is to protect against deformation.

Laminate, depending on the degree of wear resistance is divided into classes:

21 - perfect for living space (bedroom).

22 - also perfect for living rooms with a high degree of exploitation (children's room, living room).

23 - perfect for rooms with frequent traffic (kitchen, hall)

31 is a great option for an office space with low traffic (meeting room, office manager).

32 - the best option for the office.

33 - for commercial premises with high traffic (hall, reception).

Many buyers mistakenly believe that laminate flooring is not suitable as flooring in a kitchen.This is absolutely not the case, because modern laminate meets all the requirements for the kitchen floor. The advantages of the laminate include:

• Simple and quick installation. Unsuitable part of the flooring can be replaced without much effort.
• Acceptable cost. The price range is quite wide, which allows each customer to choose an option according to their financial capabilities.
• Durability. With proper care, the laminate can last for quite a long time. Laminate (starting from the 32nd level) can last for decades!
• Wide range of. A rich color palette and the presence of a variety of textured elements allow you to choose a laminate for any interior.
• Warm surface. Unlike tiles, laminate has a low thermal conductivity, which means that it is able to remain warm even in the winter season.
• The possibility of combining. Laminate flooring can be laid on top of the floor heating system.

Unfortunately, no flooring has the perfect qualities. The disadvantages of laminate include:

• Low moisture resistance. With prolonged contact with water, especially at the joints, the laminate may swell.Numerous customer reviews prove that this disadvantage does not apply to waterproof laminate, the impact of the liquid will not cause any harm to it.
• The possibility of sliding. A laminate with a slippery surface may not be safe. Choosing a laminate you need to pay great attention to texture.

The tile for a kitchen floor covering is presented in bigger assortment, than a laminate. Among the varieties for the kitchen floor on the market are the following:

• Ceramic tile. This coating is a plate of various sizes. Ceramic tiles are ideal for wall and floor tiling. This coating is made from natural materials such as sand and clay. Ceramic tiles are available in a wide range of colors, the design can even imitate various coatings, such as laminate or linoleum.
• Porcelain tiles. Such material is the most common for laying on the floor. It has a small number of pores in the structure, which provides high protection against moisture penetration.
• Cotto tile. Cotto's cover belongs to Country style.This flooring is exclusively in terracotta tones. This tile is often placed on the kitchen floor, despite the fact that after laying it needs additional waxing.
• Glass tile. Recently, in modern kitchen interiors, glass tiles have been used as flooring. This fine material is distinguished by a low degree of pollution and high wear resistance. Glass tiles with built-in light indicators will add novelty and modernity to the kitchen.

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The main advantages of the tiles include:

1. Resistant to moisture. Ceramic surface is able to retain moisture for a long time.
2. Wear resistance. The tile is capable to surprise with the service life. Without special care, such a floor is able to last more than a dozen years, while looking almost pristine.
3. Easy care. The tile does not need much attention and special care. To maintain an attractive appearance, it is sufficiently timely wet processing.
4. No slippery surface. This applies to tile with a rough texture. Such coverage will be absolutely safe.

The disadvantages include:

• Fragility.Despite the dense structure of the material, the tile can be deformed due to the fall of heavy objects on it.
• Foundation stiffness. In case of falling of ware on a ceramic floor covering the chance of its preservation will be minimum.
• Cold surface. Without the additional presence of a warm floor system, ceramic tiles will create uncomfortable sensations due to the cold surface.

It is impossible to say which coating is better to put on the kitchen. After all, when choosing, an important role is played by such details as the interior, features of the kitchen room and the own wishes of the owners of the house or apartment. The above advantages and disadvantages of laminate and tile will help to finally determine the choice of coverage for a particular kitchen.