Tile on the floor for the kitchen

The kitchen is the most popular place in the apartment. Very often there are sitting at the table, tea, family dinners. The hostesses spend a huge amount of time in the kitchen to cook tasty and healthy food.

Let's see why tile is such a popular flooring in the kitchen.

The tile is widely used as a floor covering for kitchen thanks to the advantages before other types of a covering. But, like any material, he has both supporters and opponents who vote for and against the use of tiles on the floor.

The main advantages of tile on the floor for the kitchen:

• Increased strength. Tiled floor is not deformed. That is, despite the fact that the kitchen often has heavy furniture (cupboards with dishes and products, a massive table and chairs, household appliances), it does not negatively affect the flooring. If the tile is laid out qualitatively, then no load is terrible for it.
• Ease and ease of repair. If, however, an unpleasant situation occurs and one of the tiles is damaged, you will not have to completely change the coating. It is enough to replace one piece, which has become unusable.
• Wear resistance will allow your floor to keep the initial appearance more than 15 years. The paint will not become more faded and will not fade under the action of sunlight.
• Easy to care. Cleaning and washing the floor, you can not be afraid to damage the tile floor. Without fear, you can use any detergents and cleaning products, they will not harm the tile on the floor. In addition, the tile does not absorb grease, dirt, water and odors.
• High temperature resistant. Even if you spill hot water, or your burning match inadvertently falls, they will not damage the tile floor.

• The sophistication of the coating, a huge amount of colors, textures and models.You can choose the tile on the floor for every taste, under a different style and interior of the kitchen.
• Reasonable prices. Tiles from domestic manufacturers can be purchased at an affordable price and high quality.
• The tile does not harm the household and pets. It is made from natural material (sand and clay), and does not cause allergies.
• Tiled flooring does not attract dust, so it will remain clean for a long time.

But, like any other coating, along with a large number of positive characteristics, tile on the floor also has some drawbacks.

The main disadvantages of this coating:

1. The floor is tile cold. If you are used to walking around the apartment or house barefoot, then in winter your legs will freeze quickly. Installing a heated floor will help to cope with this disadvantage. In the summer, this disadvantage turns into an advantage: after all, on a hot day, it is so pleasant to walk on a cool floor.
2. Tile is a very hard material. If you drop a glass beaker, a ceramic plate or a porcelain cup on the floor, then most likely they will break.
3. If something heavy falls on the tiled floor, chipping or scratching may appear on the floor.

Comparing the pros and cons of tile on the kitchen floor, it can be seen that the number of positive characteristics far exceeds the disadvantages, and the negative points can be avoided if you show a bit of caution.

The main icons that you can find on the tile packaging:

• the foot of white on a black background is a floor tile, if a brush is painted on the same background it is tile on the wall;
• foot on shaded field - increased durability;
• diamond icon - the degree of hardness of the material;
• marking color indicates the type of tile: 1st grade - red tint; 2nd - blue color; 3rd — green tone.

As a floor covering for the kitchen, it is worth using a tile that has the following criteria:

1. Hardness and impact resistance. These criteria correspond to a fairly thick tile with a small porosity. The less porous tile, the more durable it is. Glazed tile also has a high impact resistance.
2. Resistance to chemicals and abrasion. This indicator affects the quality of enamel and the presence of special additives.
3. Slip In order not to slip in the kitchen, choose a tile on the floor with a relief or roughness. Even if you inadvertently pour water on such a floor in the kitchen, you will not slip.
4. Resistance to temperature changes. The less porous tile, the better it tolerates large temperature changes.
5. Accuracy of the sizes, thickness and form of a tile. If the tiles are the same shape, size and thickness, your kitchen floor will have the perfect look. In addition, it will reduce the cost of sealing seams.

Buying a tile, you should take some time to examine it. So you immediately appreciate its quality. A high quality tile should be:

• smooth;
• not have cracks, and even more chipped;
• tile edges should be smooth on all sides.

For laying tile on the floor must be carefully prepared. The base on which to lay the tiles must be firm and level. There should be no empty space between the base and the tile.Since under the influence of a large load, the tile can crack.

It will be necessary to repair all cracks, holes and irregularities on the surface. Be sure to remove debris and dust before applying glue to the tile.

There are several ways to put tile on the floor:

1. Traditional - tiles must be laid flush with each other parallel to the walls. This way you will get a real work of art on the kitchen floor, made up of various pieces.
2. Diagonal - the tile does not fall directly, but diagonally. This method will require you to increase costs, as there will be a lot of waste. If you like this way of laying, then invite a high-class specialist, otherwise the floor in the kitchen may turn out to be crooked. But this method will help to hide the lack of uneven floors and walls.
3. In the form of brickwork - very often used for laying rectangular tiles. Ideal will look such a coating, if you use a tile in the form of a brick or wood. It is not necessary to lay brickwork diagonally, since this method focuses attention on irregular geometric proportions of the room.
4. To add space to the room, use a Christmas tree arrangement. It can be applied from floor to ceiling. In the form of a Christmas tree, you can put a rectangular and square tiles.
5. Modular method - laying is carried out in compliance with a specific pattern. Modular tile may include diverse elements, borders and finishing inserts. On such a tile the special designation "modulare" is indicated.

Take care also about buying ceramic skirting. It will be more advantageous to emphasize the tiled floor in the kitchen than a plastic or wooden counterpart. Easier to buy ready-made ceramic plinth. But you can also do it yourself, using the remaining floor tile. It will need to be cut into pieces of a certain size.

As a grout, use a composition that matches the tone of the flooring color. Such a little trick will create the impression of a solid surface. If you want to emphasize the geometric pattern on the floor, then use a grout in a contrasting color. In addition, the seams of a darker shade will help make the room look cleaner.

There are many different ideas that can help you create a stylish designer floor covering. Be sure to pay attention to the style of the kitchen. The floor should be a logical addition to the interior.

Choosing a tile on the floor, pay attention to the size of the room. For example, if you put light tile without seams, it will visually increase the kitchen area. The transverse laying of a rectangular tile visually expands a narrow room.

Popular design ideas for kitchen flooring:

1. Chess laying tiles of two colors. The tile can be laid out in a checkerboard pattern or diagonally. Such an idea will add to the room of originality and refresh the interior. Making the room, try to make it a bit monotonous, otherwise you will get not a stylish design, but a motley room.
2. The tile imitating natural materials: wood, stone or marble looks stylish and extraordinary. It is perfect for an eco-style kitchen.
3. You want to give the kitchen refinement and sophistication, then stop your choice on a plain tile.If you choose an unusual color or texture, then you can make the kitchen in the original style.

The kitchen can be done in one of the popular styles:

1. The classic style is characterized by a light-colored floor covering, for example, beige, cream and brown.
2. Minimalism and high-tech prefer a minimum of parts, so the floor in the kitchen is better to make a uniform, for example, white, gray or black.
3. Country, like the classic, prefers light shades. For example, using a small tile of various shades, you can create a structure that resembles a patterned carpet.
4. Modern will look great with bright contrast tiles laid in a checkerboard pattern.
5. Ethnic style will emphasize the tile with a variety of patterns, made in the form of abstraction, geometry or colors.

Stopping your choice on a tile of various colors and shades, remember that the floor should not stand out and catch the eye. Also note that on a glossy tile there are very noticeable drops of water, and a matte or embossed surface is more difficult to clean up from contamination.

Properly chosen tile for the kitchen floor focuses on the advantages of the room, complements its style and design.Tiled flooring will last you more than one year, maintaining its original appearance and not requiring you to take great care.