How to choose a laminate for the kitchen and hallway

The acquaintance of guests with your home begins from the hallway. This is how the first impression about the apartment and, as a result, about its owner is formed.

In the kitchen, as a rule, we spend a large amount of time, prepare dinner or receive guests. Let's look at how to create the most comfortable atmosphere in these rooms and how the correct choice of laminate can affect this.

We also analyze what product characteristics you should pay attention to when choosing.

If you are doing repairs in the kitchen, then by itself, sooner or later, think about how to arrange the floor. Among all the options for this design has the most significant advantages of the laminate. But the question quite reasonably arises: is this material suitable for the kitchen?

For this, it is worthwhile to get acquainted with its advantages, disadvantages and other various characteristics.

Among the advantages of laminate, which just make it possible to use it in the kitchen, we highlight the following:

• Put it easy. It will not take much time.
• Laminate in the kitchen can last for a long time, it is unpretentious in care, is immune to temperature changes and hit by direct rays of the sun.
• Another indisputable advantage is the ability to select the desired option, as there are many offers for every taste and color. In addition, in the kitchen laminate will look great. You can choose a product, stylized wood or stone.
• Laminate flooring is practically indistinguishable from parquet. In addition, it is possible to install it on the so-called heated floors.

Now let's talk about the disadvantages of laminate. Sometimes there is a material that is afraid of moisture. If you have not placed a substrate under the laminate floor, then do not be surprised that when you walk the floor will creak, making well-audible sounds, and if you get low-quality laminate, then it is even more serious as it may affect health.

It is necessary to attentively and competently approach the choice of material, so that later you do not have to regret.

In the kitchen, laminate can get water, and in this part of the apartment you need to constantly wash the floors. Therefore, you need to choose a material that is protected from moisture, and the options that are suitable for you are moisture-resistant and waterproof laminate flooring.

Moisture resistant laminate has a treatment with a protective composition, as well as another layer. The seams during installation must be well treated with moisture resistant glue. This material will cope with hit of small splashes.

The disadvantage of this material is that it is impossible to replace one part of it. In the event of failure of one part, you will have to completely change the entire floor.

Another advantage of such a floor: you can not handle the joining seams, but a minus of it is that if the protective layer is damaged, properties that can resist moisture are lost.

Laminate for the kitchen is divided into several types. Each of them is equipped with a different ability to resist moisture and durability. The strength class of the product begins with the number 2. For example: 21, 22 and so on. The smaller the layers in the boards, the less time they will last.

Service life, judging by the reviews - from five to seven years. And this is the case if you use them without additional load. Laminate, the so-called commercial type, begins with the number 3. These laminates - more durable. These products are not afraid of water, however, the best version for the kitchen is the material of a class above 31.

Classes 32 and 33 consist of a considerable number of different layers. Their distinctive features are excellent strength and resistance to water. They are perfectly adapted for work spaces as well as swimming pools. In a city apartment such a floor will last more than 25 years.

Class 34, according to experts, can be located on your floor literally forever. This floor can be cleaned with a variety of means - it will be nothing. It is protected from various kinds of damage. It is possible, using the 34th class, to lay under its foundation "warm floors".

When choosing a laminate for the kitchen, in addition to all the above features, consider how harmonious it will look in the context of your interior.

In the spacious kitchen the floor should be chic and beautiful. The laminate stylized under a tile will be very interesting to look. It will give the effect of completeness of the urban interior and will look very elegant.

If your main goal is to lose weight, then do not use bright colors in the interior of the kitchen, including the laminate. Since such tones cause increased appetite and stimulate the feeling of hunger.

If your kitchen is small in size, then avoid the option of decorating laminate tiles. Visually, such a laminate in the kitchen will focus on the small size of the room, and you don’t need this at all.

Choosing a laminate for the hallway, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the product, which will determine the suitability of one or another laminate for a certain type of premises.

Let's try a little plunge into the world of varieties of laminates. There is a smooth laminate and glossy. The second will be very noticeable traces of touch. On the matte traces are not visible and it is not as slippery as glossy. Textural, in turn, looks very realistic.

Ideal strength - the key to success.

It should be when choosing a laminate in the hallway to take into account the fact that the floor in this part of the apartment is often often wiped with a damp cloth. Also in the autumn or spring seasons in the hallway from the shoes can accumulate a large amount of water. When choosing a laminate, keep in mind that it is adapted to moisture, that is, options for moisture-resistant and waterproof products will be very suitable.

The thickness of the laminate for the hallway may be around 8 mm. There may be thinner samples that are not inferior in quality to thicker counterparts.

When self-laying laminate should be remembered:

If you decide to independently lay laminate, then consider some of the nuances. Purchase more panels than the number you originally planned.

We advise you to lay the panels in the kitchen in the direction in which the window sunlight falls. This technique will hide the place of the seams.

The simplest placement options for panels are across the room or along the distance from the window. Before starting work, try to level the floor properly, think over waterproofing. If the room is small, then you should not choose a laminate of several shades - this will visually make the room even closer.

Wipe the laminate with a soft cloth, preferably dry or not very wet. It is better to use specialized substances in order not to damage the integrity of the coating. In the place that is closest to the sink, place a rubber carpet to hold it in place.

If you want to protect the floor from mechanical damage, it will be better to stand furniture,household appliances and other household items pasted soft material. This will protect the surface of the floor. In the event that minor damage could not be avoided, you can use a variety of substances, during application of which scratches will not be very noticeable.

When choosing laminate in the hallway and the kitchen, as we have said, consider the design of the room. It is better to choose a material that is resistant to water and moisture.

We hope that our article will become a real helper for you in the choice of laminate, which will not only be durable and convenient, but will also become a real decoration of your apartment, help to create coziness and an indispensable feeling of comfort.