Laminate in the kitchen: the pros and cons

The kitchen is one of the most important parts of any home. For every housewife it is important that the kitchen is cozy and functional. In addition, an important point is the sexual surface of the kitchen area, which constantly requires care and cleaning. It is important that the floor surface withstands moisture and is easy to clean off any dirt. One of the most popular and fashionable coatings of this century is considered to be laminated board, or laminate.

Laminate is used in construction and repair not so long ago, but is one of the most popular flooring. This is not surprising, because the floor covered with laminate, looks quite aesthetic, and the variety of shapes and colors of laminated boards allows you to choose the right option for any interior.

Laminate is considered a natural product, as 60% consists of wood, namely, pressed wood sawdust. This material is a good alternative to expensive parquet, can significantly save the family budget without compromising the beauty of the interior. Laminate flooring is chosen by those who value environmental friendliness and naturalness for reasonable money.

If you decide to choose laminate flooring as a flooring for the kitchen, then you should pay attention to those models that are resistant to water. Laminate for the kitchen has many options for shapes, colors and sizes, but each of them has high strength, is not afraid of bumps and scratches, it is easy to wash, there are no stains and stains on it.

The kitchen with a laminate floor looks more comfortable, the wood is much warmer than ceramic tiles, and it is much more pleasant to walk on it. This is an important factor for families with small children. Laminate can imitate absolutely any wood species, you can also opt for a board that repeats the pattern of natural stones. In this case, the laminate is very similar to tile. Special fans of laminated boards can even afford to put an apron of laminate,which will look like an ordinary tile.

Despite the large number of advantages, laminate for the kitchen has some drawbacks. Like any wood, laminated board does not like moisture. Modern models of laminate are well protected from moisture using a special coating, but water caught in the joints between the boards still poses a risk to the floor. The most annoying thing is that you may not notice the spilled water and will not be able to control its ingress under the laminated fabric.

Many argue about the safety of laminate in the kitchen, as it consists of formaldehyde. These substances are able to accumulate in the body, turning into serious consequences. But this applies only to cheap boards, where the manufacturer does not pay enough attention to the environmental friendliness of their products.

The reason for abandoning the laminate flooring in the kitchen can be his sonority. If you drop something on the floor, a hundred noise from the falling object will be very strong. That is why it is recommended to lay the laminate on a sound-absorbing substrate. More expensive materials are immediately supplied with a sound-absorbing effect.

All the pros and cons of laminated flooring will help you decide what to put on the kitchen floor.

The name of the laminate speaks for itself. This type of laminate resembles the structure of wood, has a smooth surface. For greater naturalness, manufacturers put small cracks and depressions on the canvas that more closely resemble a natural wooden surface.

As a rule, the laminate of the classic wood color has a matte surface that does not slip, it looks quite simple, but with taste. If you prefer the rigor and conciseness in the interior, then this model of the laminate is ideal for your kitchen.

Natural wood tends to age and lose its attractive appearance and whiteness. If you are a fan of retro style, and your interior corresponds to it, then feel free to choose laminate in the form of aged wood. This flooring has smoothed abrasions, uneven color, characterized by the effect of faded colors.

Laminated fabric is made by an amateur, since few people want to put an “old” laminate in their new fresh kitchen.But, nevertheless, there are a lot of gourmets who are delighted with the boards of this type.

Laminate with a glossy surface looks incredibly attractive. The kitchen floor, covered with a laminated board with a gloss effect, immediately falls in love. Glitter is present not only on the floor, but throughout the room. Glossy laminate floor resembles a wooden floor, which is abundantly and carefully varnished. In appearance, it may seem that this type of floor is slippery, but it only seems that way. You can not be afraid but that you or someone from your family will slip on the floor.

Laminate for kitchen with a textured surface is a board with clearly visible lines and hollows, which are inherent in natural wood. Stepping onto the surface of the floor, you will feel some relief that will remind you of natural wood. Such a laminate is considered quite useful and has a positive effect on the human nervous system.Surprisingly, such a part of the room as the floor is able to restore emotional balance when you walk on it barefoot.

Laminate with a relief surface is somewhat similar to texture models, but in this case, manufacturers do not set a goal to reproduce the pattern of wood. Laminate only has a slight roughness along the entire length of the board, chamfered. This texture is quite pleasant to the touch, I want to step on the floor and walk on it barefoot.

Laminate for the kitchen with the effect of sheawood has a smooth and smooth texture. When stepping on such a floor you will not feel any protrusions and roughness. Externally, this floor is a matte surface, which is carefully treated with linseed oil. It may also seem to someone that instead of a laminate linoleum is laid on the floor, so no fossa is visible on it and it's time.

This type of laminate is like waxed boards. This floor radiates an incredible heat inside, and the kitchen becomes unusually cozy and comfortable. Waxed laminate is most often similar to solid solid boards spread from the beginning to the end of a room.

Laminated boards of this type are perfect for kitchens in country houses, where everything natural and close to nature is appreciated. And the floor here should not be an exception. Country-style laminate is reminiscent of wooden boards, which are lightly treated with a plane. The floor has a slightly raised surface. The drawing of such a laminate is a tree, on which traces of knots and cracks are visible.

Laying laminate can be done by hand without the help of experts. Your main task is to comply with all recommendations indicated in the instructions. In order to lay the laminate on the floor, it is necessary to level the surface well so that later no cavities are formed. To do this, you can use a concrete screed, the thickness of which depends on the angle of differences on the floor.

After the concrete surface is completely dry, it is worth laying it with a special substrate that will absorb the noise and serve as additional insulation for the floor. After this begins the process of directly laying laminate. It is best to start laying should be from the far corner of the kitchen, moving to the exit.

It is recommended to purchase such a number of boards that exceeds the required volume by 10%. This will help in the case of fit and trim.

Since there are a huge number of manufacturers of laminate, then the reviews about it are quite contradictory. Generally speaking, most people are satisfied with this sex. Many note the durability of laminated boards, ease of maintenance and aesthetics. Laminate looks beautiful and expensive, sometimes even eliminates the need to cover the floor with a carpet.