For every person, a house is an outlet for his heart, a place where he is calm and comfortable. He constantly tries to transform his corner, because he wants to return to a beautifully designed dwelling, and the interior decoration of the premises affects his worldview and psychological state. Overhaul begins with a bathroom and kitchen area, since it is impossible to do without a gas stove, sink, faucets. In order to carry out events quickly, they think in advance and select raw materials for wall, ceiling, floor in the kitchen.
The flooring plays an important role in the interior, it is laid at the final stage, after the design of the ceiling and partitions. When choosing a suitable building material, many factors are taken into account: the area and features of the room, number of storeys, lighting, general style. To understand the huge assortment that the construction market offers, we will consider in detail the existing options for finishing materials.
Features and requirements for flooring for the kitchen
Repairing the floor in the kitchen room is a responsible, laborious process. According to generally accepted norms, several types of repair work are distinguished: capital, cosmetic. The first type takes a lot of time, they resort to it either during settlement, or with a complete change in the design of the room, its redevelopment. The second option is a simplified version of the previous one, where only the old is dismantled and new material is laid that meets certain requirements:
Water and moisture resistance. The room has increased humidity, periodically spills water on the floor, even at the most accurate housewife.
Resistance to heat and temperature. Drops of boiling oil and grease can get on the coating, and the room is constantly heated from the stove and oven. Good building material should be immune to such influences.
Wear resistance and resistance to mechanical damage. The load exerted on the surface is enormous. People are constantly here, furniture, stools, chairs move, sometimes heavy kitchen objects fall to the surface.
Easy care. The material should simply be washed and cleaned of impurities.
Aesthetics. Functionality and practicality are very important, but also pay attention to the conformity of the cladding to the overall style of decoration.
Screed and floor insulation in the kitchen
In most cases, a rough repair is indispensable. Work begins with the dismantling of the old coating, checking the base for the presence of fungus, mold, flaws, and other defects. Sometimes communication, filling the foundation is required. Then they begin to waterproof the surface, which many often forget.
If there is a leak in the kitchen, the waterproofing layer will not save the flooring, but it will not leak moisture, which will save the landlord from repairing the ceiling from the neighbors living below.
The next step will be the insulation of the floor. This is an important point, since 20% of the heat loss falls on it. You can perform actions in several ways:
laying of a heat-insulated floor;
backfill with bulk materials;
polystyrene foam laying.
The final layer of the rough finish is the screed. It allows you to align the plane. After it dries, the floor can be laid on the finished surface. Before pouring, the base is cleaned of dust and dirt, a primer is applied, and beacons are installed. Then a cement-sand mortar is mixed and poured, which is aligned with the rule for fixed beacons. As a plasticizer, liquid soap is sometimes added.
Types of flooring: advantages and disadvantages
Manufacturers produce a wide range of building materials that satisfy all the requirements for coating for a kitchen room. However, you should avoid some types of raw materials, for example, carpet, other types of soft carpet materials. Spilled liquid on the carpet leads to stains that are very difficult and sometimes impossible to remove. These options are best used in the hallway or living room.
Linoleum and ceramic tiles remain the most popular in the decoration of the kitchen. Also, bulk, concrete, wooden floors, porcelain tiles, cork wood, parquet, laminate are laid here. In some cases, if necessary, perform zoning, carry out the combination of various materials. This idea helps to make the division of the house, studio apartment, converted from a one-room Khrushchev.
Linoleum
For many decades, this material remains very popular among the population. It is practical and convenient, and you can lay it yourself.There are two main types of this raw material: natural (marmoleum), artificial. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages:
The benefits of natural linoleum:
environmentally friendly product, it is safe for humans, does not cause allergic reactions of the body;
it does not accumulate static electricity, and therefore does not attract dust;
the coating is durable, its service life reaches 20 years;
has a wide selection of shades, more than 2 thousand;
Burning the material is very difficult, it does not support the combustion process;
does not fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation;
characterized by good sound insulation;
keeps warm.
Among the shortcomings can be identified:
fragility, roll models cannot be folded several times;
has a lot of weight;
It is difficult to cut when laying.
Manufacturers do not recommend laying building material on top of a warm floor, since it does not allow heat to pass through well.
Artificial linoleum is produced from various raw materials, among which one can distinguish: PVC, alkyd, rubber, colloxyl. For residential use only the first option, characterized by the following advantages:
service life is 10-15 years;
the material is resistant to abrasion;
it is waterproof, does not let moisture pass.
it is easily cleared of pollution;
has a low cost;
resistant to mechanical stress.
Disadvantages:
poorly restores shape after moving previously installed heavy objects;
it is vapor-proof, when moisture gets under the coating, mold forms;
chemical components are used in production;
styling requires a perfectly flat base.
Cork
The material can be compared with OSB, but it is thinner and more ductile. The finish consists of pressed wood chips and binders. The statement about its ecological qualities, compared with natural wood, is not substantiated.This coating is no better than laminate or linoleum, it is based on vinyl or PVC, the cork itself often does not exceed 2-3 mm. The glue used to press the cork floor can release harmful substances for a long time. The advantages of this building material include:
waterproof, from 100% spilled liquid, the raw material absorbs 20%.
it is very warm to the touch;
soft, it’s pleasant to walk on it; when dropped, dishes do not break;
differs in good noise isolation;
immune to fungal infection;
has low static;
small trash is not visible on it;
there are models with a non-slip surface.
Disadvantages:
unattractive appearance;
high price;
must be laid on a perfectly flat base;
subject to burnout;
difficult to care for;
afraid of scratches, mechanical damage;
it is impossible to remove grease stains, paint, and other impurities.
Wooden floors
Finishing with natural wood looks very solid and rich. This is a classic building material that will never go out of style. Putting it is possible only after special processing. The most accessible is coniferous wood such as spruce or pine. In the presence of free cash, it is better to give preference to oak, beech, ash. These types will cost much more, but their strength and durability are significantly higher. The material is characterized by the following advantages:
long term of operation, at oak floors can reach 60 and more years;
It is an environmentally friendly product;
differs in high rates of sound and thermal insulation;
withstands heavy loads;
has an attractive appearance;
compatible with any style.
Disadvantages:
DIY styling requires carpentry skills and tools;
the high cost of the processed board, which depends on the type of wood, its geometric parameters;
afraid of moisture and temperature changes;
requires constant care, periodic treatment with special protective compounds.
Parquet
Parquet board has a very attractive appearance, thanks to its unique texture. Consists of three main layers. Upper - its thickness is 3-4 centimeters, varnished, made of hardwood. Medium - represented by spruce, pine, rubber lamellas. The bottom is ordinary plywood. Such a composition allows to reduce the cost of facing material. Four main types can also be distinguished: parquet, piece, tiled, panel board. The advantages include:
with proper installation and operation, parquet can last several decades;
the finished product is varnished, oil, wax, does not require additional processing;
It has several types of connections: adhesive, castle.
put it on your own by force;
it is warm as ordinary wood;
characterized by a natural pattern;
Looks good in a home interior.
Disadvantages:
high cost compared to linoleum, laminate, tile;
it is difficult to remove stains from spilled liquids from the surface, for example, from red wine, cherry, carrot, beetroot juice;
afraid of mechanical stress;
when wet, it can swell and deform;
requires constant careful care using special products.
Laminate
Some experts give advice not to use this coating in the kitchen, offering to install it in other rooms, for example, in the corridor. However, if you correctly select the type and class of material, perform high-quality preparation of the base, protect the joints from moisture, then these raw materials can easily be laid in the kitchen room. When buying finished products, you should pay attention to wear resistance, level of moisture resistance, method of connecting elements, thickness, manufacturer. If you consider all the recommendations, then in the end you can get:
high-quality floor that is not afraid of bumps, chips, scratches;
very warm material, it is nice to walk on it barefoot;
he is not afraid of temperature fluctuations;
it is easy to clean from any kind of pollution;
the surface is resistant to abrasion;
no dents from heavy objects remain on it.
Disadvantages:
it may swell when wet;
waterproof models have a high cost;
the floor may creak;
poorly absorbs noise;
for safety, it is worth choosing models with emission class E0 or E1.
Floor tiles
Manufacturers produce a wide range of this building material, which differs among themselves in color, shape, type of coating. Floor ceramic tiles are made in three ways: by casting, extruding, and pressing. This is one of the most practical and budgetary coatings. For a kitchen room, you should not choose products with a glossy surface, on the matte, slight defects and damage are less noticeable. Among the main advantages of this material can be identified:
good durability;
low cost;
easy care;
characterized by a long service life of several decades;
it is fireproof, does not burn, does not deform from high temperatures;
does not fade when exposed to sunlight;
environmentally friendly material, does not emit harmful substances;
raw materials are moisture neutral;
local damage can be easily repaired.
Disadvantages:
it is cold, it is recommended to use a warm floor during installation;
requires a prepared, flat surface;
has poor sound insulation;
when dropped, kitchen items are guaranteed to break.
Porcelain Tiles
The product is made from a mixture of white-burning clay and kaolin, with impurities of mineral pigments, quartz sand, water. Externally and in terms of performance, the product resembles standard ceramic tiles. This is ideal for a kitchen room. The material is superior in hardness to natural granite. It has the following specifications:
has low water absorption;
the coating is immune to chemicals;
not afraid of temperature changes;
it is a wear-resistant raw material;
does not fade, does not lose its appearance over time;
differs in high shock durability;
The material is durable.
Disadvantages:
costs more than a tile covering;
the surface is very cold;
from a strong blow can crack;
has fewer design options compared to ceramic counterparts.
Self-leveling floors
The second name for bulk coatings is liquid linoleum. A distinctive feature of this method of finishing is that the material is poured, not laid. The result is a very flat plane, on the surface of which there are no seams. All types of liquid floors differ in composition. There are 4 main types: methyl methacrylate, epoxy, polyurethane, cement-acrylic. The last three can be used for the kitchen room. Among the main advantages of this building material are:
beautiful appearance;
long term of operation, which reaches 40 years;
wear resistance;
good grip on any base;
the coating forms an airtight layer, providing additional waterproofing.
a large selection of color palettes, there are 3D options;
The material is environmentally friendly.
Disadvantages:
difficult dismantling;
very high price;
cold surface; it is recommended to install a warm floor in tandem with the system;
vapor impermeability.
Concrete floor
Such unusual material for interior decoration of premises as concrete can fill the floor in the kitchen. It is as cold as tiles or bulk models, but when using a warm floor, this drawback can be eliminated. This is an ideal cladding for lovers of the loft style. The surface can be painted using a special acid composition, give it a beautiful look, make an imitation of natural stone, wood, ceramic tiles. The advantages of building materials include:
naturalness, environmental friendliness;
fire resistance, raw materials do not burn;
durability, service life can reach 20-30 years;
due to its solidity, it does not allow moisture to pass through, prevents the development of microorganisms
resistant to water, chemicals;
with special surface treatment, it becomes wear-resistant;
low cost.
Disadvantages:
a small selection of colors;
difficult dismantling;
without topping and mineral, organic impregnation, the coating will wear out quickly.
Each style has its own gender
The floor occupies a large area in any room, it has a significant impact on the overall appearance of the room, emphasizes its merits, and must correspond to the chosen direction. When buying flooring also take into account the style of the kitchen. Consider several popular options:
1. Classic. For a budget design, ordinary linoleum, ceramic tiles of light, beige tones, laid diagonally or “herringbone” are suitable. For more expensive finishes, natural wood, parquet, artificial stone are used. 2. Modern style, for example, hi-tech, minimalism. Plain floors with no pattern are suitable for them. You can cover linoleum, tile. Concrete coating will become indispensable for the direction of the loft. 3. Ethnic. The Japanese style uses a dark floor made from natural polished wood. For Chinese - fit wooden panels, cork. Do not use laminate, tile. For Scandinavian - natural wood with a natural shade is used.
Colors - how to choose the color of the floor
In the kitchen, people spend a lot of time. They cook, relax, gather with the whole family for a meal. Therefore, the choice of color is very important. Each shade has a psychological effect on a person, can act soothingly or cause aggression.The main rule when choosing the background of the flooring - it should be combined with the design of the walls and furniture.
In terms of design, light tone is universal, suitable for both large and small rooms. Dark shades are good to use in large rooms with good lighting. If natural light is not enough, then such an atmosphere will tire. This option makes it possible to create contrasting solutions, combine black colors on the floor with white, beige walls.
When dividing a room into different working areas, you can use not only the combined materials used for flooring, but also various colors. At the same time, the transition from one shade to another should be made smooth. You should not use a multi-colored floor in a small kitchen. This combination will visually reduce the space.
Conclusion
Having considered the existing types of flooring for the kitchen, everyone can easily choose the appropriate option. At the same time, you can improve your living conditions without significant investments. It will be possible to save not only on the choice of inexpensive finishes, but also on the services of specialists by performing repair work with your own hands.
For every person, a house is an outlet for his heart, a place where he is calm and comfortable. He constantly tries to transform his corner, because he wants to return to a beautifully designed dwelling, and the interior decoration of the premises affects his worldview and psychological state. Overhaul begins with a bathroom and kitchen area, since it is impossible to do without a gas stove, sink, faucets. In order to carry out events quickly, they think in advance and select raw materials for wall, ceiling, floor in the kitchen.
The flooring plays an important role in the interior, it is laid at the final stage, after the design of the ceiling and partitions. When choosing a suitable building material, many factors are taken into account: the area and features of the room, number of storeys, lighting, general style. To understand the huge assortment that the construction market offers, we will consider in detail the existing options for finishing materials.
Content
Features and requirements for flooring for the kitchen
Repairing the floor in the kitchen room is a responsible, laborious process. According to generally accepted norms, several types of repair work are distinguished: capital, cosmetic. The first type takes a lot of time, they resort to it either during settlement, or with a complete change in the design of the room, its redevelopment. The second option is a simplified version of the previous one, where only the old is dismantled and new material is laid that meets certain requirements:
Screed and floor insulation in the kitchen
In most cases, a rough repair is indispensable. Work begins with the dismantling of the old coating, checking the base for the presence of fungus, mold, flaws, and other defects. Sometimes communication, filling the foundation is required. Then they begin to waterproof the surface, which many often forget.
The next step will be the insulation of the floor. This is an important point, since 20% of the heat loss falls on it. You can perform actions in several ways:
The final layer of the rough finish is the screed. It allows you to align the plane. After it dries, the floor can be laid on the finished surface. Before pouring, the base is cleaned of dust and dirt, a primer is applied, and beacons are installed. Then a cement-sand mortar is mixed and poured, which is aligned with the rule for fixed beacons. As a plasticizer, liquid soap is sometimes added.
Types of flooring: advantages and disadvantages
Manufacturers produce a wide range of building materials that satisfy all the requirements for coating for a kitchen room. However, you should avoid some types of raw materials, for example, carpet, other types of soft carpet materials. Spilled liquid on the carpet leads to stains that are very difficult and sometimes impossible to remove. These options are best used in the hallway or living room.
Linoleum and ceramic tiles remain the most popular in the decoration of the kitchen. Also, bulk, concrete, wooden floors, porcelain tiles, cork wood, parquet, laminate are laid here. In some cases, if necessary, perform zoning, carry out the combination of various materials. This idea helps to make the division of the house, studio apartment, converted from a one-room Khrushchev.
Linoleum
For many decades, this material remains very popular among the population. It is practical and convenient, and you can lay it yourself.There are two main types of this raw material: natural (marmoleum), artificial. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages:
The benefits of natural linoleum:
Among the shortcomings can be identified:
Artificial linoleum is produced from various raw materials, among which one can distinguish: PVC, alkyd, rubber, colloxyl. For residential use only the first option, characterized by the following advantages:
Disadvantages:
Cork
The material can be compared with OSB, but it is thinner and more ductile. The finish consists of pressed wood chips and binders. The statement about its ecological qualities, compared with natural wood, is not substantiated.This coating is no better than laminate or linoleum, it is based on vinyl or PVC, the cork itself often does not exceed 2-3 mm. The glue used to press the cork floor can release harmful substances for a long time. The advantages of this building material include:
Disadvantages:
Wooden floors
Finishing with natural wood looks very solid and rich. This is a classic building material that will never go out of style. Putting it is possible only after special processing. The most accessible is coniferous wood such as spruce or pine. In the presence of free cash, it is better to give preference to oak, beech, ash. These types will cost much more, but their strength and durability are significantly higher. The material is characterized by the following advantages:
Disadvantages:
Parquet
Parquet board has a very attractive appearance, thanks to its unique texture. Consists of three main layers. Upper - its thickness is 3-4 centimeters, varnished, made of hardwood. Medium - represented by spruce, pine, rubber lamellas. The bottom is ordinary plywood. Such a composition allows to reduce the cost of facing material. Four main types can also be distinguished: parquet, piece, tiled, panel board. The advantages include:
Disadvantages:
Laminate
Some experts give advice not to use this coating in the kitchen, offering to install it in other rooms, for example, in the corridor. However, if you correctly select the type and class of material, perform high-quality preparation of the base, protect the joints from moisture, then these raw materials can easily be laid in the kitchen room. When buying finished products, you should pay attention to wear resistance, level of moisture resistance, method of connecting elements, thickness, manufacturer. If you consider all the recommendations, then in the end you can get:
Disadvantages:
Floor tiles
Manufacturers produce a wide range of this building material, which differs among themselves in color, shape, type of coating. Floor ceramic tiles are made in three ways: by casting, extruding, and pressing. This is one of the most practical and budgetary coatings. For a kitchen room, you should not choose products with a glossy surface, on the matte, slight defects and damage are less noticeable. Among the main advantages of this material can be identified:
Disadvantages:
Porcelain Tiles
The product is made from a mixture of white-burning clay and kaolin, with impurities of mineral pigments, quartz sand, water. Externally and in terms of performance, the product resembles standard ceramic tiles. This is ideal for a kitchen room. The material is superior in hardness to natural granite. It has the following specifications:
Disadvantages:
Self-leveling floors
The second name for bulk coatings is liquid linoleum. A distinctive feature of this method of finishing is that the material is poured, not laid. The result is a very flat plane, on the surface of which there are no seams. All types of liquid floors differ in composition. There are 4 main types: methyl methacrylate, epoxy, polyurethane, cement-acrylic. The last three can be used for the kitchen room. Among the main advantages of this building material are:
Disadvantages:
Concrete floor
Such unusual material for interior decoration of premises as concrete can fill the floor in the kitchen. It is as cold as tiles or bulk models, but when using a warm floor, this drawback can be eliminated. This is an ideal cladding for lovers of the loft style. The surface can be painted using a special acid composition, give it a beautiful look, make an imitation of natural stone, wood, ceramic tiles. The advantages of building materials include:
Disadvantages:
Each style has its own gender
The floor occupies a large area in any room, it has a significant impact on the overall appearance of the room, emphasizes its merits, and must correspond to the chosen direction. When buying flooring also take into account the style of the kitchen. Consider several popular options:
1. Classic. For a budget design, ordinary linoleum, ceramic tiles of light, beige tones, laid diagonally or “herringbone” are suitable. For more expensive finishes, natural wood, parquet, artificial stone are used.
2. Modern style, for example, hi-tech, minimalism. Plain floors with no pattern are suitable for them. You can cover linoleum, tile. Concrete coating will become indispensable for the direction of the loft.
3. Ethnic. The Japanese style uses a dark floor made from natural polished wood. For Chinese - fit wooden panels, cork. Do not use laminate, tile. For Scandinavian - natural wood with a natural shade is used.
Colors - how to choose the color of the floor
In the kitchen, people spend a lot of time. They cook, relax, gather with the whole family for a meal. Therefore, the choice of color is very important. Each shade has a psychological effect on a person, can act soothingly or cause aggression.The main rule when choosing the background of the flooring - it should be combined with the design of the walls and furniture.
In terms of design, light tone is universal, suitable for both large and small rooms. Dark shades are good to use in large rooms with good lighting. If natural light is not enough, then such an atmosphere will tire. This option makes it possible to create contrasting solutions, combine black colors on the floor with white, beige walls.
When dividing a room into different working areas, you can use not only the combined materials used for flooring, but also various colors. At the same time, the transition from one shade to another should be made smooth. You should not use a multi-colored floor in a small kitchen. This combination will visually reduce the space.
Conclusion
Having considered the existing types of flooring for the kitchen, everyone can easily choose the appropriate option. At the same time, you can improve your living conditions without significant investments. It will be possible to save not only on the choice of inexpensive finishes, but also on the services of specialists by performing repair work with your own hands.