The flooring for the kitchen to choose

The flooring for the kitchen to choose - this is a question for all homeowners who have decided to carry out repair work in the area.It must be said that the problem of choice - not an easy task, since today, in the range of DIY stores presented a plethora of different materials that, without knowing about them, you can easily get lost.Therefore, it makes sense to continue to consider most popular for the kitchen flooring and get acquainted with their characteristics.

Well, for a start we should define the requirements to be met by the floor covering in the kitchen.

Criteria for choosing kitchen flooring

Since the kitchen is one of the most visited in the house or apartment space, it can be considered a zone of high intensity movement of people.In addition, when choosing the material, you need to consider such factors as temperature extremes, high humidity, and presence of a large amount of evaporation of various origins, which, anyway, will be reflected in all the finishing materials of the premises.Therefore, the floor covering should possess the following qualities:

• Moisture material .In the kitchen floor will not be able to avoid exposure to moisture - it is not only the evaporation and spray time cooking and washing dishes, but also frequent washing of floors.

In addition, through the kitchen area are water and sewer pipes, from which also comes the moisture, and this fact also can not be ignored when choosingflooring.

• Low water absorption .Not only that, the material is inert to moisture, it is necessary that it does not absorb it in themselves, or under cover will create a favorable environment for the emergence of microflora colonies - mold and mildew.They have a negative impact not only on the cover itself, but also on the screed or wood, roofed underneath.
• Shock .Kitchen - a room in which there is a wide variety of heavy objects and utensils other kitchen utensils, so there is always a risk of accidentally dropped one of them on the floor.With this in mind, you need to choose a material that is able to withstand the impact of falling from a height of one meter cast-iron frying pan or cauldron.
• Hygiene. The flooring should be easy to clean from the dirty and fatty plaque and stains.
• Slipperiness material. For the above reasons, such as getting to the surface coating of fat and water, it is necessary to take into account the fact that these compounds should not be easily spread on the floor and slide under the feet.Otherwise, this factor may result in injury to household.The coating should not be perfectly smooth - more suitable slug rough surface.
• Durability. As happens every day in the kitchen cooking process on the floor covering, especially near a gas or electric stove, can be formed of fatty plaque, which remove the case is not so simple.So often enough to bring the floor in the order necessary to use a brush or abrasive powders.Given this, it is necessary to choose the cover that can withstand such treatment, or one that does not absorb and does not accumulate fatty plaque.
• resistance to abrasion. Kitchen - is frequented by all members of the family room, but most of all it is in constant motion hostess during cooking.Therefore, the surface coating layer, as well as its decorative layer should be resistant to abrasion.
• requirement base. choosing coverage, you need to take into account the factor that some of the materials to be installed or the plank on a carefully prepared base in a special way.

If you are unable or unwilling to carry out such work, acquired a coating that can be laid on the already roofed earlier material, of course, if it is in good condition and securely attached to thefloor surface.

• resistance to temperature extremes. If the kitchen is planned to establish a "warm floor" system, it is necessary to choose the cover that can withstand temperature extremes, not only outside, but also from below.In addition, the material should have high thermal conductivity.

• design solution. If you plan to divide the room into zones kitchen, denoting their different materials flooring or different colors, then you need to think well of their connection line, as well as compliance with all the requirements listed above.It should be noted that well-chosen texture and color of the material is able to visually expand a small space standard cuisine of a city apartment.

Main features popular flooring

Now that we know all the qualities required of flooring for the kitchen space, you can consider the merits of the most popular ones.

Tiles

Ceramic tile is by far one of the most popular floor coverings for areas such as the bathroom, hallway and kitchen.If this material is laid in the kitchen room of a private house or over unheated rooms, then under it often keeps the system "warm floor", because in itself this stuff cold, but has a high thermal conductivity.

If you decide to use the kitchen floor tiles, should be familiar with some of its basic characteristics.They will help determine the best one for this material.

• Durability

wear resistance of ceramic tiles is determined by five categories, depending on the degree of selectivity.This figure is the abbreviation PEI:

- PEI I - Tiles, having this marking is intended solely for the walls.

- PEI II - such a category of material is used for the floor bedrooms and bathrooms.In this coating it is recommended only walk in the shoes with soft soles or barefoot.

- PEI III - this category of material may be laid in any of the rooms except entrance, since it does not have sufficient abrasion resistance.

- PEI IV - tiles bearing the label used for the flooring in the rooms of public buildings, as it has a high level of wear resistance.Therefore, this option is a material well suited for floor kitchens and hallways.

- PEI V - this category is the highest degree of wear resistance, and is usually acquired for laying in areas of increased intensity of movement of people, such as stores.Therefore, this option is also suitable for the hall and the kitchen.However, the feasibility of looks questionable: the strength characteristics of such coverage redundant to housing conditions, and the price - much higher.

Based on the above reasoning, we can conclude that the best option for the kitchen floor tile is having durability category PEI IV, in extreme cases - PEI III.

• Resistance to chemical agents

resistance of ceramic tile to chemical attack is denoted by letter symbols: AA, A, B, C and D. The maximum resistance to aggressive chemical agents is the material designated by the letters A and AA.These categories, as well as tiles in, well suited for laying in the kitchen areas.

• Moisture

resistance to moisture level depends on the method of manufacturing the tiles - this pressing (B) and extrusion (A).Tile made by pressing, has high density and strength, and material produced by extrusion technology is more porous.

Ceramic finishing material is divided into three categories, each of which has an additional drive letter, and is characterized by the parameters of water absorption in% by weight:

- AI and BI - the water-resistant tiles.Moisture absorption of its surface is only 3%.

- VIIa and AIIa - absorb these categories from 6% to 10% moisture by total weight, and have good resistance to frost;

- AIII BIII and - this is the least moisture resistant tiles, as its water absorption exceeds 10%.

Tiles, having in the designation of the category of number I, intended for facing of bathrooms and swimming pools.If desired, it is quite possible to use the kitchen.

II category is often used for external finishing works.

III category is used for finishing floors and walls entirely indoors with normal humidity.Kitchen is - is not the best option.

level of water resistance directly affects the cost of the tiles - the higher the category, the more the price set on it.

• tile surface

tile surface can be glossy, matte, relief, rough and polished.The best option for the kitchen will be a relief, rough, and, in extreme cases, matt tiles - these options are virtually non-slippery and safe for walking, even on slightly damp surfaces.However, it is not necessary to select tiles with very deep relief, since it pits are clogged dirty deposits that will be difficult to clean.

Slipperiness tiles denoted friction and this option should be paid special attention, as the security presence in the kitchen depends on it.The coefficient of friction is divided into 4 categories:

- Maximum safe tile has a digital signage 0.75.

- Relatively safe material denoted 0,39 ÷ 0,74.

- Dangerous, that is quite slippery, has a coefficient of friction of 0.22 to 0.39.

- very slippery, its rate is not less than 0.19.On the floor a tile can not be laid.

From these parameters, it can be concluded that the rough or embossed tile has a maximum safe coefficient of friction and a smooth and glazed - a lower value, and are not suitable for floors.

• Grades tiles

addition to the above characteristics, should pay attention to the variety of tiles - this parameter indicates the number of possible defects in each of the packages - size mismatch, the linearity of the material etc .. Provided three kinds of ceramiceach of them is usually marked by its color:

- I sort of (red) - is no more than 5% conditionally defective products;

- II grade (blue) - has up to 20% of scrap material;

- III grade (green) - this is the most low-quality and inexpensive products.

There are also other characteristics, and they are many, but the above are the main ones that need special attention.To avoid confusion in the settings, going to the store, it is necessary to write the required data, and relying on them to make the right selection of the sample.

• Decorative

little need be said about the qualities of decorative ceramic tiles, as this will depend on the overall appearance of a kitchen.

In our time, in the commercial range includes a very wide variety of finishing floor tiles of different colors and patterns, which can mimic the natural material, or just be decorated with interesting patterns and ornaments.

Tiles can be embossed pattern, which gives the floor a rich "carpet" look.Choosing the finishing material on this criterion, it is necessary to take into account the harmony of color, texture and relief to the design of the rest of the interior.

is important to choose the right tile in shape and size, as this criterion will depend on whether visually kitchen space expand, or it will look smaller than itactually.Offered for sale can be found the material very different shapes and sizes - tiles can be geometrically correct and the straight-form, so if you want you can realize any ideas and design ideas.Except for the tiles, it is always possible to set purchase raised curbs or "carpet" elements.

Linoleum Kitchen

Despite the abundance of new materials, linoleum can be called is still the most popular floor covering not only for food but also forany of the rooms of the apartment.The main thing - to choose one that is perfect for one or the other premises.

Species linoleum

can find two basic types of linoleum flooring in stores - is a natural and made from synthetic materials.Each is suitable for different rooms, and has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Linoleum synthetic based

most popular linoleum is made on the basis of synthetic raw materials, because it is affordable even for a family with average income.It is quite durable - high quality artificial linoleum under the rules of operation and maintenance will last 12 ÷ 15 years.

Artificial Linoleum is made from different materials, but to be used in homes often sold material of PVC, which, according to the assurances of experts, is the most safe for humans, except in some cases of individual intolerance.

Linoleum, designed for premises, is a multi-layer structure:

• The bottom layer - is the foundation material.

• Elastic made of foamed PVC substrate.
• fiberglass reinforcement layer gives the material strength.Another
• PVC layer having a smaller thickness.
• layer consisting of a decorative foil, applied with the pattern.
• Transparent layer, which increases the wear resistance of the material.
• upper protective film.

Multilayer linoleum referred to as heterogeneous.

If the material consists of a single layer (excluding the upper protective film), it is called homogeneous.