Kitchen floor: overview and comparison of coatings

Which floor in the kitchen is better - linoleum, tile or maybe cork? We understand the materials and find out which coating is more reliable and comfortable.

23/09/2019 8107 0

View photo gallery
... a photo

Criteria for choosing flooring for the kitchen?
Which gender can I use?
What is better to make sex: comparison table

Criteria for choosing flooring for the kitchen?

The room where the food is prepared is much more susceptible to pollution than the rest of the rooms in the apartment, which means the floor should be:

Wear resistant to withstand frequent washing and cleaning with household cleaning products.
Durable to withstand long-term load.
Refractory: when exposed to high temperature, it is important that the floor does not emit toxic fumes and does not ignite.
Moisture-proof: the porous coating absorbs moisture and fat and promotes the development of various microorganisms, which should not be in the apartment.

Which gender can I use?

Before laying any material, it is necessary to make waterproofing, which will increase the protection of the room from water, and level the base. Consider the most popular and practical types of flooring for the kitchen.

Linoleum

Advantages	disadvantages
It has water repellent properties. If a dishwasher or washing machine leaks, removing water is easy.	You can find a budget option, but such material does not have a wealth of colors.
In order to lay linoleum, no special skills are required.	Dents from heavy furniture form on linoleum with a thickness of less than 2 mm.
It is not subject to scratches, and if glassware falls, there will be no dents on a quality coating.	It is subject to deformation over time. Replacement requires the entire canvas.
It has good sound insulation.	Poor coating poorly imitates wood and stone.

Laminate

It is an acceptable option for the kitchen, if you do not choose too cheap material (class 33 is suitable). It has many textures and colors, it may look like natural parquet.

In the photo, the kitchen is in the style of a modern classic with a laminate floor.

What other features does it have? Answers are given below:

Advantages	disadvantages
Even a beginner can lay a laminate flooring.	Enhances the sounds of steps if you do not use a substrate during installation.
Water resistant the laminate will not deform even after water has entered.	Moisture resistant the material is not afraid of high humidity, but over time it begins to swell and rot if water flows into the seams.
Durable, does not scratch, does not fade.	The joints of the laminate for the kitchen is recommended to be treated with a transparent sealant.
Easy to wash, pleasant to touch.

I advise you to look in more detail about features of choosing a laminate for an apartment.

Tiles and Porcelain Tiles

Advantages	disadvantages
Durability, resistance to chemicals.	It is difficult to lay the tiles without special preparation.
A wealth of colors, shapes and sizes. It can imitate wood, stone.	If the room is not equipped with a warm floor system, the surface will be cold and unpleasant for the feet.
Resistance to dirt, moisture, grease.	Low sound insulation.
Environmentally friendly material.	High probability of chips if something heavy falls on the floor.

Wooden floor

This segment is represented by natural wood materials: parquet and deck board. Most designers like this floor, but not everyone considers it suitable for the kitchen.

The photo shows a Scandinavian-style kitchen, the floor of which is covered with natural boards. They soften the strict atmosphere and give the interior coziness.

Weigh all the pros and cons of wood flooring:

Advantages	disadvantages
Environmentally friendly material.	Absorbs drops of water, grease and odors. The tree is hard to care for.
Expensive wood species have high strength and aesthetics.	To increase the wear resistance of the parquet, it is necessary to cover it with a special protective composition.
The surface is pleasant and warm to the touch.	The seams between the boards diverge over time, water and dirt easily penetrate there.

Bulk floor

A relatively new and expensive way to design the floor in the kitchen. As a result of pouring, a uniform glossy surface without seams and drops is obtained.

The photo shows a modern kitchen with a white floor.

Consider the pros and cons of polyurethane coating:

Advantages	disadvantages
A huge selection of colors - any image is applied to the non-woven synthetic material, after which it is poured with a mixture.	Time-consuming preparation of the base for pouring.
Easy to clean, scratch resistant, impact resistant.	High price.
It has good moisture resistance.	Any dirt is visible on the glossy surface.
The polymer floor is durable and can be repaired if damaged.	Any dirt is visible on the glossy surface.

Cork floor

Elastic material in rolls or slabs made of shredded wood. Compressed with thermosetting resins, the coating has elasticity and roughness. The surface is covered with special protective compounds.

It is worth getting acquainted with unusual material closer:

Advantages	disadvantages
The cork is noiseless, absorbs sounds well.	Does not withstand prolonged exposure to water.
Does not absorb odors and fat, is not susceptible to fungus, is safe.	Does not withstand prolonged exposure to water.
Wear resistant, not deformed.	Dents from punches by heavy objects are possible.
It has good thermal conductivity.	Dents from punches by heavy objects are possible.

Combined floor

Some owners of the kitchen combine two materials with each other, so that, without abandoning their useful properties, make the floor as practical as possible. As a rule, wood or linoleum is combined, covering the dining area with a warmer coating, and the tiles are laid in the cooking zone.

Several reasons speak in favor of this decision:

Advantages	disadvantages
The combined floor combines all the advantages of various types of coatings.	It is problematic to mask the junction, in addition, dirt and dust accumulate in it.
In the spacious kitchen, he acts as a great way of zoning.	This option is not suitable for cramped kitchens.
If you plan to install a warm floor, you can save some amount by reducing the area.	Excellent taste or specialist assistance is needed to successfully combine the two materials.

What is better to make sex: comparison table

This table summarizes the characteristics of each floor covering for the kitchen:

Material	Linoleum	Laminate	Tile	Tree	Bulk	Bung
Environmental friendliness	+	+	+	+	–	+
Transportation	+	+	+	+	–	+
Mounting	+	+	–	+	–	+
Appearance	+	+	+	+	+	+
Wear resistance	+	–	+	–	+	+
Maintainability	–	+	–	+	+	–
Soundproofing	+	–	–	–	+	+
Thermal conductivity	+	+	–	+	–	+
Easy to clean	+	+	+	–	+	+
Cost	+	+	–	–	–	+

Today, the construction market allows you to choose a flooring without sacrificing aesthetics for the sake of practicality: the kitchen owners can only decide on their preferences and budget.