Linoleum for the kitchen

When it comes to choosing a floor covering for a kitchen, the most common materials are tiles and linoleum. This is due to the fact that it is in the kitchen that the floor is subjected to maximum loads. In addition, the kitchen floor gets dirty quickly, because even the most accurate owners periodically spill coffee, tea or soup. Hence the requirements for choosing a floor covering: strength, reliability, ease of maintenance. Let's consider what advantages the linoleum has for the kitchen in front of the ceramic tile and whether it is worth giving it a preference.

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Benefits of laying linoleum:

1. Softness. If you accidentally drop a plate or cup, then on linoleum it may not break, but on ceramics it is sure to break.
2. Good heat and sound insulation. Kitchen - a place where the whole family gathers after a busy day, and want peace and quiet.
3. Affordable price. The cost of linoleum is lower than that of tiles, and stacking it is easier.

Before you buy flooring, you need to decide on the choice, to find out which linoleum is better for the kitchen, because the range of products on the market is really huge, and you need to choose the material that will not only delight the eye, but also will last a long timetime.

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The main stages of the selection

In order not to get lost at the choice of linoleum, it is desirable to adhere to the following algorithm:

• Type of coating.
• Additional properties.
• Color.
• Manufacturer.

We will deal with each of these stages in more detail.

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Natural or synthetic product?

So, let's try to answer the question: what kind of linoleum for the kitchen? The statement that only artificial materials are used to make linoleum is incorrect. In fact, this floor covering is made of both natural and synthetic materials.

Natural

Natural linoleum for the kitchen is an environmentally friendly material for the production of which cork or wood flour, linseed oil, lime powder, as well as natural colorants are used. The basis of such a linoleum is also natural - it's non-woven materials or jute fiber.

The advantages of a natural linoleum coating include:

• high abrasion resistance;
• strength;
• neutrality with respect to chemically aggressive detergents;
• fire safety;
• good antistatic qualities;
• excellent heat and sound insulation properties;
• hygienic and ecological cleanliness;
• long service life( up to 40 years);
• simplicity of care.

Important! Of the minuses can only be called a high cost, especially when compared with a synthetic floor covering.

Artificial

Artificial linoleum is made of PVC( polyvinyl chloride).It is this that worries many consumers, forcing them to doubt the ecological purity of the material. However, according to experts, if the floor covering is made of synthetic raw materials in accordance with standards( norms GOST, EN), then it is absolutely safe for health.

Important! This version of the coating is more affordable, and in terms of quality characteristics, it is sometimes better than a natural material. Everything depends on the good faith of the manufacturer.

How to distinguish a natural coating from a synthetic one?

This is quite simple:

• Sniff. The natural product has a characteristic "oily" smell. Artificial linoleum smells of "chemistry".
• The wrong side of natural linoleum has a clearly visible rosary of jute.
• The product made from natural raw materials is more solid and brittle. From a synthetic linoleum to break off a piece it is impossible: only to cut off.

Important! Both natural and synthetic products are covered with a special protective layer, which protects against impurities. It can be a mastic made from natural raw materials, and a synthetic coating.

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Single-layer or multi-layer linoleum?

Do you prefer synthetic linoleum? Determine how to choose linoleum in the kitchen according to its structure. Floor coverings of synthetic materials are single- and multi-layered:

1. Single-layer( homogeneous) coating has a small thickness, it does not have a base, but it is sufficiently resilient and durable. The picture permeates such a linoleum throughout the thickness, which allows you to keep the presentable appearance longer. The peculiarity of a single-layer synthetic material is that it has a rough surface, on which dirt is less noticeable. The life of a single-layer coating is from 5 to 7 years.
2. A multi-layer( heterogeneous) coating is a kind of "layered cake", in which there is a fiberglass, a foamed layer of PVC with a printed pattern, a protective layer and a substrate. The more weight of this linoleum, the more durable and good-quality.

Important! Linoleum, made on foamed basis, strong, resilient, resistant to moisture, is well cleaned of impurities. Therefore, it is ideal for the kitchen.

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Which linoleum is better in the kitchen: household or semi-commercial?

The strength, reliability and durability of the floor covering depends on the thickness of the protective coating. Based on this parameter, the following types of multi-layer linoleum are distinguished:

• Household( the thickness of the transparent layer is 0.1-0.3 mm).
• Semi-commercial( transparent layer has a thickness of 0.4-0.5 mm).
• Commercial, with a thickness of 0.6 mm or more.

Important! Experts advise choosing for the kitchen room is not a household, but a semi-commercial linoleum of class 31-32, because it combines the ease of installation inherent in the household version, and the resistance to wear, which is distinguished by commercial linoleum. The thickness of linoleum for the kitchen will be more than for the domestic version.

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Additional protective layer

Many modern linoleum types, in addition to the transparent layer, are covered with an additional protective layer. This is a matt or gloss varnish, which greatly facilitates the care of the floor covering. This is very important for a kitchen. For example, a brilliant varnish coating creates the illusion of a freshly washed floor.

When choosing a linoleum coating, you need to pay attention to its protection from mold and fungus damage:

1. A natural linseed oil coating is in itself a good natural antiseptic, which is not just unattractive for bacteria and fungi, but also naturally disinfects the air.
2. Some types of artificial linoleum have an antifungal and disinfecting coating with silver microparticles. The silver ions that secrete such a protective layer prevent the propagation of pathogens on the floor surface.

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Form

The following forms of linoleum are distinguished:

• Rolls. The width of the roll is up to 5 m, and the total length of up to 45 m. The correct choice of a roll in size allows you to lay linoleum in the kitchen without unnecessary seams.
• Linoleum tiles. It has the form of squares, rectangles or polygons with imitation of the texture of sand, wood or an ornamental stone. The disadvantage of such a coating are: labor-intensive cleaning of the impurities and the complexity of installation.
• Liquid linoleum in the kitchen. This is one of the modern types of flooring, which makes it possible to achieve the best decorative effect. At the base of self-leveling floors is a polymer material with a hardener made of polyurethane or epoxy resin.

Important! Advantage of self-leveling floors - in the complete absence of seams, ideally flat and strong surface. It is possible to install a bulk floor with a volumetric pattern.

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Types of textures and colors

The huge choice of linoleum colors helps to create a wide variety of interiors of cuisines - cozy, beautiful and stylish. Most of all color options in synthetic heterogeneous linoleum. This is a classic beige-brown color scheme, and a realistic imitation of ceramic tiles, wood, and ornamental stone.

Important! The greatest distribution was received by linoleum with imitation of expensive floor coverings: a parquet, a marble, a mosaic pattern. At the same time, producers can realistically reproduce the texture and shades of such exotic wood species as bamboo, zebrano or rosewood. Effectively it looks like a cover that mimics a mosaic made of wood veneer.

Here are some examples to understand which linoleum to choose for the kitchen:

• The interior, designed in the styles of Country or Provence, will be perfectly complemented with a coating that simulates a massive board.
• For the kitchen in the "high-tech" style Minimalism or Hi-Tech is suitable for plain linoleum, and its color can be both muffled and bright( to create a color accent).
• Do you like experiments in design? At your service cover with the most unusual patterns, including with a three-dimensional effect.
• For a kitchen in the classical style, an imitation of ceramic tiles will do. Drawing "small tiles laid on a diagonal" allows you to visually increase a small kitchen space. A similar effect can be achieved by spreading in the kitchen a light linoleum of a cool shade.

Important! Warm colors create an atmosphere of coziness and tranquility, a monotonous pattern soothes. Use of bright, contrasting shades renders an invigorating effect.

Using linoleum in the kitchen of various colors and textures, you can zonirovat room( for example, to separate the kitchen area from the dining room).

Important! Choosing for the kitchen a natural linoleum, note that over time, this coating changes the shade, due to the drying of vegetable oils. The beige coating acquires a yellowish tinge, while the gray and blue are greenish.

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What else should I consider when buying?

Here are some tips that will help you when buying linoleum:

• Embossed embossed surface gives the coating anti-slip properties, which will increase the safety, so necessary in the kitchen.
• The width of a roll of linoleum is 1500-4000 mm. Picking up a wide cover, you can do without ugly seams.
• Make sure that the entire purchased linoleum is from the same lot. This will avoid disagreement in shades and texture.
• Before transporting, unfold the linoleum, let it lie down and then fold it again. This will make it possible to avoid cracking of the material.

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Linoleum and insulated floor

Many are interested in the question: is it possible to combine a warm floor and linoleum for the kitchen? This possibility is there, but before buying, you need to consult with the seller or a specialist who is entrusted with the installation of flooring. It is recommended to turn on the integrated heating system a month before laying the linoleum, and turn it off a day before the start of the installation work.

Now you know full information about how useful linoleum is for the kitchen and how to choose it correctly by design and technical characteristics. We hope that you successfully managed to cope with the task and you get real pleasure from the new kitchen decor.