Waterproof Laminate For The Kitchen: Composition And Properties, Pros And Cons, How To Choose The Right One, Examples With Photos

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Waterproof laminate for the kitchen: choose and install correctly

The kitchen is a rather specific room, where increased requirements are imposed on the flooring. Traditionally, tile or porcelain stoneware is considered the most suitable material for a kitchen floor. But modern technologies do not stand still and offer a large selection of waterproof laminate, specially designed for use in rooms with high levels of humidity and an increased risk of flooding.

Content

• 1 Composition and properties of waterproof laminate

  1.1 Video: what is waterproof laminate

• 2 Recommendations for choosing a waterproof laminate for the kitchen

  2.1 Video: how to choose a laminate

• 3 Recommendations for installing waterproof laminate in the kitchen

  3.1 Video: Laying Waterproof Laminate Correctly

• 4 Tips for maintaining waterproof laminate flooring
• 5 Customer Reviews of Waterproof Laminate

Composition and properties of waterproof laminate

Laminate flooring with waterproof characteristics is not afraid of moisture at all, in any of its manifestations. Waterproof laminate successfully withstands even complete immersion in water and retains its technical characteristics after spending more than a day in it. Its main difference from conventional laminate is the absence in the structure of any wood components that can suffer and deteriorate from contact with an aqueous medium. In its manufacture, materials that are completely inert with respect to moisture are used.

Waterproof laminate can be installed safely in kitchens and other damp areas

Most manufacturers produce waterproof laminates consisting of several layers:

• The lower bearing layer, which is the main one. It is a plate made of special durable and resistant to stress polyvinyl chloride, which does not contain additives and additives harmful to human health or the environment. This material can be used in any temperature and humidity conditions. The PVC base has a honeycomb structure, which provides additional sound insulation and retains heat well.

  

  The vinyl base of the waterproof laminate has a honeycomb structure

• Decorative layer. The drawing on it imitates various finishing materials (parquet, wooden board, porcelain stoneware, tiles, etc.).
• Top protective transparent layer. It is made of polyurethane enriched with various additional components (silicon oxide, aluminum dioxide, etc.), which make the coating more wear-resistant and durable.

Waterproof laminate consists of several layers

The waterproof version of the laminated floor cladding can absorb no more than 8% moisture, even when completely filled with water. The moisture-resistant type already absorbs from 8 to 12%, because the outer polymer film protects the kitchen floor from seeping into the liquid for a short time. Ordinary laminate is quickly saturated with water and has much less tightness, it takes up to 18% of the volume.

The waterproof laminate hardly absorbs liquids

A coating with waterproof qualities has many advantages:

• attractive appearance;
• a wide range of textures and colors;
• hygiene;
• ease of care;
• good thermal insulation characteristics;
• increased wear resistance;
• long service life;
• resistance to aggressive chemical environments;
• environmental friendliness;
• reliable sound insulation;
• ease of styling;
• light weight;
• perfect water resistance;
• high strength;
• anti-slip properties;
• ease of repair work.

High consumer qualities of waterproof laminate allow you to lay it even in the bathroom

The disadvantages of waterproof laminate material include the following characteristics:

• High price. Its cost can be 2–3 times higher than a conventional laminated coating.
• Susceptibility to fading and discoloration under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.
• Unpleasant creak emitted when walking on such a floor.
• Direct contact with rubber products (rubber soles of shoes, rugs, pads on furniture legs, etc.) leads to an irreversible chemical reaction that leads to the formation of ugly stains.

Self-adhesive laminate is simply glued to a smooth surface

In our kitchen, at first, linoleum was laid, but it quickly fell into disrepair, as children constantly dropped or spilled something on it. When it came time to change the flooring, we doubted for a long time, but opted for a vinyl waterproof laminate. He was put in the corridor and hallway. The material met all our expectations and aspirations. There was no need to wash it with great care and strive to immediately wipe up the spilled compote immediately. Walking on such a floor is very soft and pleasant, because it springs slightly under your feet.

Video: what is waterproof laminate

youtube.com/watch?v=2tvZjFUrwmg

Recommendations for choosing a waterproof laminate for the kitchen

When deciding on the choice of a floor covering with waterproof characteristics, it is necessary to consider a number of important points:

• Wear resistance and strength. For kitchen facilities, you should choose a material not lower than class 32–33. There is usually no need to purchase a higher class, because such a laminate (commercial) is intended for use in rooms with high traffic.

  

  When choosing a laminate, be sure to take into account its class

• Swelling factor. This information is in the technical data sheet; for a real waterproof laminate, the indicator should not exceed 8%.

• Decorative qualities (color and pattern). There are a large number of colors of the laminated coating, it can imitate:

  • various tree species;
  • parquet;
  • ceramic tiles;
  • Cork tree;
  • a rock;
  • skin;
  • metal;

  • embossed coverings (mat), etc.

    

    Waterproof laminate has many colors and textures, even embossed patterns in the form of a mat

• Manufacturer. It is worth dwelling only on well-known manufacturers who have proven themselves well in the domestic market of construction products. The most popular are the following brands:

  • Dumafloor. A Belgian company offering a true hydro floor with a patented click system and a special coating on the lamellas, applied using advanced electronic technology.
  • Aqua-Step. The Belgian manufacturer, who started the first production of absolutely waterproof laminate, uses not only a protective layer, but also a special antibacterial impregnation to cover laminate panels. All joints are treated with original resins at the factory, making assembly and installation much easier. The laminate has an anti-slip surface.
  • Witex. German-made laminate flooring, based on a special patented proprietary composite material. The collection includes beveled lamellas, which are not inferior in quality to ceramic tiles. Each board is treated with hot wax or molten silicone.
• The service life that the responsible manufacturer always indicates. In a good laminate, it is at least 25-30 years.
• Cost. A quality, waterproof floor covering can't come cheap.

Waterproof laminate always has a special designation

Video: how to choose a laminate

Recommendations for installing waterproof laminate in the kitchen

Installation of a waterproof laminate is fundamentally no different from laying a simple laminate flooring. All work can be done independently without much difficulty, without resorting to the services of experienced specialists.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Prepare a surface that must be absolutely flat. The old wooden floor can be left on, but it must be well sanded to eliminate all irregularities. Gaps between planks, potholes and large cracks must be filled. If the plank floor is in an unsatisfactory condition, then sheets of plywood, chipboard, OSB, etc. are laid on it. The concrete base is leveled with a screed. Then the prepared surface is cleaned of dust and dirt, covered with a primer.

   

   The base for the laminate must be leveled and thoroughly cleaned of dust and dirt

2. Spread the backing of synthetic waterproof materials (for example, polyethylene foam). It is not recommended to use cork coverings, as they are prone to increased moisture absorption. The underlay hides small irregularities, provides additional waterproofing, performs a shock-absorbing function and absorbs noise. The pieces are laid with an overlap with an overlap of 5-10 cm over the entire floor surface, the joints are fixed with masking tape.

   

   A substrate is laid on the prepared base

3. Laying the lamellas begins from the far corner of the room along the wall so that the light falls along the seams. They retreat from the walls by 8-10 mm, leaving a gap for the thermal expansion of the material. Special spacers or wedges can be fitted.

   

   When laying laminate, be sure to leave temperature gaps

4. The boards are laid with an offset (with a staggered interval). Usually the first lamella of the second row is cut in half with a jigsaw or a metal file. To assemble the second row, the panel is brought to the already laid first row and inserted into the groove at an angle of 30–45 °, then pressed on it until it clicks.

   

   Lamellas are laid in a ragged manner like brickwork

5. In a similar way, the entire surface of the floor is laid out with a laminate, adjusting the elements with a rubber mallet (mallet) and a wooden block.

   

   The lamellas are carefully adjusted with a hammer and a wooden block

6. The last wallboard is connected to the previous panel using a clamp or bracket.

7. Upon completion of the work, a plinth, matched to the color of the floor covering, is mounted along the walls to close the temperature gaps.

   

   At the end of the laying of the laminate, install the plinth

There are three ways to lay laminate flooring:

• longitudinal (vertical) - boards are laid along the room, visually lengthening the room (recommended for beginners);
• transverse (horizontal) - panels are mounted transversely, which visually expands the space;
• diagonal (at an angle of 45 °) is a more difficult method that requires certain skills.

A good friend of mine used to have tiles in the kitchen and the floor was therefore always extremely cold. Instead of a tile, he put a 33 class moisture-resistant laminate with a bevel, and laid it diagonally. It looks very unusual and interesting. But you still need to wash such a coating carefully, not allowing moisture to get into the joints.

Video: we lay the waterproof laminate correctly

Care Tips for Waterproof Laminate

Waterproof laminate flooring varieties are extremely easy to maintain and much less demanding than traditional laminate flooring.

It is recommended to follow the following rules:

• Regular wet cleaning. You can wash such floors without restriction and as many times as you like, but it is better to use special detergents designed for laminate flooring.

  

  You can wash waterproof laminate without fear, but it is better to use special products

• Do not use abrasive cleaning agents, as well as those that contain acids, caustic alkalis and other chemically aggressive substances.
• When cleaning, do not use sharp objects that can scratch the coating.
• Once a year, the laminate is treated with a special mastic. Parquet products are not suitable for this, because they contain oil and wax, which attract dust and small debris.

Customer reviews of waterproof laminate

The use of waterproof laminate for kitchen flooring is ideal because it looks attractive and has many benefits. Although the relatively high cost, compared to other materials, stops potential buyers, in many cases the use of a laminate of this class will be economically justified and profitable.