Hit parade of floor coverings. What floor is better to do in an apartment What is better to put a floor in an apartment

Important

It is equally important to consider the number of storeys of the apartment. I'll explain why: if you live on the first floor, then remember, there is an unheated basement below. And that means high humidity and cold. If you live on the second floor and above, then under you there will be a residential heated and dry apartment.

When choosing a floor covering, I also recommend considering the height of the room. Some technologies are simply unrealistic to introduce into an apartment, for example, wooden floors on logs if the ceiling height is 220 cm. Another point is the floor difference between rooms. We level the floors at all our facilities.

If in your apartment wooden floor, then I do not advise pouring a concrete screed. There will be a heavy load on him. On the contrary, choose a coating that is light in weight, such as laminate or linoleum. Well, it is important to pay attention to aesthetics.

From a practical point of view, I also advise you to choose flooring by zone. For example, tiles for the kitchen and bathroom, wood, laminate and the like can be laid in the bedroom.

Advice

Zone the territory. Separate it with a color, it's beautiful and convenient.

Here's what the floors look like with zoning:

What basis to use

The draft base in the apartment can be made from:

1. Wet screed.

2. Semi-dry screed.

3. Dry screed.

Wet screed

· Long drying time. After pouring, about 30 days or more should pass for complete hardening.

There is a lot of dirt in the process.

· On the square meter there is a serious load, which can reach up to 70 kg / m 2.

Shrinkage may occur as moisture evaporates.

Serious labor required.

High strength.
Relatively low cost.

· Various engineering systems can be laid in the screed.

· To achieve the required level, you can fill in a thick layer without consequences.

Important

Provided that at least three people will pour the screed: one on the batch, the second on the rule, the third on the tray, then on average it is possible to pour the screed for a working day with an area of up to 50 m 2 with a thickness of about 50 mm. at the same time, it takes about a day to install beacons.

Filling work wet screed costs about 400 rubles. per m 2.

Semi-dry screed

We use this option in all our facilities. You can read more about the technology on our second website - http://qualityfloor.ru/

· Dependence on weather conditions. At sub-zero temperatures, work is prohibited.

Difficult to implement on your own.

· Excellent quality is maintained at high speed.

After a while, cracks do not appear on the surface.

· Eliminates the possibility of water leakage into the lower room.

· Unlike a wet screed, a semi-dry screed is 15% cheaper.

Important! One team in the traditional way of pouring a semi-dry screed is able to pour up to 100 m 2. If use mechanized way, then up to 300 m 2 in one day.

The cost of materials: cement M500 50 kg - 350 rubles, washed sand 1 m 3 - 1100 rubles. The cost of work, which includes work by the rule and by helicopter, reaches up to 150 rubles. per m 2.

Dry screed

Flaws:

· Hydrophilicity. I explain: if a pipe breaks under a dry screed, then the screed will have to be made completely anew, with preliminary dismantling work.

Cannot be installed in the shower and bathroom.

Advantages:

Wet processes are completely absent.
Increased sound and thermal insulation.
Environmental friendliness.

· Little weight. Three times lighter than concrete wet screed.

After installation, the floors are ready for use.

Important! In one day, a team of qualified specialists is able to produce 50 m 2 of dry screed.

The cost of installing a dry screed "Knauf" per m 2 ranges from 450 to 1300 rubles. The price depends on the method of production and volumes. For example, a dry floor screed up to 10 m 2, which includes dry backfill and a floor element 1000 rubles / m 2. With a similar composition, a volume of 30 m 3 will cost you 450 rubles. I advise you to compare the offers of several construction firms to choose the best price.

Noise isolation

Styrofoam

Advantages:

Easy installation.
Easy to cut.
Elastic and strong material.
Service life up to 25 years.
Not afraid of moisture.

Flammable material.

· Existence of joints that reduces noise-insulating properties.

The cost of foam plastic per m 3 with a thickness of 10 mm is 280 rubles. (I didn't find the price for the job)

Mineral wool

In my opinion, mineral wool is one of the best building materials that provides excellent floor sound insulation. However, mineral wool cannot be poured with concrete. It is only suitable for wooden floors. For example, laying between floor beams.

The ability to absorb sound waves.
Does not burn.
Does not emit harmful and dangerous toxic gases.
The ability to cope with temperatures up to +1000°C.
Possibility of laying without a cold bridge.
Service life up to 25 years.
Mineral wool is resistant to various aggressive environments.

· Throughout all term of operation mineral wool keeps the properties.

Vapor permeability.

Afraid of moisture.

· Difficulties during installation (protective clothing must be worn).

The cost of mineral wool per package differs based on its thickness. For example, mineral wool 100 mm thick 600 × 800 mm costs 450 rubles. Mineral wool 600 mm thick 600 × 100 mm costs 650 rubles.

Important! The cost of installing sound insulation with mineral wool per m 2 will cost 200 rubles.

Expanded clay

If a screed is poured, then in my experience and practice, expanded clay is the most the best solution. Its price is much lower. The price depends on the faction. It is sold in bags. For example, a fraction of 10–20 mm with a volume of 0.05 m 3 costs 85 rubles, and a fraction of up to 5 mm with a volume of 0.05 m 3 costs 140 rubles.

Important! The cost of backfilling expanded clay per m 2 is 60 rubles.

Positive sides:

Low price.
Natural product - environmental friendliness.

· Does not change its structure when the temperature changes.

It does not start various microorganisms.
Refractory material.
Noise isolation is provided by the porosity of its structure.

Negative sides:

Very brittle due to porosity.

· Due to the low density, it is necessary to fill up a soundproof pillow of a decent height. In apartments with small ceilings, it is impossible to implement.

The ability to absorb moisture.

Warming

As for the floor insulation in the apartment, I advise all my customers not to miss this opportunity. Especially when the apartment is on the first floor and there is an unheated basement under you. Floor insulation will eliminate heat loss.

Important

If a floor heating system is laid on the floor, then floor insulation is simply necessary. There should be a reflective film on the heaters. Due to this, all the heat emitted will rise up the apartment.

Various materials are used for insulation.

Styrofoam

Expanded polystyrene is sold in packages. Depending on the manufacturer, the price ranges from 1.1 to 4 thousand rubles. Work for m 2 will cost you 150 rubles.

Easy installation.
Light weight.
Environmental friendliness.
It does not contain different microorganisms.
Does not pass moisture and heat.
Service life of 50 years or more.

combustible
Upon reaching a temperature of 90 ° is deformed.

Cork

It costs a roll of cork 2 mm thick - 1200 rubles. The cork thickness of 6 mm has a price per roll - 3800 rubles. In my opinion, the use of this heater is unjustified. There are much cheaper heaters. But in some cases this is the only optimal solution. The price of work for installation is 320 rubles. m 2.

Long service life.
Environmental friendliness.
Does not rot, does not spread mold.
After a while, it does not lose its characteristics.
Lets air through.

Difficult installation process.

· High price. But in my opinion the quality justifies the price.

Ecowool

One of modern solutions. In my opinion, the most effective method insulation of the wooden floor in the apartment. The cost of 1 kg is 28 rubles. Work for 1m 2 costs from 1600 rubles. (wet method). In my opinion, the perfect combination of quality at low cost.

Lets air through.
Low cost.

· Does not breed mold, does not rot. Insects and mice do not start in it.

Easy installation.
Seamless insulation.

For your information

Cons: the main drawback is that after a while, dry laying of ecowool becomes caked. Therefore, when insulating the floor, I recommend tamping it well, on average, 1 m 3 will consume 50 kg.

Water heated floor

For many customers living in an apartment, I advise you to make a warm water floor. However, it is not always possible to do so. For example, in your apartment low ceilings, and the heating cake can take at least 70 mm. It is not always possible to pour the screed onto a water-heated floor, due to weak overlap. It is also important to consider the choice of flooring. For example, under the laminate all the heat is eaten up and it will be difficult to reach a comfortable temperature.

Advice! As my practice shows, a water-heated floor is ideally combined with ceramic tiles. It has a high level of thermal conductivity, which allows not to retain thermal energy in the body of the screed.

· Lining insulation (which are which are cheaper and better, briefly describe)

Floor materials

The modern market offers a large selection of outdoor finishing materials. I propose to compare the most common facing materials.

Parquet

Ease of use.
Durability about 100 years.
Beautiful appearance.
It matches perfectly with any style of interior.

· High price. Especially when exotic wood species are used.

Needs to be polished from time to time.
There is a lot of noise when walking.

The cost of a piece parquet is 950 rubles/m2, and a parquet board is from 800 to 2000 rubles/m2. The work will cost 1000 rubles. per m 2.

Laminate

There are many manufacturers of laminate, respectively, the cost of the laminate is different. I take off from the class. For an apartment, I advise you to purchase a laminate class of at least 33. So the price per m 2 is in the region from 300 to 2400 rubles / m 2. The cost of installation is on average 350 rubles / m 2.

Benefits of laminate:

· Packing convenient for transportation and manual carrying.

Simulates various building materials.
Easy care.
Wear resistance (depending on the class).
Relatively simple and quick installation.
Can be installed in different rooms.

· Resistant to negative effects of UV, does not fade. Some planks are even moisture resistant.

Does not breed mold and fungus.

Cons of laminate:

· It is impossible to restore the top layer in case of wear. A complete replacement is needed.

Makes a lot of noise when walking.
Unnatural tactile sensations.
Rigidity.

The presence of formaldehyde calls into question the environmental friendliness.

· Without deformation joints, the coating will spread or swell.

Linoleum

The cost of linoleum ranges from 200 to 1.5 thousand rubles / m 2. The cost is affected by its class, for example, commercial, household, and so on. For an apartment, I recommend buying linoleum no cheaper than 500 rubles / m 2. Installation cost: for glue 320 rubles/m 2 , without glue 250 rubles/m 2 .

Relatively inexpensive flooring.

Resistant to moisture and steam. Actual for rooms in an apartment with high humidity e.g. kitchen.

Wear-resistant (depending on the class).
Easy installation. You can use glue or not.
Does not slip when wet.
Easy care.

· Linoleum has a specific smell. It goes away after two weeks.

Weak wear resistance to punctures.
A perfectly flat floor surface is required.

Tree

In my opinion, the tree is the most win-win option when finishing the floor in the apartment. just keep in mind that it fits on the logs. Therefore, the height of the ceilings should allow such luxury. The cost of a wooden floor per m 2 varies based on the thickness of the board. The average price is 450 rubles / m 2. The flooring of the board along the logs will cost 400 rubles / m 2.

Excellent aesthetic appearance.
Pleasant tactile sensations when walking.

· In addition, wooden floors insulate the base. You can walk barefoot.

· Easy to operate. Once every 5 years, a coat of paint / varnish is applied and the floors are like new.

· A new floor covering can be laid on the old wooden floor.

Easily repairable.

Difficulty in installation. Many nuances must be taken into account.

It is impossible to achieve perfect evenness of the floor.
If the installation technology is not followed, they creak.

Tile

The cost of ceramic tiles varies based on its collection. You can find tiles for 400 rubles / m 2, and there are collections of 17 thousand rubles / m 2. The cost of work is within 1000 rubles / m 2.

Hard and durable coating.
Does not let moisture through, unless there is a flood.
Long service life.
Hygiene.
Easy to clean up.
Resistant to temperature extremes.
Resistant to chemical aggressive agents.

· High thermal conductivity. Without floor heating It's cold to walk on tiles.

Harmful in case of moisture.
High price.
Installation difficulties.

Rating of floor materials

*floor material*	*Appearance (10 points)*	*Material price*	*Installation cost*	*Price with work*	*Durability*	*Time before restoration*
		950 - 2000 rubles.
		300 - 2400 rubles.
Linoleum		200 - 1500 rubles.	For glue - 320 rubles. Without glue - 250 rubles.

		400 - 17000 rubles.

Finishing the floor is one of the last stages of repair in an apartment or private house. It can be carried out using various materials, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

Depending on the purpose of the room, there are certain requirements for materials:

Hallway. A room with a high foot traffic, in which a large amount of dust and dirt accumulates. The flooring should be as durable and non-marking as possible.
Bathroom. In this room, the floor covering is constantly in contact with water, so the material must be moisture resistant and easy to clean.
Kitchen. It also needs a material that is not exposed to moisture and does not absorb fat.
Balcony. The conditions in such a room are close to outdoor conditions, so the products must be resistant to low temperatures and humidity.
Living room. This is a room with a high foot load, so the main characteristic of the material is mechanical strength.
Bedroom. In this case, the floor covering must be environmentally friendly.
Children's. The material should combine the characteristics of products for the two previous rooms.

This material is used for laying floor coverings in premises of any purpose. Linoleum was especially popular during the Soviet Union, now it is not so common, but still holds certain positions.

Linoleum - availability and ease of care

Advantages:

Wide range of. The material for the floor is made in various colors and may have patterns and ornaments on the front. Modern rolled materials imitate the surface of stone, wood, parquet and so on.
Moisture resistance.
Mechanical strength.
High rates of sound and heat insulation.
Easy installation and aftercare.

Of the shortcomings, too high plasticity should be noted; dents remain on the linoleum after furniture and other heavy objects. Some models highlight harmful substances, this can be identified by a strong chemical smell.

Another classic flooring option. Most often, the material is used for arranging floor coverings in kitchens and bathrooms.

Ceramic tiles - environmental friendliness and durability

The positive aspects of the tile include:

Resistant to chemicals, water, UV and abrasion.
A wide range of colors and sizes of products. Materials that mimic color and texture are also produced. natural wood, stone and others.
Ease of maintenance.
Health safety.

Tiles are considered practically ideal option for floors in the house, but the material is cold, which makes it unpleasant to walk barefoot on it. Some types become slippery when wet, and the tile is also quite fragile and easily breaks when hit or dropped by an object.

Wood is now experiencing a new wave of popularity. With its help, floors are laid in rooms for any purpose, including kitchens.

Plank floor - nobility and a sense of comfort

Advantages:

Noble appearance.
Environmental friendliness.
Feeling of comfort and coziness.
Can be used in almost any interior and combined with other materials.

Of the disadvantages, exposure to water should be noted, therefore, measures must be taken to protect the coatings. Because of this, finishing floors requires more time and money. The ability to absorb moisture makes wood very brand, spilled juice, tea or coffee will leave a mark on the coating.

Also, the tree requires regular cycling, because over time, burrs appear on the surface. In addition, quality natural materials are quite expensive. If they are not processed correctly, they can swell or dry out, which will lead to deformation. Do not forget about rodents and insects that prefer to settle in such an environment.

Cork floor - naturalness and warmth

Such floor materials allow you to create really original cover. Products are made from cork tree bark, so they are completely natural and environmentally friendly.

Comfort when walking barefoot.
The coating is non-slip and non-marking.
Cork is well protected from moisture.
The material is easy to care for.
Wide range of colors and textures.

Among the shortcomings, one can single out low mechanical strength and a short service life. In addition, the cork needs subsequent varnishing, so such floors cannot be called budgetary.

Laminate - a wealth of choice and ease of care

These products were invented to replace natural wood. Some of its characteristics are much higher than those of wood:

The laminate is issued in very rich assortment. It can imitate the shades of almost all types of wood, natural stone, fabric, leather and so on.
The material is warm, in addition, under it you can lay the "warm floor" system.
Ease of maintenance.
Moisture resistance.
Relatively low cost.
Ease of installation (products are equipped with locking systems, thanks to which they are easy to stack).

Despite the fact that there are models with a moisture-proof coating, it is better not to use laminate for the kitchen or bathroom. You will also need to lay a layer of waterproofing. It should be noted that the laminate is quite fragile: prolonged contact with water and mechanical stress leave traces on it. In addition, during installation there is a risk of damaging the locking joints, so products must be purchased with a margin.

Porcelain stoneware - strength and practicality

This material is very similar to ceramic tiles, but is produced using a slightly different technology. At the same time, it resembles a natural stone. V modern world Porcelain tile products are popular due to the following advantages:

The strength of porcelain stoneware is rated 9 points out of 10.
Surfaces can last up to 50 years.
Does not emit harmful substances when heated and wet.
Ease of care.
Resistant to sunlight and water.
Does not burn and does not support combustion.
Wide range of.

The main disadvantage is the high cost, and this applies to the prices of both materials and installation work. Polished porcelain tiles are too slippery for use in kitchens and bathrooms. In addition, it is cold, so it needs to be heated. In some cases, it is impossible to cover the floor with such material due to the large weight.

Self-leveling floors

Self-leveling floor - aesthetics and uniqueness

This type is considered relatively new, it has not yet gained popularity among users, but it has a number of undeniable advantages:

The presence of polymer compounds in the composition provides high moisture resistance, so it is easy to wash.
Self-leveling floors can last about 20 years.
Seams are not formed on the surface, so it looks aesthetically pleasing. The same feature protects the coating from the appearance of fungus.
Attractive appearance.

Among the shortcomings, the high cost of the material and the need for serious preparatory processes should be noted. In addition, the coating cannot be repaired locally. That is, if the floor crumbles in some place, you will have to completely remove the coating and fill in a new one.

Concrete

Previously, concrete was used only for arranging floor coverings in utility rooms, garages, and so on. Now concrete screed very often it is the basis for other products: parquet, laminate, tile and others. But modern methods of pouring and grinding allow you to create a perfectly even, visually attractive (as you can see in the photo) and absolutely inert to water coating. In addition, the floors are strong and durable.

Concrete floor - strength and durability

Among the shortcomings, a large weight of the material can be distinguished, so it cannot be used in wooden houses. Also, to obtain a perfectly even surface, specialized construction equipment and qualified operators are required to maintain it. Another disadvantage is the complexity of the work.

On a note! If the floor is finished with concrete, then it is subject to mechanical stress. Despite the strength, the material can crumble when an object falls on it from a height.

Once this material was the main product for construction, but now it is considered a sign of wealth and luxury. The fact is that the stone itself is cheap, but its processing requires high-tech, and therefore very expensive, equipment and consumables.

Natural stone - presentability and practicality

Among the advantages it should be noted:

High mechanical strength.
Resistance to almost any influence (precipitation, sun, impacts).
Almost unlimited service life.

But natural stone there are also disadvantages:

Significant weight, which makes it difficult to work with, it is not suitable for all floors.
The stone is cold, so you will have to install a "warm floor" system.
The installation process is quite expensive.
The material requires special care.

Another material for arranging floors, which has been known to mankind since antiquity. It is also considered expensive because it is quite difficult to install. It is made of glass or natural stone.

Mosaic - elegance and originality

The main advantage of the mosaic is that it turns out to finish even curved surfaces, while you can create any patterns and patterns using multi-colored elements. For ease of installation, manufacturers pre-attach mosaic fragments to the grid, forming a pattern. The master can only stick it on the floor. In terms of performance, the mosaic resembles a tile.

Of the shortcomings, the high price of the material itself and the work on its installation should be noted. In addition, the mosaic coating will not work. modern interiors, she looks better in classic or antique style. It should also be noted that only an artist or a person with a developed taste and imagination can cope with laying mosaics on their own.

PVC

Products from this material are produced in the form of tiles with an adhesive base or interlocking. There are also cheaper varieties that need to be laid on a layer of tile adhesive. Modern PVC coatings are produced in a wide range of colors. Previously, tiles made from this material were also used for laying flooring, many remember these blue and green squares, now the products look more aesthetically pleasing.

PVC tiles - a wealth of choice and resistance to moisture

Among the advantages it should be noted:

Easy and fast installation.
Ease of maintenance.
High soundproof characteristics.
A wide range of colors, shapes and sizes.
Long service life.

Despite these advantages, there are also disadvantages:

High requirements for the preparation of the base. The rough coating must be perfectly even, otherwise all defects will eventually be reflected on the tile. It is also important to take into account that the moisture content of the base cannot be higher than 5%.
Before laying the floor with such material, it is necessary to hold the tile in the room for several days so that it adapts to the conditions. In addition, each manufacturer indicates the temperature and humidity conditions which must be observed during installation.
Changes color and breaks down when exposed to sunlight.
PVC is a synthetic material, so it releases harmful substances when burned. As for fire safety, it also leaves much to be desired.

This is a fairly popular option for finishing floor surfaces. It is a soft and warm material with a long or short pile, which is laid on a prepared base and covered with a plinth. The result is a coating that resembles an ordinary carpet, but which is covered over the entire area of the room.

Carpeting - comfort and sound insulation

Advantages:

Relatively low cost.
Comfort and coziness.
A wide range of design solutions.
Long service life and resistance to various kinds of influences.
High level of sound insulation.

Of the negative qualities can be identified:

Cheap product options are not protected from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation.
High hygroscopicity and susceptibility to water.
Accumulate debris and dust.
Difficulty in care.
Light products are very easily soiled.
Foundation preparation requirements. Under the carpet must be a layer of reliable waterproofing.

Last on the list, but not least, flooring option. Represents high-quality and at the same time elite covering. Performance indicators directly depend on the type of wood used in the manufacture, as well as production and processing methods.

Parquet - durability and warmth

If we talk about the positive aspects of parquet, it should be noted:

Attractive appearance. Like other natural wood products, parquet boards look noble.
Long service life. Provided proper styling and regular sanding, the coating can last about 30–40 years.
High thermal insulation qualities. In warm regions, there is no need to lay insulation under the parquet.

Minuses:

Susceptibility to various deformations. Wood expands in summer and contracts in winter, so expansion joints must be left when laying.
High price. Parquet is significantly superior to laminate or linoleum in this indicator.
The need for regular repair and replacement of the protective varnish layer.

Parquet is one of the best views floor coverings, but due to the high cost of material and work, it has not gained much popularity

There are many different materials available for flooring. Craftsmen even use coins or cardboard to decorate the floors. Most products can be laid by yourself to save some money on hiring specialists. But there are those that require qualifications and the use of a professional tool.

For a comfortable life in the apartment, you can not do without repair work related to flooring. There are enough options for what exactly can be laid on the floor in different rooms at the moment, so it is important to know the basic rules and patterns of choice.

In order to independently lay a suitable floor, you need to have sufficient knowledge and skills that will allow you to do the job efficiently and for many years.

Design features

Since each living space in an apartment involves a certain occupation, everything should be subordinated to this. That is why wallpaper is glued in the bedroom and the nursery, tiles are laid in the kitchen and bathroom, and in the corridor you can generally use decorative brick. But floors are of particular importance, it is on them that a person stays at home all the time. Thanks to good and quality coating it is possible to achieve maximum comfort in the room and the convenience of its operation by households.

It is important not only the coating itself, which is located under the feet, but also the structure itself, which is hidden under it.

In apartments, floors are mounted on interfloor slabs and have two main layers:

intermediate;
floor covering itself.

In some houses, the intermediate layer does not fit and the coating is placed directly on the slab. It can be PVC, linoleum, laminate, carpet or parquet. Because of this design, sound and heat insulation is very weak. The evenness of the floors also suffers, because there is no leveling layer. Modern buildings have a completely different flooring system; it is a reinforced concrete and metal structure with a complex device. They initially provided a layer of thermal insulation and there is an additional soundproof layer.

If the house is built in the form of frame-monolithic elements, then the floors are made of expanded clay concrete. This material has good insulating qualities. If the coating has a weak insulating property, then it is desirable to install an additional insulating layer for it. When creating a ceiling from beams, mineral wool can serve as a heat and moisture insulating material, which is placed between the beams, where, if necessary, a layer of waterproofing can be added.

When the beams are ready, an intermediate layer can be mounted on them, for which logs, a subfloor, layers of insulation and waterproofing and screeds are used, on which the floor covering is laid. On wooden beams, you can also lay a wooden covering, which will eventually create a solid floor covering..

For some rooms, it is possible not to make ceilings at all, these include basements, cellars, in which the floor is a screed that is as close to the ground as possible. V strip foundation sheet bases can help make the floor warmer and more suitable for extended stays. For such spaces special role ventilation is acquired, because they do not provide windows and in the absence of air outlet it will be impossible to be in such conditions. The size of the ventilation shaft will depend on the size of the room.. If the basement is small, then the removed pipe will be enough, if it is large, you need to plan a more complex system.

If the quality of the floors is not satisfactory, it is necessary to dismantle the old coating and install a DSP, on which a new floor can be formed.

To distinguish between rooms, you can use sills. They are especially important in the bathroom., because they will help protect other rooms from moisture accumulated after bathing and washing. When the base under the floor is done, the underlayment is laid, especially if a laminate was chosen as the flooring. If there is a need to insulate the floor, then you need to prepare a cake and fill it with a place where a warm floor is provided in the future.

There are a wide variety of flooring options and the work of installing them differs dramatically. Some surfaces can be laid on the finished floor, and for some you need to screed and raise the level up to 10 cm to achieve the desired result.

Sound and noise insulation

In order to insulate the floor and reduce the noise level, there are a variety of materials that can be used during repair work.

These include:

Foamed polyethylene. This material is laid in the form of a layer that fits under the main floor covering and helps to muffle the noise and partially affect the warmth of the flooring. The mere presence of such a layer for finishing the floor will not be enough, it is important to equip it with additional elements.
Construction of a structure from wooden beams . If the room has high ceilings, then you can raise the floor level with the help of beams that are installed on the spread polyethylene foam. Mineral wool or polystyrene is placed between the beams, but expanded clay can also be poured. When everything is ready, sheets of plywood or OSB cover the floor. It is on such a coating that any base can be laid.

Dry screed option. In this case, a polyethylene film is placed on the coating, on which beacons are placed, by which the height is then adjusted. thermal insulation material. Only after that it is possible to lay a gypsum-fiber sheet, on which any coating easily falls.
One simple but reliable coating option that achieves good insulation is ecowool. Quiet running on such a floor is ensured due to the complex composition of the coating and its characteristics.
Simple but effective option insulation is polystyrene. It is laid directly on the concrete floor. Based on the height of the ceilings, the floors can be raised to a certain level by laying the above material in several layers. Hard floor options can be laid on such a coating.

In a new building, you can get coverage of any type, and it is on the basis of this that you plan subsequent work. A variety of materials will be used for each room, for the bathroom, toilet and kitchen it is necessary to lay a waterproof floor, since the presence of moisture on the surface will be constant. Vapor barrier floors will also help to cope with condensation, which often accumulates in rooms with high humidity.

If repairs are made in the kitchen, the first criterion when choosing a floor will be its non-combustible properties and polyurethane substrates. The combination of these components will achieve the best result. Bulk floor can be used in any room, the main thing is to choose the right type of content to help increase sound insulation and create an additional layer of thermal insulation, making the floor in the room warm and pleasant in any weather.

Types of coatings

For a comfortable stay in any room, it is important to choose the right flooring. If repairs are made at home on their own, then it is important to lay new floors well and with high quality.

There are many options for such coatings now, the main ones are:

board;
parquet or a more modern variation - laminate;
linoleum, or as an option - PVC plates;
ceramic floor tiles or porcelain stoneware application.

Choosing a board to cover, it is important to select only grooved materials. These are planed boards that have the shape of a parallelepiped. One face has a comb, which is located along the entire length of the product. It is done with a milling cutter, which helps to make the shape even, which is convenient to use. The other side of the same board element has a groove that fits into the tongue and snaps it into place.

Such boards can have a thickness of 25 mm to 45. Hollow floors should be covered with thicker boards, while cast floors can be covered with thinner ones. The thickness level allows you to regulate the strength of the coating and the level of its vibrations. Thin boards are laid at a minimum distance from each other and the logs should not be located more than sixty centimeters from each other.

When installing such a floor, it is important not to reach the wall itself, leaving about one centimeter for the change in the size of the board under the influence of temperatures.

When choosing materials, it is important to pay attention to the material itself. Floor boards must be well dried. After installation of the entire coating, the boards can be painted, polished or varnished. The indents from the walls, which make it possible to expand the coating, are closed with a plinth. When choosing the material from which it is best to make a floor for a living room, you should not give preference to alder or linden, they are not suitable for this function.

Larch floor has similar characteristics, but its distinguishing feature is the ability to absorb moisture in the room itself. Thanks to this property, a person can feel great at any time of the year. Moisture does not spoil the coating and it serves long time bringing pleasure to use.

Parquet and laminate are in many ways similar to wooden floors.. The parquet has pairs that are located on each side of the board, which has a small size. Small dimensions make it possible to use valuable wood species and produce a high percentage of products without any defects. For parquet floors, a subfloor will be required., to which you need to attach every fifth board with a self-tapping screw, which is screwed in diagonally so that it is not visible.

Laying parquet board can be done in several ways. The most popular are the Christmas tree and the chessboard. On large areas, you can combine different installation options, creating unique patterns. This type of floor is one of the most expensive.

With all the positive aspects of this material, there is a very important drawback in it. When moisture gets in, it deteriorates, and if there is a lot of it, then it rises and laying it back is extremely difficult task. That's why it was invented laminate flooring alternative. It is very similar to parquet, but does not consist of wood, but of a four-layer material. It is based on a wood fiber layer, which is carefully impregnated with resin, and with reverse side an additional mounting layer is present, which helps to make the coating more rigid.

The top layer is paper on which a certain pattern is applied. The most common option is imitation wood. Another layer of melamine or acrylic resins is applied on top of it, which ensures resistance to abrasion and moisture. The installation of laminate flooring almost exactly repeats the system of parquet boards, which allows you to quickly and without much difficulty lay a new coating.

Linoleum is a radically different floor covering.. It is very popular and finds its application in almost any room. It consists of a layer of fabric and its coating, which has wear-resistant characteristics. For the fabric layer, both real fabric and non-woven options like felt are now used, which at the same time also insulate the floor. A variety of materials are applied on top. It can be PVC with different options and compositions.

The design of linoleum can be the most diverse - from various patterns and shapes to a huge palette of colors. In addition, there is still a wide variety of this coating in terms of strength and wear resistance.

Another flooring option is PVC tiles., which is a composite material having several layers. The base is made of stone, which is very crushed, and the top layer is vinyl with high strength characteristics. They lay it on bituminous mastic or glue, which simplifies the process, and damaged elements can be easily dismantled and put new ones, which allows us to talk about the versatility of the coating.

The low cost makes it possible to periodically replace the flooring, changing colors or patterns and updating the space. A high degree of wear resistance makes it indispensable, and good adhesion to the surface makes it possible to use it in a wide variety of rooms.

For more information about PVC tiles, see the following video.

The oldest material that was used for installation of floors, considered ceramic tiles. Modern variety of shapes, textures and colors allows you to fit it into any interior. Its main characteristics are strength and resistance to any external factors. Among the shortcomings, one can single out only fragility when hit by heavy objects and slippery floors if water gets on them.

Modern tiles are installed using mounting adhesive, which speeds up the process. A seam is left between each tile during installation, designed to change the shape of the product at different temperatures. All seams are covered with a special tool.

A similar material is porcelain stoneware., which was obtained by baking ceramics at high temperatures and pressure. The resulting floor covering has unique strength characteristics. Outwardly, it looks like a product made of natural stone, but it is much lighter in weight. The stone floor looks very impressive and expensive. The hygienic properties of this coating allow it to be successfully used in the bathroom and kitchen.

These are one of the most common floor coverings that you can use in an apartment and put them on yourself.

Design

In order to create a cozy atmosphere in the apartment, attention is paid not only to walls and furniture, but also to the flooring. It is important to choose the right material from which it is made, as well as the color scheme so that it is in harmony with the entire environment. The walls often create the main accent in the room, and therefore the color selection of the floor will often come from them.

Material for living rooms, such as bedroom, nursery, living room, the most natural is selected so that there are no harmful fumes or other negative effects on the body. For the hallway, bath, kitchen and corridor, you can use the floor from practical materials, which will withstand moisture, shoes with heels and other factors.

A variety of coatings gives rise to new trends in interior design, and specifically flooring. New materials make it possible to use them in any room, while getting the priorities necessary for this space. The classic version of the flooring design involves a solid color palette that is close to natural shades and textures. Modern trends dictate a riot of colors, a variety of textures and patterns that can fit into any interior.

Classic floors were often made of wood, and for their creation it is necessary to order solid wood parquet. The parquet itself can be piece, artistic or panel. For the same task, you can use massive boards made of oak or exotic species: acacia, walnut, elm and others. Oak boards are often artificially aged.

You can also use a parquet board, but you need to choose a pattern that will fill the space with the era of classicism.

Modern interior design requires modern coatings. The use of laminate, parquet boards, solid wood, carpet, carpet tiles - everything is suitable to make the interior modern. The only exception is the bathroom, it is better to use vinyl coatings for it..

Laminate is the most versatile because it can be used throughout the apartment.

The original solution would be to use tiles in the kitchen or bathroom. For the shower room, the use of marble effect will create an atmosphere of luxury and wealth. The marble floor will fit well into the design of the corridor, where the coating must be durable, but at the same time beautiful, in order to present the room to everyone who enters.

For kitchen suitable color tiles will be brown, but it also depends on the interior of the room.

If it is antique, then dark colors will complement and continue the chosen direction, and for modern motifs it is better to choose a metallic shade of the tile, which will visually expand the space and make it lighter.

Modern materials come in a wide variety of shapes - from small to fairly large. They can have unusual and very interesting textures and patterns, in addition, they can have unique and unusual color solutions, which will help to make the interior of any room unique.

When planning the purchase of a new floor covering, it is important not to make a mistake with the choice. For this you need to follow certain rules and selection criteria. The most important thing will be the selection of the floor for a specific functional area.

Throughout the apartment you can highlight:

zone for guests and good rest (living room, bedroom, children's room);
area with high humidity (kitchen and bathroom);
zone of non-residential space (corridor, hallway).

Depending on each zone, you need to choose a floor covering. In addition, when choosing a gender, it is important to take into account the rhythm of life in which the family lives. Fans of home feasts and mini discos will need a durable coating, while domestic and quiet households will like carpet.

Having children also plays a role, in this case all floors should be as safe as possible: environmentally friendly, not slippery, not hard.

Pets also influence the choice of flooring. If there are a lot of them, then it is best to choose something reliable, resistant to scratches, moisture and any other external influences.

Based on the family budget, it is possible to distinguish between the range of materials into two parts - affordable ones that will not burden the family, and expensive ones, the purchase of which will entail unpleasant material consequences. It is difficult to make a cheap floor repair, but with the desire and patience it is possible.

For the first floor, the choice of flooring will not be as wide, because close proximity to the ground or basement will increase the level of humidity, which may adversely affect some surfaces. In those houses where the interfloor ceilings are thin or already dilapidated, in no case should heavy floors be made. It is better to replace them with something durable, but as light as possible.

Do right choice not difficult if you approach the process with knowledge and do not rush. It is important to find the optimal solution that will allow you to get the desired result and at the same time will not require a large amount of financial resources.

Beautiful examples

When creating your unique apartment design, it is important to take care of the quality, comfort and beauty of the flooring. Modern materials can make it possible to create not just fashion options interior, but also to lay a coating that will serve for many years and delight its owners.

The use of parquet has always been popular. This material has a pleasant color, and if desired, you can create Beautiful design rooms using drawing. It is recommended to use it in the living room, in the hall, you can put it in the bedroom, but it is better to add a carpet to it for coziness and comfort.

For the hallway the best option will use laminate, which can be combined in color and create an interesting pattern. This coating is not afraid of moisture, because it can be washed frequently, and good protection against damage will allow you to walk on the floor in shoes with any heel.

In the bedroom, the most suitable floors will be made of wood., which are environmentally friendly material, they are warm enough and will not cause discomfort when walking in the cold season. The color of the wood can be matched to the interior of the room, as well as decorated to a certain tone, if necessary.

The most optimal option for flooring in the children's room is carpet. It protects the baby from bruises when falling, prevents fragile objects from breaking, does not collect dust on itself and is easily removed. You can lie on it at any time of the year without fear of catching a cold.

A comfortable and beautiful home is everyone's dream. But the choice of materials is not an easy task, as many factors must be taken into account. For starters, it would be nice to have general idea about all available materials - about their advantages and disadvantages. Let's discuss the types of flooring: what they are, how and how they differ, where they are best used.

In recent decades, technology has developed very rapidly. New materials constantly appear, and old ones acquire new properties and qualities. Today there are about a dozen types of floor coverings. Not the fact that in a couple of months new ones will not appear. In the meantime, here are the types of coatings available:

Choosing flooring for your home or apartment is not an easy task.

Engineering board.
Cork coating (glue and lock).
Linoleum.
Vinyl tiles (there are also names of PVC tiles, flexible parquet, Art vinyl).
Ceramic tile.
Porcelain tile.

Some types of flooring have been known for a very long time. For example, a plank floor or parquet. Others appeared just a few years ago - carpet and vinyl tiles. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages, and each must be considered separately.

How to choose flooring

The choice of flooring should be carried out according to the basic requirements that you impose on the coating. First of all, you should decide on the amount you are willing to allocate. When viewing options, consider not only the cost per square meter, but also the cost of laying materials, delivery costs. Some types of flooring - linoleum and carpet, per square meter have a very low price. Their installation is also easy. But the amount of waste can be large, and delivery is expensive. Especially if you need a 4 meter wide coverage. These are special rates.

Once you've decided on your price range, what types of flooring you can use, review the installation information and subfloor requirements. If your floor is far from ideal, it will need to be leveled, and this can result in a considerable amount. Most modern flooring is not too difficult to install. The exception is parquet, but you can lay it yourself. It's just that it will take a lot of time. If self-laying not an option, the services of specialists are added to the costs. And their prices are associated not so much with the complexity of installation, but with the cost of coverage. As a general rule, the higher the price of a floor covering, the higher the asking price for its installation.

Also, the selected species must be compared in terms of complexity / ease of care, durability, compatibility with, if you have one. So choosing a floor covering is not so easy.

The cheapest and most practical: linoleum, PVC tiles

If we talk about the most inexpensive type of flooring, then it is either linoleum or PVC tiles. If you look at prices per square meter, then linoleum comes out cheaper. But it is not so. In fact, the costs are equal for the following reasons:

PVC tiles are easy to ship. Packs of tiles can be loaded into a passenger car, and a truck is needed to deliver linoleum.
Scraps when laying linoleum are usually much larger. Unless you find the width of the linoleum exactly the width of the floor. PVC tile has a minimum of scraps, as it consists of small fragments.

These types of coatings are often viewed negatively. The highlights are the unnatural finish, which looks “cheap” and quickly loses its appearance. About unnaturalness. Firstly, there is natural linoleum - marmoleum. It is made on a natural jute basis from natural rubber resins, using natural dyes. Secondly, polyvinyl chloride - the same PVC that surrounds us every day. It packs products. So, despite the unnaturalness, it is safe.

Speaking of "cheap" appearance, that is, very decent-looking coatings, which cannot be distinguished from the now fashionable laminate. And linoleum looked “cheap” twenty or thirty years ago. When a strange-looking film with a wild pattern was applied to an incomprehensible base. Today, linoleum is a completely different coating. Both externally and technologically.

So or something like this modern linoleum looks like. By the way, its lifespan is 10 years.

Many people say that linoleum quickly wears out, goes in waves. This can happen if linoleum is laid with a violation of technology. It also needs a level ground. It can be not perfectly even, but without holes, “steps” and humps. Then there will be no problems with scuffs. And it also needs to be properly glued to normal glue (good PVA, at least). And you need to leave gaps around the perimeter of the room. In general, it is necessary to follow the technology, then there will be no waves-wrinkles.

Average price range

Not everyone likes linoleum or vinyl tiles, although they are perhaps the most budgetary coatings, and they are also convenient and durable in operation. I don’t want completely frank synthetics under my feet, but there is no intention to spend money on parquet or even more expensive cork. In this case, you can consider the types of flooring from the average price range. They, of course, with great difficulty can be called natural, but not quite synthetics either.

Consider medium-priced options

Laminate

If we talk about popular types of flooring, then today it is a laminate. At a price it is more expensive than linoleum, but cheaper than a parquet or engineered board. In appearance, they are very similar, but structurally completely different material.

Why was laminate placed in the middle price range? After all, there are inexpensive rulers ... Because in order for it to serve for a long time, it is worth taking a board high class(32 or 33), and even on a waterproof base. And these types are comparable in price to parquet and engineered boards.

Advantages and disadvantages of laminate

The laminate is based on high-pressure pressed cellulose - HDF. Everyone probably knows such material as MDF. So, HDF is also made, but pressed under higher pressure. A stabilizing layer is glued under the HDF base, often with moisture-resistant properties. On the other hand, a pattern imitating a natural coating is glued. A transparent polymer film is applied to the drawing. Sometimes it is even, but it can also be with an imitation of the texture of wood or stone.

There are a lot of different ones. And it's not just about appearance. There are they of different abrasion resistance, width, length, thickness. There are plenty to choose from. This is a great material if you are interested in inexpensive types of flooring. Also, its advantages include:

Simplicity. Any person with hands "from where it is necessary" will cope.
Stacking speed. In a day, even a beginner will lay one room.
Maintainability. If the coating was not glued, everything can be disassembled and reassembled.

Laminate - a good choice if you are interested in average-priced types of flooring

Not everything is so rosy. The disadvantages of laminate are as follows. He does not tolerate high humidity and if he gets wet, original view is not restored. The second drawback is that the coverage is noisy. Noisy in the room, you can hear footsteps. Sounds are also transmitted to neighbors below, if we are talking about a multi-storey building. So that the problem is not so acute, substrates are used. And cork or expanded polystyrene foam is better, but then the coating does not fit into the budget. But then the laminate does not creak, the house is quiet, and even the floor is warmer.

Parquet and engineering board

Like it or not, we are used to the fact that there should be wood on the floor. And more budget types of floor coverings, basically, imitate it with more or less certainty. And if you want a more natural finish, but the parquet is not inspiring because of the difficult care? There is an intermediate option - the same parquet and engineered board. They are made in different ways, but after laying they are very similar to natural parquet. Only cheaper, easier to install and devoid of most of its shortcomings.

The engineering board consists of moisture resistant plywood and a layer of wood glued to it. Plywood is more stable in size, it will not lead, it does not dry out, it is less prone to warping. The parquet board is structurally more complex and consists of four layers (from bottom to top):

pine seamless veneer;
spruce or pine slats;
a layer of precious wood;
a layer of varnish, oil or wax.

Both types of flooring have a valuable type of wood on top. Both consist of fragments - rectangular or square, which are connected with locks or through a tenon-groove. That's just the engineering board after laying should be covered with a protective coating - varnish, oil or wax. And ready for use - it is varnished / oil / waxed at the factory. Conveniently. But only after the joints are left without protection and you need to be careful with water.

How to choose flooring that looks like wood but is less hassle? Consider parquet and engineered board

The advantages of these materials are as follows. It looks like parquet, at a significantly lower price, the complexity of laying is several times less, and the speed of installation is many times higher. What else is good - fewer problems with operation - less often creaks and cracks. Well, the disadvantage is, after all, not a completely natural coating. The design contains glue. Where to a greater extent, where to a lesser extent. How critical it is for you - decide for yourself.

Parquet

Parquet in its purest form is a set of boards from which the flooring is assembled. And not always these boards are of the same shape or size. Complex schemes assembled from different pieces. The more of them, the more diverse and bizarre the pattern can be.

But in standard apartments or ordinary residential buildings and cottages, artistic parquet cannot be entered in any way. It is appropriate in large spacious rooms. And 20 squares is not the space on which something like this will look. In most residential interiors, parquet is laid with the usual flooring - a deck, there is also a herringbone or squares. And then, they no longer fit into all interiors. The modern style is very concise and even not too complex patterns can no longer be entered into it. Unless in a classic interior, but with appropriate furniture.

Not the most difficult drawing, but in ordinary apartment- explicit overkill

Parquet is glued on a perfectly flat base. It must be carefully prepared. Each plank sits on glue, but can also be additionally fixed with nails. Since the fragments are small, it takes a lot of time to lay the parquet. But the completion of the calculation is far from everything. There is still grinding to be done - four to five passes with sandpaper of different grits (from 600 to 1200). And then applying a protective layer - first a primer (two layers), and then varnishing (three layers) or oil impregnation (two layers is enough). When varnishing, intermediate sanding may still be required a couple of times. So in terms of time, laying 20 square meters can take a couple of months. Is it possible to lay parquet with your own hands? Quite. If the hands are from the right place and a lot of patience.

So, the advantages of parquet as a floor covering: beauty, naturalness. You can’t argue with beauty, although, in most cases, they lay the board with an ordinary deck flooring. Outwardly, it does not differ from the same engineering and parquet boards, but in terms of price and laboriousness of laying, it is very different. Although, it's beautiful. This is without a doubt. But a cheaper engineered board in the same decking looks no worse, but costs less.

It is also worth thinking about naturalness. The wood is natural - this is not disputed, but the coating itself is unlikely. The wood is glued. best glue for parquet now - polymer - unnatural. The parquet is covered with varnish - unnatural. Then the meaning is in the naturalness of the wood itself. Very doubtful. Prestigious, yes. Without a doubt. If the status of the coating is important to you, you definitely need parquet. In this he has no equal.

Soft types of floor coverings: carpet, carpet tiles

Carpet was at the peak of popularity about twenty years ago. Today it is not laid very often. If they put it, then in the bedrooms or children's rooms - here it is really very good. How appropriate the carpet in the living room will be depends on what you want to get. Low pile is easier to clean and easier to care for. The long one looks cozy and intimate, but difficult to clean. In general, both carpet and carpet tiles are a very good type of coverage if you are not allergic to dust. Warm, cozy, hides sounds. For the bedroom and nursery, this is perhaps best coverage for the floor.

Short pile carpet is the perfect budget flooring for the bedroom

It can be very simple: in small rooms it is simply rolled out and pressed with skirting boards. On a larger area, double-sided tape is used, pasted in strips on the floor every meter. If there are more than 20 squares, gluing with special glue or fixing is necessary (a special type of glue that creates a sticky layer on the floor like adhesive tape).

If we talk about carpet tiles, then it is even more convenient to install. It is not necessary to take out all the furniture. The base must be dry and level. A fixing adhesive is applied to it, after it dries, the tile is laid out. It's that simple.

For the price, the situation is similar to that which exists when comparing linoleum and vinyl tiles. If you look at the price per square meter, then carpet tiles come out more expensive. But there is less waste when laying, delivery is easier and cheaper. So the money spent in the end will not be more. And another plus of carpet tiles is that you can always fold it differently, it is easy to replace a damaged piece by simply removing the old one and installing a new one in its place. So if you choose, then carpet tiles are more practical.

So, the advantages of carpet and carpet tiles are low price, ease of installation, “quiet” coating. Disadvantages - difficult to clean, not suitable for allergy sufferers. In general, these are inexpensive and easy-to-install types of flooring.

Cork flooring

Another type of flooring that is called natural is cork. In fact, it is a pressed cork, which is available in the form of tiles or in rolls. There are two types of cork flooring. The first is called "adhesive" - it is glued to a flat and dry base and filled with several layers of varnish. It turns out something similar to parquet, but with a different texture.

The second type of cork can be compared to laminate. The same base - HDF, on which a layer of cork is glued, and on top of it is applied protective film from a polymer. Both styling and problems are the same as for laminate. It is easy to install, you need to be careful with liquids in operation. To be on the safe side, some lock plugs are also filled with varnish, so that there are no problems with filling.

If we talk about the pros, then cork is the warmest coating. It is comfortable to walk on it, even if it is varnished, the porous material absorbs sounds. So for quiet rooms - a bedroom and a nursery - a good floor covering. But, since cork is a soft material, furniture must be selected on wide legs so that it does not squeeze through. The second point: it should not be placed on a heated floor. Very low thermal conductivity, heating will be extremely inefficient. The floor will be warm, but the costs will be high. Other types of flooring work better with underfloor heating. There is a special laminate, even carpet or carpet tiles. But the cork is perhaps the most inefficient option.

Disadvantages of cork coating - high price, high abrasion. Adhesive cork is more expensive (thicker), lock - cheaper. But, compared to other materials, the price is still high.

We will analyze the most popular coatings, and you will already decide which of the evils is the least.

First, take into account the initial data of the kitchen

Before thinking about what is better to put on the floor in the kitchen, you need to think about where exactly the room is located:

1. If we are talking about a high-rise building and a middle floor, then almost any floor will be warm enough and it makes no sense to especially worry about warming.
2. A if you live on the ground floor or in a private house, then there is another conversation, since in winter time, without special heating, the floor can be just icy.

Also important is the initial humidity of the room, which, again, depends on the location. Particularly wet kitchens are on the ground floors and in houses without a basement. Having laid a wooden floor in such a kitchen, for example, you should not count on the fact that it will lie for a long time and will not need scraping.

But let's go in order.

What floors are there and which ones are the most practical?

Of the most popular and affordable coatings today, we can distinguish:

There are, of course, also cork floors, there are stone ones, but this is no longer so popular, since the price “bites”. Therefore, we will not include them in our review, it is better to talk about them separately, taking into account all the nuances.

From all of the above, we can say that the most practical floors are tile and self-leveling.

But the tile has one big minus - it is cold. Self-leveling floors are quite expensive. But we are all Let's look at it in more detail in separate blocks. considering both advantages and disadvantages.

If desired, you can also make a combined floor, this is especially true for kitchens connected to the living room. Due to the transition of textures, it is possible to successfully zone the room.

About screed and insulation

When repairs are in full swing, the question of which coatings to prefer is not the most burning one. Now the main thing is the screed and leveling of the surface.

Before choosing the material from which the screed will be made, you need to think about what you will lay on top.

If a tile - then there is no difference what will be below and the usual one will do cement mortar. And if it is a laminate, then it is much better to make a gypsum screed using a plaster mixture for this. Such a floor will come out much warmer and will be less moisture permeable.

Also, the thickness of the screed may depend on what type of insulation you choose.

And if you raised the screed high enough, then making wooden flooring is no longer very reasonable if your ceiling height is standard, that is, 2.5 meters. If you "steal" the extra 10 cm, then this will significantly affect the visual perception of the room.

And if you are also planning a hinged ceiling, then it will not be good at all. Now let's get closer to the topic and talk about specific coatings.

Laminate in the kitchen

The good thing about laminate flooring is that its installation is quite simple and you don’t need to involve professionals for this. Also, it is quite easy to care for him, he is quite durable, warm to the touch, and the choice of colors and textures is more than huge.

Overall, laminate flooring is a very good choice for a kitchen, as long as you buy it with durability in mind and don't go for the cheapest option.

Of course, a class for commercial premises is not always needed, but increased moisture resistance and resistance to chips will not hurt. By the way, just recently we wrote about that, be sure to read.

Keep in mind that a kitchen is a kitchen. A knife, a heavy frying pan, a meat grinder can fall out of your hands ... Anything. And it will be simply impossible to restore the floor later.

Also if your room is still damp, the same first floor, then laminate will not be the most brilliant choice for the reason that it has the property of "going". And if in a room of medium humidity it retains its original appearance for 10 years, then in a humid room in the fifth year, the joints will begin to “turn out”.

Do not forget that the kitchen is a place where you constantly water splashes. And the laminate does not like this very much, and you need to constantly wipe off the drops in order to keep the surface as long as possible.

Wooden floor

You can't lay parquet on your own, of course. It is expensive, prone to abrasion and, in general, not the most the best way for kitchen.

But ordinary deck boards are what you need. The floor comes out very warm and without insulation, it is easy to take care of it and most importantly - no screeds are needed in this case, since the board is laid on the logs.

It is for sale ready-made, so you don’t need to scrape anything, just lay it evenly, setting the supports in level.

This option is not the most budgetary, but it is beautiful and environmentally friendly. And given that you also save on the screed, then this option has the right to be considered.

But here, too, do not forget that if a knife that fell from a height is stuck in a tree, a scratch will remain on it. But on the laminate - no. But it is unpleasant to walk barefoot on a laminate, like on oilcloth, and on a wooden one - very much so.

But, as we wrote above, it is very cold in winter.

So, if your kitchen is poorly heated, think thrice before settling on tiles. Not only is it cold in itself, it also lowers the overall degree of the room. Not much, but still.

But, if the cold does not bother you, or you are ready to insulate the floor at the stage of laying the screed, then you can consider this option.

The tile is very exacting to correctness and quality of laying. If it is poorly laid, and there are air gaps between it and the screed, then it will very quickly begin to “walk” in these places, and over time it will simply burst in this place. Also, the tile bursts from the fact that cast-iron pans fall on it ... It is unreasonable to renounce such an incident, because anything can happen and all options must be taken into account.

It is often impossible to find a replacement for broken fragments, since fashion changes quickly, the assortment in stores does too, so take this into account when buying building materials. Let you have a couple of extra tiles left for later.

Well, the last moment - the tile is often very slippery and it is very easy to slip on it if water is spilled on the floor. And falling on the tile hurts, yes. And the glasses crumble, falling on a hard surface instantly. But if they fell on a laminate or a tree, then nothing would happen to them.

As for which tile is better, it's hard to say. Naturally, it should not be for the walls, but for the floor.

If you don’t have a herd of rhinos running through your kitchen every day, you can choose the most ordinary, not the most impact-resistant. Expensive porcelain tile, for example, is definitely not needed, it is more suitable for outdoor patios.

Linoleum in the kitchen

Even a woman can put linoleum on the floor. But it must be laid exclusively on a flat surface, otherwise every grain of sand and recess will be visible under the coating. Not only is it simply ugly, it will also wipe itself in these places with incredible force.

The wear of linoleum depends on its initial characteristics. There are softer options that cannot be pressed with something hard, as a dent will instantly form. And there are denser ones, for offices and other commercial premises.

The main trouble with linoleum is that it does not shine with beautiful colors.

Color options in this case: grey, light grey, dark grey, blue. If you manage to find something more interesting and with a pattern, then it will be a great success. We do not recommend imitations of wood and tiles.

But linoleum has one big minus. On it, all the time there are black stripes from the soles, which are still a pleasure to wash. And, it's not just about street shoes.

So, if you have children in your house who run a lot and “slow down” with their soles, get ready for the fact that you will have to crawl with cotton wool soaked in acetone and wipe the marks.

Maintenance is absolutely minimal. this floor washes well. Also, it is not afraid of moisture, is not afraid of bumps and scratches, but at the same time it cannot be called very hard to the touch.

The self-leveling floor is not cold, therefore, it is much more pleasant to walk on it than on tiles.

Another big plus such floors - the ability to choose very non-standard colors. Here you can think of anything. Although the image of a volumetric aquarium with fish, with a full 3D effect.

But self-leveling floors are still a novelty, and therefore The price for them is not the most loyal.

Also of great importance is fitter skill. Some may do this very sloppily and the floor will look uneven. And considering that it is mostly glossy, every dot and bubble will be visible in the sun.

Therefore, before deciding on a self-leveling floor, look for the masters and see photos of their work, and also read reviews about this company.

And so, the self-leveling floor is very durable, they say that it has been serving for more than fifty years, while maintaining its original appearance. To be honest, we have doubts about this, since no one has canceled abrasion and micro-scratches. And, if even ceramic tiles wear out after 50 years, then how can a self-leveling floor be preserved if it is softer by definition?

Our article has come to an end and we hope you have decided a bit on which floor is better to make in the kitchen. We wish you all the best!