Kitchen Planning: How to choose the perfect parquet - The kitchen floor has a pretty tough job, having to take muddy shoes and spilled milk in its stride while still looking fresh and elegant. So choosing the right material for your space and lifestyle is crucial. Classic stone and wood to practice porcelain slightly nervous resin and concrete, there is a dizzying array of options to choose from, all with advantages and disadvantages.
The trick is to identify your main considerations. You are keen on a sleek look or do you want a bit of imperfection? Are you ready to take care of your floor or would you go and mop? you live in a large house occupied with lots of foot traffic or are there just a couple of padding around you do? And you are looking to wow or subtle is more your style?
Whatever flooring you choose, Andrew Petherick Artichoke recommend the plan from the beginning of a restoration of the kitchen to baseboards and joints are sitting together. "With all the floors, it is important to consider the width of the planks are or how big the tiles are and think about how the units will be sitting on them - where the lines fall. If the flooring lines are not parallel or perpendicular to the baseboards, but at an angle, it will look really weird. "
Take a look at this expert guide for the 12 flooring materials of the most popular kitchen to help you decide what will work best in your system and easily slot in your style life
professional advice from :.
Andrew Petherick Artichoke
Jamie Blake Blakes London
Paul Hutton Resin Seamless Flooring
Federica Vasetti DHV Architects
Jeremy Friendship studio 3 kitchens
Gurjeet Hunjan Boscolo Interior design
covering all limestone (photo) and travertine, granite and slate, classic stone flooring popular choice without surprise. The beauty of the stone is in its natural, unique variations - no two slabs are completely identical and the subtle changes in tone add depth.
Be aware that most irregular stones are more difficult to slot together perfectly. 'If you choose more rustic tiles that do not have smooth edges, the grout lines are thicker and they can get dirty, said Andrew Petherick. A polished, matte surface will give a more modern look.
Slate has a reputation for being soft, but you can find varieties more resistant to wear. 'Slate varies tenacity , said Andrew . 'Slate Cumbria, for example, acts as granite.
more top wow factor - stone is beautiful, timeless and chic. It is robust, durable and easy to maintain. It works with the underfloor heating and is a good conductor of heat. 'Stone grabs and holds heat on it for about an hour, said Andrew.
Cons 'Stone is not very forgiving on your feet if you are likely to be standing on it for long periods, "says Andrew. It is also pretty ruthless when the whole abandoned crockery is concerned. It is c old without underfloor heating and can scratch. more irregular surfaces can harbor dirt. 'Floors Darker show more wear and reveal the most well-beaten paths, said Andrew. He needs a solid, rigid and level - it can not be installed on a floating floor.
sustainable but warm and soft, rubber provides a perfect smooth scope for modern spaces, but with a softer edge than concrete. It is available as tiles, but large sheets are cleaner and more resilient. "It comes in textures such as studs and ridges, but choose a flat surface for easy cleaning," advises Federica Vasetti.
more Rubber is strong, warm to the touch and resistant, plus it has a little bounce - good for feet, dishwasher and toddlers leaders is available in a wide range of colors as well. speckled drawings. I is easy to clean and does not porous, so there is no more spills dramas.
Cons flat polished tiles can be slippery rubber . legs of the chair and dropped heavy objects can dent and color can disappear in sunlight It needs a very smooth basement. - floor should be covered with plywood It may take some heating. floor, but it is important to first check with your provider.
Read expert advice on the underfloor heating
If it is an aesthetic edgy you're after, you can 't beat concrete. Whether you opt for a full look at the industry, or just to sharpen a simple scheme, this surface does the job.
'Do not put it on the cheap, as it's easy to mess up, "warns Jamie Blake. "It must be vibrated enough to get the bubbles or it will crumble. Call in the professionals and make sure you get a warranty
more It is difficult to wear and i f looked after, will last indefinitely. - It actually becomes more difficult with age. it has great thermal qualities, absorbing heat during the day and releasing the night. It may be poured over an existing floor, which is not to be completely level. It comes in a range of colors and is g reat for in / out floor. It is easy to clean, will not harbor pests and is happy with underfloor heating.
Cons Concrete can be chipped or cracked, although you would have to make a real effort. It is not very kind to fallen dishes or tumbling tots, or walk if you're standing on it for long periods. "It can be slippery," said Jamie, 'but a matte sealer can mitigate this. If it does chip or crack, it can be repaired, but not transparent. "It will never be the same," said Jamie.
See the most elegant uses for polished concrete
If the expression "maintenance free" is music to your ears, porcelain tiles might just work in your kitchen. they do not require sealing and they are very resistant to wear. "You'd have to drop a hammer on a smart 10lb she says Jamie Blake.
They can now be made to mimic other surfaces , such as wood, concrete or leather. 'the sky is the limit with textures, "says Jamie.
more the porcelain toilet is difficult to scratch or chip, and c an be washed with anything. He is also pleased with underfloor heating. The tiles are generally of equal size, so that they can be butted right for narrow grout lines -. Which means less dirt collection
Cons "You can fight to achieve that warm feeling of nature," Jamie said. 'P orcelain not the charm of wood . They tend to be more expensive than ceramic tiles and are repaired if they are smart, ruthless if you stand on them for long periods and cold without underfloor heating.
ceramic tiles are usually made from clay with a glaze on the top. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, textures and colors, and other materials, even imitate such as wood.
Jeremy Friendship recommends that you look for the tiles with 'edges rectified. "These are tiles that were cut after being in the oven, so that the edges are smooth and even, he said. If the edges are not straight, it can lead to thick grout lines, which house the dirt. "And do not even consider white grout," says Jeremy.
more Ceramic tiles are usually cheaper than porcelain, as well as being hygienic and easy to clean. The range of models means that it is easy to get the look you're after a budget. They are also suitable for floor heating.
Cons They are not as durable as porcelain and can crack, so it is important that they are placed on a flat solid ground. If they chip, it is obvious that the color does not go all the way through. They are cold to the touch and hard on the feet and dropped the dishes.
All intelligent copies worldwide can not really match the beauty of real wood. It comes in a wide range of shades and grains, works in all environments of ultra modern chalet, and is probably never go out of fashion. A uniform grain looks modern while knots and irregularities fit well with a trad system.
boards have regenerated an incomparable patina. But they are more expensive because they are more difficult to establish, being of different sizes and thicknesses, "warns Jamie Blake.
Parquet doing well because it does not expand as much as the advice, "adds Andrew Petherick. Regarding the finishes: "Choose the oil or wax rather than hairspray for a natural look, and clean with a damp mop instead of moisture," advises Andrew
more is Wood. very forgiving on your feet, as it has a certain elasticity and is warm to the touch. It is renewable, recyclable, beautiful, strong and durable. It can be sanded to look again and stained in a wide range of colors.
Cons 'solid wood planks move, especially in an environment where there is a lot of moisture and sweep, "said Jamie. They need a subfloor, which can make the expensive installation. They can be noisy, so not one for the apartments, unless you intend to put a carpet. They stain and scratch, and can appear wear in high traffic areas, such as the hob and sink. 'A wooden floor can be re-sanded, but it is a pretty dirty process, Andrew said. "Underfloor heating is a no-no with real wood," adds Jeremy Friendship.
Read suggestions for which the wood, you should choose for your kitchen cabinets
Made from two lengths of wood veneer (typically 5mm) inserting a layer birch Engineered boards straddle the gap between laminate and solid wood. They also come in a wide range. Twelve-inch-wide boards look great in a large room, said Andrew Petherick.
"Many people are turning to engineering advice because they have the look of real wood, but are stable, 'says Jeremy Friendship.
more 'engineered planks are flat, do not expand or contract, and may take the floor heating, "said Andrew. "They are both sealed, so you can happily mop up." As the veneer is thick enough, they can be sanded to cool and are a sustainable choice because they contain less than hardwood.
Cons They lack a part of the character of the real thing. lacquered panels are sealed, so are strong, but the most authentic finish is raw, and they can be scratched and stained as with solid wood. They can be noisy.
This is a material that not only does not harm the environment, it contributes actively. Removing the bark of cork oak trees means that they live longer.
'Cork is hot and has a bounce to it, so it's comfortable and it absorbs the sound,' said Gurjeet Hunjan. And gone are the days where tan was your only option. 'Traditional, the exposed cork is always available, but there are now many models coated with vinyl, which gives you more choice of finishes adds Gurjeet.
more Cork is naturally antibacterial, if mildew resistant, non-slip, flame retardant and insulator (as it is filled with lots of tiny pockets of air). It is easy to clean with a damp mop and exposed cork can be sanded and resealed revive.
Cons heavy furniture can leave an imprint, it c fade in the sun and is easily scratched . It can handle spills as long as they are sponges, but if the liquid is left on the soil, it will cause damage.
Still unsure? Browse photos kitchen with a cork floor for more ideas.
the resin is an option increasingly popular for kitchens. "The trend is for white or gray areas, said Paul Hutton. Resin can be poured all over the kitchen floor, so there is a clear finish.
The soil can easily be revived. "You can just sand, then apply a couple of coats of sealer and it is like new, says Paul, 'and if you fancy a new color, you can simply choose a different sealant.'
It is available in gloss, silk or matt finishes, but Paul recommends mat. 'Gloss Floors, especially pale, show all brands, while the matt hide scratches.
more The resin is in the feet warm, hypoallergenic w Impermeable, robust and easy to clean with warm soapy water. It is available in a ny RAL color, and c be personalized with motifs. It can be paid to a concrete or wood substrate and is happy with underfloor heating.
Cons He has no depth or character of something like wood or stone, and he scratches. There can be repaired by filling scratches, but the entire floor must be sanded and resealed or repair would stand out like a sore thumb, "warns Paul. Spills should be wiped or they can stain the resin.
Lino ecofriendly check the box to shovel. It is made from natural materials (linseed oil primarily of cork dust, wood and resin dust) with a jute backing, and its production does not take huge amounts of energy. Sold under the brand name Marmoleum, it comes in a wide range of colors and designs, linear marbled solid (photo).
'Make sure it is properly sealed, "warns Federica Vasetti. "The soil must be cleaned, sealed and allowed to dry thoroughly. Poor seals makes linoleum difficult to clean.
It comes in sheets or tiles, but Federica recommends leaves, for no seal means the surface is waterproof and more attractive.
more Linoleum is relatively warm underfoot and fairly forgiving. "The plates tend to bounce rather than break, said Federica. It is available in several colors, is easy to clean with soapy water and is ideal for people with allergies because it does not harbor dust mites. It is also suitable for the floor heating and can be placed on an existing floor.
Cons It is quite difficult to cut and install, so it must be professionally installed. It can be damaged by sharp objects, and can wear and fade over time.
high quality vinyl is a good choice for budget-friendly. He can play many surfaces, from wood and stone mosaics and metallics, or select models, including geometrics, peas or even flowers. 'The image is digitally printed on vinyl, it sounds very good, said Jeremy Friendship.
more Vinyl is a friendly trading option. It is easy to clean and resistant to water. spongy vinyl can tooth and rip, but thin, hard vinyl is very robust. It is also comfortable underfoot and can be laid over an existing floor.
Cons is easily scratched, may disappear in the sun and has a relatively short lifespan. If damaged, it is irreparable. It can work with underfloor heating, but the temperature may be necessary to limit, so always check suitability with your supplier.
Take a look through some other cuisines with a vinyl floor for inspiration.
the thing with the laminate is to go for good quality advice, which are hard and resistant to wear, stains and fading. You should not choose a wood look - some laminates imitate ceramic tiles or slate. They are covered with a "wear" a transparent layer which is quite difficult, so are scratch resistant. Under the wear layer is a high definition image, which can be anything from wood to marble.
'You can now also buy laminate panels that have a thin layer of wood on top for a look realistic, "says Jeremy Friendship, although they scratch and can not be sanded that plating is not deep enough. "The main lines have V-grooves for a natural look board," he added.
more There are some patterned, textured realistic available. Laminate tends to be a reasonable price, is low maintenance, resistant to moisture and can be installed on an existing floor. "He does not need sealing and does not stain," says Jeremy.
Cons must be an undercoat, which is sometimes attached to stratify and sometimes not - ask before buying. If it is dropped, it's fixable. Not all laminates are suitable for electric underfloor heating, although all can be laid on wet systems.
So what's next in the kitchen floor? "I would lay bricks herringbone floors in kitchens, said Jamie Blake. 'It is already a big trend in the gardens and added that French rustic look. The bricks are of large insulators, too.
"We are absolutely using the floor brick rafters, too, 'said Gurjeet Hunjan,' and the floor with a contrasting keyline. Many people ask whitewashed oak floors, as it is modern, but still has character. "
Jamie also sees the cap as material back and forth. "Many domestic trends, such as feature paneled walls and pendant lights hanging low, from bars and hotels, and toppings are great in bars at present, he said. "Coping is rougher than the polished concrete is super-hard and can be painted. I like it because it does not look perfect. And if you get bored of it, there is a ready base for a wooden floor!
Bamboo is a wild card. It is common in the US but not yet popular in the UK. "I'd say it's slowly creeping rather than take off," says Jeremy Friendship. But it is super-durable, since it is a grass, and surprisingly difficult, so give it a look.
Tell us ...
What kind of flooring do you - or would you - in your kitchen room? Share your thoughts, tips and photos in the comments below.
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