The kitchen in a modern house is a multifunctional room where they not only cook food, but also spend a lot of time gathering with their families. Repairing the floor in the kitchen can be an independent type of finishing work or be part of a whole range of ongoing activities. It consists, as a rule, in replacing the floor covering with a more modern solution, suitable for the general style of the room. A more complex option for such work in an apartment is the arrangement of a new screed necessary for laying the "warm floor" system, hydro and floor soundproofing.
Repair types
Repair work in the kitchen differ in complexity and specifics of the work carried out:
- The most "modest" version of the floor repair - cosmetic - involves the removal of the existing floor covering, repairing bumps, cracks and other minor defects under it, laying a new finish floor. At the same time, old skirting boards are also subject to replacement. A similar method of repairing the floor will result in the lowest financial costs, it will take a minimum of time and effort to carry out.
- If the kitchen requires redevelopment, it is planned to transfer engineering networks, other types of communications, usually these works are combined with the installation of the "warm floor" system, the implementation of the screed. This option of repair work is considered capital, entails large labor, time and financial costs.
- If you are thinking of serious changes to the interior of the kitchen, including the implementation of design ideas to change the current interior, most likely, a renovation will be required. In this case, the surface is not just leveled: often its design itself changes, for example, it is made multi-level, additional communications are brought in, a new draft floor is mounted, etc.
The main stages of the upcoming floor repair
Repair of floors in the kitchen will differ based on the specifics of each individual room, but in general, the forthcoming scope of work can be conditionally divided into the following stages:
- Dismantling of the existing coating. Repair begins with the removal of all furniture and appliances. After the room is ready for the most dusty and dirty work, the skirting boards are removed and the flooring is completely dismantled.
- Cleaning the premises from debris accumulated after dismantling, assessing the subfloor for damage, traces of mold and fungus.
If the total amount of defects exceeds 30%, experienced builders recommend resorting to a complete replacement of the screed. Often this path is cheaper than repairing each individual crack.
- Definition of the main design idea. Very rarely, in an apartment, the owners are limited only to replacing the flooring. Usually this process is only one of the components of an extensive front of work. Therefore, after the surface imperfections have been eliminated, it is necessary to decide on the appropriate type of coating, its color scheme, so that the repaired floor is combined with the overall interior and style of the room.
- Laying waterproofing and insulation.
- Installation on the floor surface of the selected floor covering.
It is not so difficult to repair the floor in the kitchen with your own hands, especially if you have a certain set of basic knowledge, which you can replenish by watching all kinds of instructions on the video, which correctly and in detail tell about the topic of interest to you.
Criteria for choosing a suitable material
The modern market offers a large selection of floor coverings for every taste and budget, but not all of them are suitable for such a specific room as the kitchen.
Make your choice based on a number of criteria:
- Humidity is an indispensable companion of any kitchen, besides, there are frequent cases of spilling any liquids on the floor.Therefore, the selected material must have increased moisture resistance.
- Do not forget that the kitchen is one of the most visited rooms by all family members, so the floor surface must be resistant to all types of wear and tear.
- Cleaning a heavily used kitchen space doesn't have to be a daily chore, choose a surface that's easy to clean.
- If you plan to install a "warm floor" system, you will have to choose a heat-resistant coating.
Variety of materials available
During the equipment of the kitchen floor, most often the choice is given in favor of linoleum, laminate, ceramic tiles. Natural stone and wood are also great for the kitchen, but the cost of such finishing materials is available, unfortunately, not to everyone.
Linoleum
Linoleum is the most popular kitchen flooring. It attracts a lot:
- ease of installation;
- an abundance of available colors;
- moisture resistance;
- heat and sound insulation;
- affordable cost.
However, it has such a floor covering for the kitchen and a number of disadvantages:
- High probability of being damaged by mechanical impact (legs of kitchen furniture, dropped sharp or hot objects).
- The impact of household chemicals, fats negatively affects this coating.
- Some stains from linoleum are extremely difficult to remove.
The best option for the kitchen is semi-commercial linoleum, which is characterized by increased wear resistance.
Ceramic tile
This flooring option is recognized as the most optimal for use in the kitchen due to its resistance to moisture, grease, household chemicals, and mechanical damage. In addition, tile flooring can have a wide variety of textures and designs.
Tile loses to other floor coverings for the kitchen in a few moments:
- If there is no underfloor heating, the floor surface will be cold.
- A cup or plate dropped on a tiled floor is almost 100% likely to shatter, while if soft linoleum falls, most likely nothing bad would happen.
- Installing tiles in the kitchen with your own hands is not an easy and painstaking job, so many people prefer to trust it to specialists.
Laminate
Laminate flooring - a compromise between affordable price and good quality. It is resistant to temperature extremes, damage, has high strength and durability.
The weak point of the laminate is its hydrophobia. Modern types of this flooring are covered with wax water-repellent compounds, so they are no longer so afraid of water, but sensitive joints of elements remain a problem. There is a way out: all the joints of the laminate in the kitchen can be treated with sealant during installation.
It is important to distinguish between moisture resistant and waterproof laminate. The first is not afraid of moisture, but it can swell from spilled water. Nothing will happen to the second from the liquid, but it costs much more.
For a comfortable stay in the kitchen, the quality and convenience of the laid flooring is extremely important. It should not only match the overall design in terms of color, but also be distinguished by increased wear resistance, moisture resistance and ease of maintenance.
Cost of work
Prices for laying a new floor in the kitchen:
- laminate - from 250 rubles / sq. m. in Moscow, from 150 rubles / sq. m. in St. Petersburg;
- linoleum - from 150 rubles / sq. m. in Moscow, from 100 rubles/sq. m. in St. Petersburg;
- tiles - from 600–800 rubles / sq. m.
In other regions, the cost of installing a new floor in the kitchen can vary significantly.
