Why should you install laminate flooring in your kitchen?
Affordable
Compared to hardwood flooring, laminate flooring is relatively cheap. Additionally, thanks to the printed pattern layer, you can have the appearance of natural wood without having to pay a greater price.
Durable
Laminate has been treated to make the top layer particularly sturdy and scratch- and stain-resistant. It is a wonderful option for locations with heavy foot traffic because of its longevity. Water resistance, a crucial requirement for your kitchen floor, is also provided by the top layer. In addition, Easy Step Flooring offers warranties that last up to 25 years.
Easy to Maintain
Our best laminate flooring is exceptionally simple to clean and maintain, thanks to the hard-sealed surface and stain-resistant overlay. You can quickly remove food stains and spills from the kitchen with a damp mop, warm water, and a mild cleanser. As a result of the secure locking mechanisms, dirt and dust are kept out from in between the boards. In addition, every living room in the house benefits from the dirt-repellent melamine resin surface, which serves as an effective barrier against the growth or transmission of germs.
Simple to install
Our kitchen laminate floors have a revolutionary profile that makes installation quick and simple. This innovative locking method allows for a simple, adaptable installation and allows you to select the best approach: plank-by-plank, tapping, or row-by-row.
Laminate Characteristics You Should Know
Compactness
A dense core board, a high-resolution photo, a melamine wear layer, and a melamine backing layer are all materials fused together to create laminate.
Strength
Laminate is incredibly resilient and can survive culinary spills, a lot of foot activity, and pet paw prints.
Cleanup Instructions
Immediately wipe up spills. Regularly sweep, dust, or vacuum; on occasion, wipe the surface with a moist cloth or mop. Keep sand and debris off of floors since they can eventually harm the surface. Also, watch out for board separation.
Underlayment
Laminate needs underlayment to act as a soundproofing and moisture barrier. Even when walked on, laminate sounds more like hardwood thanks to a specially created underlayment.
How to Protect your Kitchen Laminate Flooring
Against Moisture
Laminate flooring can swell past the point of repair due to water damage from the sink, dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooking areas. Ensure tight seams when installing the laminate flooring.
The edges are the laminate flooring's weak point. The margins of laminate floorboards are raw, making them vulnerable to soaking up water, even though the top is coated with the outermost wear layer and the bottom is covered. In addition, the seams on the top of a laminate floor that has been put correctly are so small as to be virtually invisible.
During installation, the top will typically remain waterproof if neighbouring laminate boards feel like they click or pop into place. Trim components like baseboards or quarter-round are used to cover the perimeter; nevertheless, neither of these constitutes a waterproof seal. Instead, manufacturers and installers advise using silicone caulk followed by foam backer rods to fill in any significant gaps at the trim-to-flooring connection. For smaller spaces, silicone caulk will do. Baseboards and flooring can expand and contract at various rates while yet being sealed, thanks to silicone caulk.
Topical Water vs Casualty Events
In theory, water cannot enter the core when the seal is correctly sealed. However, given enough time, water will typically find its way into the laminate core in practice.
Therefore, topical and casualty water are distinguished by the majority of laminate flooring producers.
- Topical spillage occurs when water from the pasta pan drips onto the floor and needs to be swiftly mopped up. When you unload the dishwasher and water falls on the laminate, it is another common spill, but once more, it is cleaned up in 15 or 20 minutes. Almost all laminate floors have topical water spill ratings.
- A casualty incident occurs when the supply line for the dishwasher leaks and leaks into the floor, where it pools for one or two days. Easy Step Flooring’s warranty describes laminate casualty incidents as flooding, divine intervention, malfunctioning plumbing, or leaking appliances (icemakers, dishwashers, clothes washers, etc.). These and other casualty incidents are not regarded as topical events.
Against Wear
Laminate flooring may not last as long when put under a lot of stress. To prevent minor scratches, keep the floor spotless. Use felt pads on the legs of the furniture. Use mats or gel pads in the vicinity of busy places.
Against Electricity
Laminate is susceptible to static electricity. Cleaning the floor will help reduce static electricity.
Against Dirt
Wet mopping is not possible on laminate floors. On laminate flooring, use moist mops or a vacuum.
Things to Consider When Choosing Laminate Flooring
Colour
The colour range for wood-look laminate ranges from blond to black. For a realistic appearance, tile-look laminate is available in a variety of earthy neutrals.
- Texture
More realistic textures result from manufacturing developments. For instance, the popular distressed finish for hardwood is now available in wood-look laminate.
Shape
Laminate is available in strips, planks, or tiles and can be put in different directions for a distinctive appearance.
Finish
Various matte or glossy finishes are available. Durability is typically unaffected by the finish.
Does installing a laminate floor come before or after installing a kitchen?
We advise installing your laminate floor after a new kitchen. Following that, the flooring should be installed around the kitchen, as there are various reasons why laminate flooring shouldn't be used beneath kitchen equipment and cabinets:
- Because they can be heavy, kitchen cabinets and appliances should ideally sit directly on the subfloor. As well as preventing part of the natural movement you get with a floating floor-like laminate, placing them on top of the laminate can cause damage and buckle over time.
- By putting in your laminate flooring last, you lower the possibility of damage occurring during the installation of your new kitchen. We detest seeing a large refrigerator dragged over our gorgeous laminate floors!
- You're putting down laminate flooring where no one will ever see it! However, the amount of laminate you need for the room will be reduced, which will lower the expense of your new floor if you only lay laminate up to the edge of your kitchen cabinets or just slightly underneath at the front.
The lifespan of Laminate Flooring
One of its outstanding features is the ease with which parts of the laminate can be changed.
Due to the fact that laminate is a floating floor, it is not attached to the substrate and typically has joints that are not permanent.
This is a product that is consistently offered with natural solid red oak Staining the wood can help align two distinct floorings closely, even if a close match cannot be achieved.
However, because laminate is a branded, artificial good, it has a distinct colour and texture. Therefore, the only approved replacement for laminate flooring that you've already purchased is another item from the same product range. Laminate flooring cannot be dyed or otherwise changed to mimic another type of laminate flooring.
At Easy Step Flooring, we take pride in offering a large selection of laminate flooring for kitchens. The robust and durable qualities of kitchen laminate make it the perfect flooring option for a space that experiences a lot of wear and tear. It's a sensible option for utility and laundry rooms as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is installing laminate flooring in the kitchen a wise idea?
This tough surface might be the answer if your kitchen has regular food spills and the pitter-patter of children or pets. Laminate is less expensive than hardwood or tile and has a similar appearance. Cleanup is simple, and the surface is resistant to stains and scratches.
Which laminate flooring is most suitable for kitchens?
Look for a laminate with a rating of AC3 or higher when selecting a floor for your kitchen. Low-traffic areas like bedrooms, home offices, and dining rooms are better suited for lower ratings. For any room in the house, including your kitchen, AC3, AC4, and AC5 all denote commercial-strength performance.
In a kitchen, how long does laminate last?
Generally, laminate lasts 15 to 25 years. However, some laminate floors could maintain their appearance for as long as 30 years. If you want your flooring to survive for 15-20 years or more and be in a high-traffic corner of the home, like the kitchen, go for high-quality laminate.
