Which floor is better to do in an apartment: we analyze the selection criteria depending on the room. Which floors are best? The better to lay the floor in the apartment

07.11.2019

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 your apartment has a wooden floor, then I do not advise flooding 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 brigade traditional way pouring a semi-dry screed is capable of pouring 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

Disadvantages:

· 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 will advise you to compare the offers of several construction companies at once in order to choose the most favorable 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 providing excellent floor sound insulation. However, mineral wool cannot be filled 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 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 it's 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 way to insulate a wooden floor in an apartment. The cost of 1 kg is 28 rubles. Work for 1m 2 costs from 1600 rubles. (wet method). In my opinion, perfect combination 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.

Note

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, your apartment has low ceilings, and a heating cake can take up 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 reach comfortable temperature it will be hard.

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 you not to delay 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 floor 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, for example, a 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.

Wood

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.

Not only the aesthetic side of the interior, but also the ecological and sanitary conditions depend on which floors will be chosen for residential premises. To know which floors are best for an apartment, you need to consider their basic technical and operational characteristics. Each of the rooms requires a different approach to the choice of flooring, and this should be taken seriously, as the material laid on the floors can positively or negatively affect the health of family members.

As a rule, the floors in the apartment have a concrete, fairly even base, and this fact is already a help for the construction of any of existing species coatings. Depending on what effect you want to get from the floor being arranged, its desired type and the material necessary for it are selected.

Concrete floors are strong and durable, but they have two significant drawbacks that all owners are trying to deal with. modern apartments- it is cold and high sound conductivity. To eradicate these shortcomings, you can resort to one of several methods of insulation and soundproofing. Since floor slabs are designed for a certain maximum weight, heavy loads on them are prohibited, and therefore light material should be chosen for these purposes.

Ways of heat and sound insulation

There are several ways to make heat and sound insulation in an apartment using the following materials:

1. The first, most well-known and used method is the laying of thin polyethylene foam under the decorative coating. But this method will not fully give the desired effect, it will only drown out the noise from below a little and make the floor a little warmer. Therefore, it is better to use polyethylene in combination with other materials that have the characteristics necessary to create comfort in an apartment.

2. Another, more effective way - with fixing wooden logs on a thin polyethylene bed, between which foam plastic 50 ÷ 100 mm thick, expanded clay or mineral wool can be laid. Then, such a heat and sound insulating "fur coat" is closed from above with a floorboard or plywood, which, in turn, is covered with one of the decorative coatings.

3. The third way can be called a floor made from a dry screed. This type of thermal and sound insulation will perform well the tasks assigned to it. It is easy to install and perfectly protects the room from noise and cold.

4. Little known, but very effective way Insulation has recently been considered pleasant and light materials - ecowool, made on the basis of cellulose, and noise plastic, consisting of polystyrene foam, rubber and acrylic additives.

Video: sound and thermal insulation with noise plastic

5. Quite famous and in a simple way to achieve silence and warmth in the apartment is the laying of extruded foam directly on the concrete. If necessary, and the ceiling height is sufficient, the material can be laid in several layers, and a hard decorative coating, such as parquet board or laminate, is laid on top of it.

Flooring

Having decided on insulation or making a risky decision to leave the floor cold, you can move on to the next step - choosing and laying the finish flooring. It must be remembered that for each room it is necessary to choose its own material that will meet the requirements of staying in this room. In addition, much will depend on the base of the floor, which will be covered or filled with a decorative coating.

Today there is a huge selection in hardware stores. floor coverings from which you can choose suitable option for this or that room

So, you can choose from the following list:

ceramic tile;
laminate;
carpet;
linoleum;
cork coating;
batten.

Ceramic tile

This material can be laid on a concrete or wooden floor lined with plywood or moisture resistant drywall. The tile is intended mainly for flooring in bathrooms, hallways, kitchens or corridors, but if a warm floor is installed in the rooms, then it is suitable for any of them.

Ceramic tiles are available in various shades and patterns. So, for example, you can choose:

For a large room with a heated floor, an elegant floor panel will come in handy, which will give the room the look of a palace hall.
For the hallway and corridor, rich dark tones of the material are suitable, which can hide the dirt and dust brought from the street. In these rooms, it is better to lay unglazed tiles with a corrugated surface, in order to avoid the possibility of slipping and injury.
The floor in the bathroom and bathroom also needs to be laid out with corrugated or matte tiles, for better adhesion of bare feet to it when exiting from the shower. The color scheme can be chosen for every taste, and with its selection to the wall decoration.
The tile is also the best design floor in the kitchen, as it is easy to clean and does not absorb grease and oil that accidentally gets on its surface. The material is strong and durable, which is very important for flooring in the kitchen.
If the balcony is not insulated and is used only in summer time, the tile will be an excellent protection for concrete pavement from moisture. In this case, when choosing a tile, you need to pay attention to the frost resistance of the material.

Linoleum

Linoleum is one of the most popular coatings today, and largely due to the fact that it has an affordable price, is easy to install and is diverse in color and pattern.

1. This material can be made from natural materials and polymers. The first of them is used very rarely, since it has a rather high cost, and the second coating option is mainly purchased.

2. In addition to the first criterion, linoleum is divided into commercial and non-commercial types.

the first of them is more durable, and is laid in public buildings with a high intensity of human flow, but it is categorically not suitable for residential premises, as it has harmful impurities;
for an apartment, you need to choose only a non-commercial type of flooring. Its strength for home conditions is quite enough, and it will last for many years, provided correct installation and careful operation.

3. Linoleum is produced without a base or on a warm and thick substrate, as well as on a medium-thick foam base.

The disadvantages of linoleum include the following points: unnaturalness, deformation during temperature changes and when heavy objects are installed on it.

Linoleum is laid on a concrete, plywood coating, most often using a polyethylene foam substrate. It is suitable for flooring in any of the rooms. The only place where it is not recommended to lay it is the bathroom, due to the fact that this room has high humidity, and ceramic tiles are more suitable for it.

The choice of linoleum design in color and pattern depends entirely on the tastes and preferences of the apartment owners.

Cork

Cork flooring is enough expensive pleasure, but it's worth it if you look at its characteristics. Cork is an environmentally friendly material, an excellent heat and sound insulator, has elasticity and resilience, is pleasant to walk in, and has the ability to create a cozy, favorable atmosphere in the room.

Cork is suitable for any of the rooms, except for the bathroom - because of its humidity. It can only be laid on a flat and hard surface, such as plywood. If you plan to lay directly on concrete, then you must definitely lay a substrate under it, otherwise, solid fragments will even small size may damage the material.

Cork flooring is available in three types:

Floor decorative option, which is produced in the form of rolls and plates. Such material has a special impregnation of the top layer, which protects it from moderate moisture. In addition, often such a tile has an adhesive applied, which makes it easy to arrange it on the floor.
For a substrate under another floor covering, for example, linoleum or laminate, a technical version of the coating is used, which is of lower quality. It is used for thermal insulation and sound insulation of the floor. The substrate is produced in the form of rolled and tiled material.
In addition, MDF is covered with cork, which serves as the basis for it. Such a coating is produced in the form of panels measuring 18.5 × 90.0 cm, which have special locks for assembly into a common coating.

The material almost does not deform from temperature changes, withstands heavy loads, does not squeeze when heavy pieces of furniture are installed on it.

Laminate

AT last years In apartments and houses, flooring, called laminate, is increasingly appearing. It successfully imitates a parquet or natural board, but is much more affordable. Laminated panels are produced in standard sizes, most often - 25x150 cm, they have locks along the edges various designs, with which they are connected to a common plane.

Structurally, the laminate consists of four layers, each of which plays its role, and in the complex, a fairly reliable, durable and aesthetic material is obtained.

The upper transparent layer not only emphasizes the decorative effect of the laminate, but also plays a protective role for the underlying ones, guaranteeing them moisture resistance and protecting them from mechanical damage and abrasion. This part of the laminate is made of acrylic or melamine resins, which contribute to the protective functions.
The second layer is precisely the decorative layer that imitates a particular pattern - it can be not only the texture of wood, but even various types of stone or sand.
Pressed wood fiber makes up the third layer, which is the basis of the entire panel, as it has the largest thickness - from 4 to 8 mm. It is at the level of this layer that the locking elements that fasten the panels together are located - a spike and a groove.
The bottom layer consists of a special resin-impregnated paper, which is designed to protect the material from moisture that can damage the material from below. Some types of laminate are also equipped with a heat and sound insulating waterproof underlay.

This flooring is divided into operational classes, and for laying in residential premises, 21-23 laminate classes are mainly used.

Laminate cannot be called an environmentally friendly material at 100%, since phenol-formaldehyde resins are used in its production. But each manufacturer can use them in different proportions, and the norm is when the content of formaldehyde does not exceed 0.01 mg, and phenol 0.003 mg - these data can be found on the packaging of the flooring.

Laminate is well suited for laying in the living room, hallway and kitchen, but it is better to refuse from the flooring of its children's room or bedroom for the reasons described above.

carpet

Carpet is a floor covering made of synthetic or natural fibres. It can be long-haired or even not have a pile at all. This coating is made on a rubber, felt or jute basis.

Carpet is good only when it is new, but it gets old very quickly.

The material is pleasant to walk on and aesthetically pleasing, but only when he's new. Quite quickly, he loses these attractive qualities of his - the pile is crumpled in places and becomes not so soft and beautiful. In addition, a lot of dust collects in the carpet, so when buying this coating, you immediately need to purchase a powerful vacuum cleaner.
It is tempting to lay carpet in the bedroom or nursery, especially since the range of such options is rich. But you need to remember that in addition to heat and sound insulation, this coating can also bring allergies, which will be difficult to get rid of. Therefore, in these rooms it is better to choose a coating that can be subjected to regular wet cleaning.
It is not recommended to lay carpet in the hallway and corridor, as it will look beautiful for a very short time and will quickly become clogged with street dust brought on shoes.
If there is a great desire to have carpet in at least one of the rooms, then the living room is best suited for it. But you need to remember - you will have to clean it very often.

Wooden floor

The wooden floor will be the most comfortable of all the presented coatings if it is laid on logs and insulated with mineral or eco cotton. Due to its structure, wood is a warm material, and when laid in combination with insulation, it will make the floors absolutely comfortable.

Video - Wooden flooring with insulation

Video - Wooden flooring. step by step

The environmental friendliness of such a coating allows you to lay it in the nursery and bedroom. Its soundproofing properties will make the rooms calm and conducive to relaxation.

Wooden floors should not be laid in the kitchen, bathroom and hallway.

A lot of smells “hover” in the kitchen, which tend to be absorbed into the floor and wall coverings, and the tree is predisposed to the perception of various aromas. But their mixture over time can lead to the fact that the smell will be very unpleasant and indestructible. Therefore, in the kitchen it is best to use a neutral material for the floor - ceramic tiles, laminate or epoxy self-leveling floors.
Because of high humidity you should not arrange floors from boards and plywood in bathrooms. The tree absorbs well not only odors, but also moisture, from which it swells and deforms, so it is better to refuse this idea.
The floors in the hallway are on the same level as the floors in the entryway. If you install logs and a floorboard, then they will rise at least five centimeters, and you will get an uncomfortable step, and if the door opens inward, then it will have to be reinstalled or replaced. So the best option will cover the hallway with laminate, tile or linoleum.

In addition to the floor coverings described above, there are others, such as epoxy 3D floors, parquet boards, polymer tiles and, of course, the well-known parquet.

For more information on how to make self-leveling floors with a 3d effect, read the publication.

Video: unfamiliar to many quartz-vinyl flooring

The material from which the floor is made depends on how warm it will be in the rooms. In addition, the flooring has a special influence on the design of its entire interior. Therefore, it is very important to approach this issue with all seriousness, to calculate all the pros and cons in order for the flooring to last long time, and also did not harm the tenants of the apartment.

The choice of material for finishing the floor in the kitchen is always a complex and important process. This is due to the fact that it must be durable, practical, reliable. In addition, such coatings should be easy to clean. That is why when choosing a floor for the kitchen, you need to be careful and take into account a number of nuances.

photos

Peculiarities

It is believed that in the kitchen, especially combined with the living room, households bring the most time. That is why the kitchen should have nice interior and high-quality finishes to make it more comfortable and cozy. Flooring plays an important role in providing comfort and safety.

Its feature is that It should be convenient for the hostess to move around the kitchen during the cooking process. At the same time, a number of important requirements are imposed on the floor. Since a lot of fumes are released into the air during cooking, the humidity level in the kitchen is always higher than in other rooms. That is why moisture and grease settle on such coatings. In the kitchen, wet cleaning is most often carried out, so the coating must be resistant to moisture. In addition, it should repel dirt and not absorb fat.

It is better if the coating can be cleaned with special scrapers and hard sponges.

Floors in the kitchen should be wear-resistant, since mechanical loads in this room are inevitable. Therefore, coatings must have a special protective layer that will not spoil the appearance and quality characteristics of the floor. In addition, they must be resistant to external influences and damage. This is due to the specifics of this room, since cutlery, knives, plates and even pots often fall in the kitchen. The floor must be very durable and strong.

Another feature of the floor in the kitchen is that it is changed infrequently, so it must be durable and reliable in operation. At the same time, in view of high humidity it can begin to slip, and many surfaces can become unsafe because of this. On such a floor, it is easy to slip and fall, so matte non-slip surfaces are best suited.

A feature of many floor coverings designed for the kitchen is that they have at least a slight relief. Many coatings are quite expensive. This is due to the fact that the materials have a certain set of quality characteristics and have a good composition.

When choosing, it is important to initially think through all the details and choose the most suitable coatings for the interior and color design, while taking into account the quality characteristics. A feature of the floors for the kitchen is that they are brighter and more attractive than coatings in other rooms, so they are considered an element of decor.

This feature determines that the choice of flooring design should be taken seriously. A good kitchen floor is an original, functional and practical flooring.

Kinds

When choosing the type of material for finishing the kitchen floor, they usually take into account whether it will spread in an apartment or in a private house. In addition, it is often selected depending on the area of \u200b\u200bthe kitchen and on its size, so that the load level can be calculated. There are several basic types of materials for finishing the kitchen floor.

Porcelain stoneware

This is a classic version, its advantage is resistance to chemicals detergents as well as dirt and grease. It is quite easy to care for him and at the same time he retains his original appearance for a long time. But porcelain stoneware has rather large seams, which can collect a lot of dust and dirt. That's why, To avoid this problem, you need to do its styling efficiently and professionally.

Customer reviews show that improperly laid porcelain tiles are quickly damaged. This is especially true in cases where the seams are too large and there are voids between the cells.

Cork

Such floors are now one of the most popular. Although their cost is quite high, they have a number of advantages. So, this is one of the warmest coatings that is suitable for the kitchen. It is pleasant to walk barefoot on such a floor. cork pretty eco-friendly. Natural cork does not swell with water and does not rot. In addition, any dirt can be easily erased from it, even with the use of abrasive products.

Cork does not accumulate dust and is considered antistatic. In addition, if you put something hot on the cork floor, such as pans, the high-quality coating will not leave marks on itself if the contact is short-lived, which cannot be said about others. wooden floors. This feature of cork is due to its texture.

But still the bottleneck subjected to mechanical stress- in places where you dropped a fork or knife, there are traces. That is why cork is placed in the kitchen only if it is possible to cover it with special wax or varnish to protect the floor and give it greater strength. But such a cork floor does not look natural.

When choosing a cork floor, it is better not to purchase models that have an MDF base. Customer reviews show that such floors are short-lived and unreliable.

Glossy tile

For the kitchen, this option is good because it is easy to care for and wash stains, and it looks quite elegant and elegant. But at the same time, it can be very slippery, so models with relief are more suitable. But the tile is easy to lay out with your own hands. In addition, she has quite low price and lasts for many years Therefore, some of its advantages outweigh some of the disadvantages.

Wood

Wooden coverings, such as natural board or piece parquet, as well as parquet board, are acceptable for laying in the kitchen. Their big advantage is elegant appearance and durability. Very important is their environmental friendliness. However, the material is expensive. It is necessary to purchase only those coatings that are well protected from moisture and have a special mark on the pack.

Water-resistant parquet is a great solution for a kitchen in classical style. It looks luxurious and is completely safe. But it is better not to abuse wet cleaning and take care of this floor with extreme caution.

Laminate

This is a great option for the kitchen if it belongs to a high wear resistance class. For this room, it is better to purchase models of at least class 31. They perfectly tolerate mechanical stress and do not wear out for many years. Outwardly, it can completely imitate natural wood. In addition, there are options for tiles, marble, a natural stone.Laminate is resistant to moisture.

Linoleum

A good wear-resistant material that perfectly tolerates wet cleaning and exposure to grease and moisture. But such coatings can quickly fade in bright kitchens. Besides, linoleum is not suitable for placing hot objects on it. It is best to be careful with such material.

This is great choice for those who want to save money and prefer brighter and bolder solutions.

self-leveling floor

This is an option that looks great in almost any kitchen. You can fill it with your own hands. Glossy self-leveling floors look bright and interesting. They are often matched to the countertop or to the design of the apron area. The only downside is that dismantling of this floor is not possible, but at the same time, the floors serve for a very long time and are resistant to external influences.

The self-leveling floor can be easily washed and cleaned even with a brush. Outwardly, it looks very presentable, but not always suitable for combination.

Color solutions

When choosing a flooring color, many tend to opt for more neutral hues that will work well with other surfaces such as suites, walls and ceilings. If you want to make the kitchen lighter and more spacious, then a beige, gray or white floor is perfect. It fills the room with lightness and makes it wider.

But most often for the design of rooms and kitchens they prefer a darker one. color scheme Because these floorings are more comfortable and practical, they can make all floors look less soiled. You can make the floors black, brown, dark gray or dark green.

When choosing a floor color often played in contrast: dark set and light floor, or vice versa. Now they often prefer a brighter color scheme, especially modern interiors kitchens. Colored, most often glossy coatings are chosen.

Orange, yellow, green, purple floor is especially popular. In addition, it can be beautifully finished with red and white glossy tiles in the form of a mosaic. This colorful combination looks very juicy. But if you have a small kitchen, then it is better to give preference to more calm and neutral combinations.

With the right combination of colors and patterns on the floor, you can make the room more spacious. In a small kitchen, it is better to lay beige tiles with a diagonal pattern, combining adjacent shades from the same color range, but for wider kitchens, you can choose interesting and colorful solutions and combinations.

color accent can be repeated in some interior details, so you can make the design of the kitchen more harmonious and complete.

Combination of coatings

Now, when finishing the floor in the kitchen, they are increasingly resorting to a combination of materials. Thus, the interior of the room becomes more interesting and original. This laying of the floor can be done easily with your own hands. But for this you need to choose the right materials, dividing the room into different functional areas. Most often, the kitchen is divided into a working area, where the hostess is engaged in cooking, as well as a dining area - part of the room for eating.

The dining room can be made more luxurious and you can choose almost any materials for this, but the apron area should have additional waterproofing. Therefore, the choice of flooring in this area should be approached more seriously.

For the apron area, tile or porcelain stoneware is perfect. But the eating area is most often finished using parquet, laminate and even natural wood. This area will be less subject to mechanical stress, so the quality characteristics and criteria for choosing the coverage of the dining area will not be so strict.

But when combining, it is important to consider rules for combining floor coverings. As a rule, they are selected by color matching. It is better that the texture of the coatings be the same in both zones, the shades belong to the same color range. Moreover, not all coatings can be easily connected to each other.

It is better to lay a special seam between them so that it hides a sharp contrast.

Also, if you combine laminate with another, harder material, such as tile, be aware that the laminate can expand over time and run into the tile. This combination will not look harmonious. That is why laying a special seam and leaving invisible gaps between the two coatings will be extremely necessary.

As for the color design of combined materials, it can be contrasting, but it is also important to take into account a number of qualities here. So, if you decide to combine floor coverings of different colors, then the furniture in these two areas should be different and match their floor covering in order to create a harmonious ensemble.

When combining, it is important to take into account the thickness of the floor coverings so that there are no obvious joints on the floor. Otherwise, you will need to use a multi-level floor. The combination of flooring makes the kitchen divided. In addition, this is a great solution for studio apartments.

In this case, you will be able to adapt to the taste of other household members, if you were unable to agree on the choice of flooring. In addition, tiles are more cold material, so the laminate or parquet in the dining area will be more pleasant for the legs, but the tile can be laid already in the apron area.

On the modern kitchens when choosing floors, many people face a choice: to choose a simpler and more convenient coating that will be practical in operation, or to choose a more interesting decorative coating that will play an aesthetic role. But experts recommend proceeding from what you already have.

When repairing an apartment, very little attention is paid to the floors, the main thing is that they are even, solid and durable. However, this element of the home has become more in demand in design. Recently, you can find not only classic finishes, but also quite original ones. So, what floors are better to do in an apartment?

Parquet is still in vogue. However, now it is no longer the same as it was before - in the form of a laid Christmas tree. Now it is made in the form of special shields, which are covered with precious woods. Unique piece parquet is the most expensive, but it can be used to make a real work of art on the floor. For such parquet, beech, maple, ash, oak, as well as exotic woods are usually used.

When deciding what kind of floors to make in an apartment, one can come to the conclusion that parquet is not only a very expensive option, but also capricious in terms of maintenance. Many opt for a parquet board. It is made in such a way that it allows you to update itself several times, which is an important factor. It can be used to cover all rooms, even loggias. Laying is carried out on a flat floor using a floating method, that is, without using glue. Boards have lock connections. In terms of care, it is less capricious than parquet, while it is also cheaper.

If you decide what kind of floors to make in the apartment, then you should consider some other options. For example, laminate. It perfectly conveys the texture and color of various types of wood, can imitate stone, leather, ceramic tiles. The most popular are those that imitate exotic dark wood or oak. In addition to natural natural colors, you can find samples of green, orange and blue shades.

Speaking about what kind of floors it is better to make in an apartment, it is worth saying that wicker carpets - mats have become more and more popular lately. They are made from natural fibers of cane, flax, sisal, hemp and jute. These coatings differ in texture, size and color. Their advantages are hypoallergenic, antistatic, massage effect, not the ability to attract dust. Such coatings do not tolerate moisture and require careful handling. Mats look very good in minimalist interiors.

If we talk about what kind of floors it is better to make in an apartment so that it is easy to walk on them barefoot, then there is an answer - from a cork. Such a coating is light, elastic, environmentally friendly, it does not rot, and feet do not slip on it. Cork dies, which are varnished, can have a different design and color: be light, dark, or with some kind of pattern.

If you decide to make the floor in new apartment, it is worth mentioning the most unusual coating - glass. No one says that the entire floor should be glass, a few small rectangular windows are quite enough. They can be filled with pebbles, colored glass, sand, shells. You can make a transparent podium or several. Tempered glass is used for the floor.

It turns out that in the apartment you can make different floors.

Started renovation in the apartment? Don't know where to start? We will tell you, show you how to make a floor in an apartment with your own hands inexpensively, competently and beautifully!

In the repair issue, paraphrasing a well-known saying, we can say that the floor is the head of everything. Whatever repair you do, be it cosmetic - a simple update and major - a complete replacement of the coating, it is better to start it from the floor.

We make the floor with our own hands

First of all, it is necessary to assess the scope of work, outline a phased action plan:

These factors will determine the further course of work.

You weighed all the pros and cons, assessed your skills and abilities and came to the decision to make the floor with your own hands. Great, you'll be fine.

Most apartment buildings the foundation of the floors are reinforced concrete slabs.

Further, the floor can be placed on logs, attached to the base or be made on a concrete screed.

A sign of replacing wooden floors is a mournful creaking, the formation of a gap, up to the failure of the floor boards underfoot.

Concrete screed also tends to “wear out”, which leads to creaking and crunching from sand, the formation of indented surface areas, damage to the evenness of the floor.

With existing flaws, it is better to breathe fresh life into the floor, which means replacing the old coating with a new one.

Replacing the flooring

When removing a worn coating, you should carry out preparatory work. Protect existing furniture in the house from dust by laying polyethylene on interior items. Dismantle old skirting boards. Then proceed directly to the analysis of the dilapidated coating.

As you remove the old floor, check the base. Check the lag bars for rotting, drying out and mold.

Often, continuous disassembly of the base layers to the floor slab is required. The screed is removed in separate pieces, followed by disposal and thorough cleaning.

Filling the screed

It is necessary to carry out repairs to the concrete base to increase the integrity of the pavement.

A cement-sand mixture is suitable for pouring a concrete screed. This method of repair has long established itself as reliable and durable. In addition, a very economical way.

"Lazy builders" will be pleased with the pouring with a dry cement mixture. At the same time, the filling process is simplified, but the price of the issue rises at times.

After pouring, the leveling screed is allowed to “rest” and gain strength. In the meantime, you can start choosing the flooring for the apartment.

What floor is better to do in the apartment?

From huge selection flooring is not surprising and confused. Consider the most common.

Wooden floor

They look beautiful, cause a feeling of warmth and comfort in the house. They are fastened to the logs, between which you can lay a soundproof and thermal insulation material. The installation of the log system must be reliable and stable, and their level must be brought to a perfectly even level.

The advantages include: aesthetics, environmental friendliness, suitable for any interior and furniture, and the disadvantages - erasing wood, does not like moisture, susceptible to odors, fire hazardous material.

Laminate

It is made of a wood-polymer composite with a glued moisture-resistant substrate, on top of which it is applied decorative material. It is necessary to level the base in order to lay out the laminate in a good quality. To do this, you need sheets of plywood, reinforced on logs or directly on a concrete screed. To prevent squeaks, we recommend immediately pouring the self-leveling floor.

The advantages include: attractive cost, a wide choice of decorations and shades, unpretentious care, and the disadvantages are low resistance to moisture, it is difficult to make an ideal surface for flooring.

Linoleum

Perfect for an apartment due to its versatility and unpretentiousness. Suitable for any of the rooms in the house, except for the bathroom. Demand for flooring is identical to laminate - a flat surface.

The advantages include: low pricing, moisture resistance, a wide selection of colors, and the disadvantages - capricious to temperature changes, squeezed under the weight of furniture.

carpet

Mounted on plywood or concrete base. We advise you to choose solid pieces of material so as not to look for options for joining parts.

The advantages include: a soft, pleasant surface that absorbs noise, and the disadvantages are impracticality, loses its marketable appearance over time, becomes clogged with dust and dirt.

Tile

Perfect in the bathroom, in the hallway, in the hallway, in the kitchen. Tiled flooring can be laid on any previously prepared surface.

The advantages include: a large assortment, humidity is not terrible, unpretentious in use and cleaning, and the disadvantages are a hard and “cold” surface.

Now you are savvy in questions of how to make the floor in the apartment yourself, and which floors are best done. Feel free to step on the new smooth flooring made by yourself.