Parquet board in the kitchen

Parquet flooring looks beautiful and suits almost any style of room. But before laying parquet flooring in the kitchen, you need to figure out how practical it is, take into account all the nuances when buying, installing and operating, so that such a floor will serve for a long time.

Parquet board in the kitchen: the pros and cons of using

The parquet board for the kitchen is chosen to obtain a natural wood surface. This goal can also be achieved by laying parquet, laminate or solid wood. Parquet is not suitable for the kitchen space: it wears out too quickly, scratches appear, it deteriorates from the ingress of liquids. Laminate flooring loses because it is an artificial turf. With the highest quality and most detailed drawing, it is still easy to distinguish it from wood by the lacquered protective layer on top. Array is much more expensive, reacts strongly to moisture. Parquet boards combine durability and aesthetics at an affordable price.

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The layer of wood here is much thinner (3-4 mm) than in the solid wood. Expensive wood is used only for the outer surface. There are two more layers of cheaper rocks under it. Their fibers are located perpendicular to each other: in the upper and lower layers along, in the middle - across. This provides increased strength of the material for fracture and resistance to mechanical damage. Inside there is a relatively soft layer of softwood or rubber wood, which gives the finished product a certain degree of flexibility. If the middle layer is HDF, the impact resistance of the floor is increased.

The main pros and cons of a parquet board in the kitchen:

• The floor surface is warm and non-slippery. When hitting objects fall from a height, they most often remain intact.
• Most products are warranted for 10 years. With proper and careful use, it is not necessary to remodel the floor for about 20 years, only making periodic cosmetic repairs.
• You can install the floor yourself; the installation process does not require professional skills. It is easier to install a parquet board in the kitchen with a locking type of fastening to neighboring elements. It is called a floating installation method and ensures a very tight fit of the boards to each other. There are practically no gaps. Another option is gluing, which requires more accuracy and experience. After all, excess glue, if not immediately removed, can ruin the outer surface of the board. But such a floor will be more durable.

It is worth considering the weaknesses of the parquet board:

• If you walk in heels and move furniture without foot protection, scratches will remain.
• A hot or heavy object dropped to the floor will leave a mark.
• Spilled liquid must be wiped up immediately so that the material does not swell or deform.
• The parquet floor absorbs colorants well. Spilled red wine or bright juice may leave stains if the surface does not come into contact with the dye in time.
• Collections on sale are updated all the time. In order to have material for potential repairs in the future, you need to buy goods with a small stock.

Should I lay it in the kitchen?

After weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a parquet board in the kitchen, everyone will decide whether he is for or against such a decision. If the choice fell on a parquet board, you need to select high-quality material, certified and not the cheapest. Expensive products, as a rule, are sold already with protection from oil and water, which is applied in the factory. The edges are additionally treated with wax, since the joints are the most vulnerable part of the floor. It is difficult to achieve this degree of protection at home.

You will need to use the floor carefully: glue the protection on a fabric basis (felt) on the furniture legs, and carry out cleaning using special products for parquet boards. Try to avoid the accumulation of water on the floor. If you are ready to follow these simple rules constantly, you can start repairing.

Features of waterproof parquets

Moisture-resistant models react less to the presence of water. Therefore, it is best to purchase a waterproof parquet board for your kitchen. It is treated with water-repellent agents and is composed of hard woods. The greater the number of layers of varnish, the higher the strength and moisture resistance. Additionally, the varnish is hardened with ultraviolet rays during the manufacturing process. But even in this case, you should try to limit contact with liquids as much as possible.

Since the parquet board contains natural wood, it will still change its volume depending on the humidity. At higher values, the board will grow slightly; when dry, it will take up less space. For optimal preservation of the material, it is worth maintaining approximately the same level of humidity in the room.

The specifics of the premises

The kitchen requires a lot of attention to materials. There is often high humidity, there is a source of water. Crockery and food can fall to the floor and damage the surface. When sitting at a table, people move the chairs, which leads to the formation of scratches.

Given that the kitchen is often damp, the floor must be mold resistant. This role is played by larch and pine in the lower tier of a parquet board with a thickness of 1 - 2 mm. Another way out will be tiles for parquet flooring in the kitchen. Then the appearance of wooden floors and complete immunity to moisture and dirt will be preserved.

Which board should you choose?

Parquet board for the kitchen comes in different colors, shades, it differs in length, width and material from which it was made. In terms of rock hardness, merbau, ash, oak are in first place. A parquet board with an oak top layer will be a reliable and durable purchase. Also suitable in this respect are teak, larch, wenge, iroko. And maple, beech is better not to use, they are too soft, sensitive to moisture, because of this they will quickly lose their presentation.

To be sure of the strength of the future parquet flooring, it is necessary that its thickness be at least 2 cm. A high-quality board has bevels - a bevel at the edge, with a smooth surface, without irregularities. Brushed boards are less suitable for the kitchen, as the embossed surface will interfere with maintaining cleanliness. Their top layer is somewhat rough due to processing with metal brushes. Such a board can be used for the floor in the dining area, in the living room combined with the kitchen. For the working part, it is better to choose a more practical material.

Optimal styling options

Parquet on the kitchen floor, laid across the room or diagonally, expands its boundaries. Planks with a small width have the same effect. On the contrary, wide boards give the impression of a narrower room. The location along the kitchen visually lengthens it.

A practical solution is to combine parquet boards with other materials: a floor is laid under the furniture, which does not need to be further disassembled in case of water leaks. It can be porcelain stoneware, tiles or other durable materials that are not afraid of moisture. At the junction of different materials, you can use a cork expansion joint, sealant, polyurethane. Decorate the middle part, the busiest, with a parquet board.

Nice and healthy when the floor is warm. Parquet board is quite suitable in this respect. If desired, you can additionally insulate the surface by laying heating mats under the covering. To prevent the floor from deforming, a screed of at least 3 mm should be made under it, optimally - 10 mm. Also, when buying, you should pay attention to whether the laying of a particular material on a heating base is allowed. More often for this, boards are chosen from two layers of wood, mainly of hard varieties.

Design

When choosing a parquet design, they look at the color, pattern, width of the boards, and uniformity. Dark floors (walnut, teak, stained oak) are suitable for large rooms. It's good if they are the same color as the furniture. Chocolate, terracotta and all kinds of brown shades are popular. But they will make a small kitchen even smaller in perception.

Light materials look good with classics, Scandinavian and Provencal styles, as well as eco. To maintain cleanliness, they will have to be cleaned often, but the parquet board is unpretentious in this regard. The absence of irregularities in the area of ​​the joints excludes the ingress of debris and food debris. Wiping with a damp cloth is sufficient to maintain an attractive appearance and hygiene in the kitchen.

The choice of gray parquet boards will be successful if the kitchen interior contains items of black and white colors, metal appliances.

How to protect a parquet board in the kitchen?

You need to initially buy high-quality material, preferably with markings that it is resistant to water. Periodically, the upper surface is cycled. This removes minor scratches and abrasions. There are ready-made mixtures for the restoration of mechanical damage on the market. Special plastic rugs can be placed under the furniture, which will help to preserve the original appearance of the parquet floor.

Coating with oil or varnish will improve the water repellency. After applying varnish, the kitchen floor takes on a glossy shade. A dense film is formed on top that does not allow air and water to pass through. It is recommended to renew the top protective layer every 10 years after the cycling procedure.

Oil impregnation makes the surface pleasant and more matte, but it is less water resistant than varnish. In addition to the protective function, the coating favorably emphasizes the pattern of the tree, which means it also plays a decorative role. You can use polish, mastic. They will reduce the slipperiness of the floor and give the surface antistatic properties.

Do not use dishwashing detergents for cleaning, as well as those that contain alcohol, dyes. It is better to purchase a ready-made compound specially designed for parquet boards. It has already taken into account all the features of the material. This will keep the floor much better.

So, if you like wood as a material, you are ready to take care of it and take care of it, but consider the array too expensive, use a parquet board in the kitchen. A warm, beautiful, durable floor will decorate the kitchen, no matter what style it is decorated in.