As long as you address the overriding concern of moisture, you can install laminate flooring in the kitchen. If you want to eliminate worries about moisture, install sheet vinyl or luxury vinyl plank (LVP). In terms of appearance, LVP is a close contender with laminate and it is 100-percent waterproof.
Vinyl flooring, including luxury vinyl tiles (also known as luxury vinyl plank) and vinyl roll, as well as porcelain or ceramic tile are generally considered to be the best flooring options for a kitchen because of their ability to stand up to moisture and humidity. Laminate flooring can be installed in the kitchen.
The protection both waterproof and water-resistant laminate offer against moisture makes them ideal flooring choices for spaces that tend to get the most spills like bathrooms, kitchens and even laundry rooms. That, plus their durability also helps them last a long time especially with active families and pets.
Water and Heat Resistance
Waterproof vinyl flooring, either in sheets or in planks, is a clear winner here. Laminate flooring has at its core wood. If you know anything about wood, when it gets wet it tends to expand and swell. If that happens, you can try to dry it out, but it never goes back to the original shape.
More scratch resistant than vinyl: Waterproof laminate flooring has a strong wear layer that protects the floor from scratches, wear, and staining, all the things pets love to test out on our floors. Cost-effective: Waterproof and water-resistant laminate floors are an inexpensive alternative to hardwood floors.
Where Not to Install Laminate Flooring. Many experts will tell you to avoid laminate flooring installations in areas prone to moisture like bathrooms, laundry rooms, saunas, enclosed porches, and anywhere that may require wet mopping.
In terms of practicality, vinyl is the best option. It's built to withstand a high level of wear and tear and any spills can quickly be wiped up without the worry of water damage. Waterproof laminate – If you want something a little more luxurious, waterproof laminate flooring is a great choice.
Floating floors come in a variety of materials, such as engineered hardwood or cork, but not all are suitable for a kitchen floor installation. The tongue-and-groove construction allows you to snap the pieces together without nailing or gluing them to the floor.
To keep your laminate floors fresh, mop them every two months. Damp mops (a.k.a. microfiber mops) are gentle enough to use on laminate floors. If you're going to use a regular mop, just wring it out until it's almost completely dry.
Having light coloured laminates and contrastingly darker-hued tiles can augment the overall appearance of the kitchen to an entirely different level. The perfect combination should be yellow coloured sunmica with deep red coloured tiles.
Glossy Finish
High gloss cabinets are ideal for small spaces since they reflect light and are great at making limited spaces look bigger. And since they reflect so much light, smudges, fingerprints and scratches are more noticeable than they are on matte kitchen furniture.
Water damages laminate flooring by soaking into the layers. Once inside the boards, it causes them to swell and warp. It also weakens the glue that holds them together and they can eventually fall apart.
Laminate flooring is tough material but it can chip, especially along exposed edges. Installation or other issues that result in gaps make the flooring vulnerable to chipping.
One of the best materials to use as coating floors is polyurethane. Aside from protecting floors from water damage, polyurethane provides your floor with a glossy, smooth finish. This is great for laminate floors that mimic the look of hardwood floors.
Although gluing isn't always necessary, it's still a widespread installation method. Using glue for laminate flooring ensures your flooring remains durable. Because your laminate is glued directly to the subfloor, it makes it less likely for the planks to rise from moisture damage.
If there are loose planks or gaps in the vinyl you should remove the flooring down to the subfloor before installing laminate. You will also need to remove as much of the adhesive of the subfloor as you can before continuing with your installation.
If you're wondering if any Pergo flooring is truly waterproof then we have good news. Pergo manufactures one vinyl flooring collection, Pergo Extreme, and with its rigid core construction it is 100% waterproof.
As a water-resistant surface, you won't need to worry too much about spills and stains with laminate countertops.
The biggest advantage of vinyl plank flooring is the fact that it is 100% water resistant. This means surface water and spills won't affect the flooring. This makes it the ideal flooring solution for spaces such as basements, kitchens, bathrooms, restaurants and cafes.