Laminate flooring for tiles:
beauty, comfort, reliability

When deciding what flooring to purchase, for example, for the kitchen, we inevitably face a difficult choice: tiles or ceramic tiles or laminate? Each of these materials has its staunch supporters and opponents.

The tile has a high coefficient of wear resistance and can last a long time, it is easy to maintain, is not at all afraid of moisture and can easily “survive a flood.” Thanks to the wide range of various interior and color solutions in the arsenal of modern manufacturers, the tiles look more than attractive and even luxurious.

At the same time, tile is a hard surface, and dishes that fall on a tiled or stone floor will certainly shatter into many small fragments, which will be very difficult to collect. In addition, it is recommended to walk on such a surface in special shock-absorbing shoes so as not to cause harm to the feet. You should not walk barefoot on a tiled floor, as it is a very cold material. So you will have to forget about children’s games on this floor covering. In addition, it is easy to slip on tiles, ceramics or stones (especially in the kitchen, where something always spills or escapes from the pan), and a fall on such a hard surface can be quite traumatic.

On top of that, ceramic tiles can easily chip if a pan, knife, or overturned stool falls on it. And replacing a damaged segment of a tile floor is not at all easy and can cause a lot of trouble. Finally, the difficulty of laying tiles, which most often requires the intervention of a specialist, can also be considered a negative factor.

However, the “tiled” design of the kitchen space seems very attractive. Is it really worth denying yourself? Never! After all, not long ago a special type of laminate appeared on the market, imitating ceramics or stone - artistic laminate .

Laminate under tiles: counting the advantages

Modern technologies make it possible to reproduce the characteristic pattern and even texture of marble, terracotta or ceramic tiles so naturally that the externally stylized lamellas are practically indistinguishable from the original. Laminate, which imitates tiles, is free from many of the disadvantages of tiles and at the same time combines the advantages of both types of flooring.

• Unlike ceramic tiles, laminate is less susceptible to mechanical damage, especially if we are talking about high-class laminated boards (not lower than 32). At the same time, the design makes it almost indistinguishable from stone or ceramic coatings.
• Laminate has significantly lower thermal conductivity than ceramic tiles and is therefore significantly warmer to the touch. You can walk on a laminated floor barefoot without fear for your own health or the health of a child who decides to put “order” in your kitchen cabinet.
• Unlike tiles, a laminate styled like it slips much less, since the imitation includes not only a pattern that reproduces the appearance of stone or ceramics, but also a rough texture and “natural” relief. On such a floor you are much less likely to slip and fall than on a tile floor.
• Laminate that imitates tiles is much more economical than the original: the cost of even high-quality laminate from well-known European manufacturers is lower than the price of collectible tiles, and even more so marble, slate or any other stone. In addition, a damaged laminate slab is much easier to replace, and the dismantled laminate can be reused, for example, in a country house or dacha.
• Unlike natural tiles, you can lay laminate flooring yourself, without the involvement of specialists, who are often indispensable when installing a tiled floor. In addition, laying the laminate is done, as they say, “without noise and dust”; this process is done absolutely without any dirt and is reminiscent of assembling a Lego set: just carefully click the lock of the lamella, and the floor is ready.
  In addition, laminate under tiles, as a rule, differs from ordinary laminate in the size and shape of the lamellas - as a rule, they are larger. Consequently, fewer components are required to lay a laminate floor, especially compared to tiles (a very common type of decor in which several ceramic or stone tiles are depicted on a laminate board at once).
• Finally, the main factor in favor of choosing laminate flooring for tiles is its aesthetic appeal. The design solutions of such a laminate are striking in their variety: laminate panels can be stylized as even squares, or vice versa, depict asymmetrical, different-sized tiles or even mosaics; they can be plain or reproduce complex patterns or marble patterns; laminated boards can imitate various types of stone or collectible samples of terracotta tiles.
  The texture of “ceramic” laminate is also extremely diverse: glossy and matte, embossed and smooth, with and without the effects of aging, wear, marble chips. The colors of laminate flooring for tiles range from calm, classic pastel tones to rich, deep dark or bright shades.

Laminate tiles can become a real decoration for an apartment; it looks great in Mediterranean-style interiors (Italian, Provence, etc.), especially in combination with a fireplace. “Ceramic” or “stone laminate” can be laid not only in the kitchen, but also in the living room, hallway and even children’s room. A light laminate can optically expand the space of a room, while a dark laminate will favorably emphasize the elegance of style and add warmth, coziness and comfort to your home.

Of course, for a kitchen with typical living conditions, it is necessary to purchase a high-class laminate with increased moisture and water resistance. It is better to prefer artistic laminate created by European industry leaders. Laminate flooring from Europe may be more expensive than Chinese, but this option is orders of magnitude more reliable. In addition, Europeans offer a wide range of choices.

Among the manufacturers of “ceramic” and “stone” laminates are world-famous companies. All that remains is to choose. And enjoy practical, comfortable, aesthetic, reliable and durable laminate in the format of ceramic tiles or stone without compromise!