Do you like the incomparable charm of the prosecution? Be careful to choose it because the floor of a kitchen is often put to the test. Type of wood, finish, installation … Our advice for making the right choices.
Good or bad idea? In a kitchen, the floor is often abused: splashes, shocks, fatty stains, wine, coffee, repeated passages … This is why we generally favor tiles, less fragile and easy to clean. Your parquet may suffer, so you have to choose it.
Massive, laminated, laminate … Today the choice in the parquet department is vast, but it is above all the type of wood and the finish that will make the difference on its lifespan.
What type of wood choose in the kitchen?
In a kitchen, we will rather choose A hardwood,, like the oakbeech or acacia, very resistant in the face of repeated shocks and passages. Certain exotic species (the merbau, the Iroko or the Wengé) are also interesting, but beware of dark woods sensitive to scratches and wear.
What parquet finish to choose in the kitchen?
In general, we opt for Vitrified or oiled parquet. A varnish Protects better from stains Because it forms a protective surface film, but it will tend to scratch and mark more easily. In a kitchen, it is better to choose Oilly prosecutionwhich guarantees excellent resistance to dirt and humidity. Another asset: if the wood is stained or deteriorated, we can easily sand the damaged parts.
And the laminate prosecution?
Today there are beautiful imitations wood. Easy to maintain, laminate parquets also offer good resistance but cannot be renovated in the event of damage.
In a kitchen, we will rather choose A glued installation. More durable, it also ensures better sealing, a good point in this room. With a floating parquet, we will take care to run a silicone seal along the plinths for Avoid water infiltration. Wood being a living material, it works. This is why we generally leave what is called a dilation game Along the walls, which makes it more flexible but less waterproof.
A specific treatment in addition to that already carried out by the manufacturer is generally not necessary. On an oiled parquet, however, a slight layer ofmaintenance oil After the installation, to repair any scratches or small hungs.
On a daily basis, Clean spots immediately To prevent them from scoring wood. Each week, apply at cleaning, using a mop, A maintenance soap Special parquet that will regenerate its layer of oil. Finally, as soon as your parquet shows signs of wear and gets mat, it is advisable to apply a again Protective oil layer.
The cost will of course depend on the surface of your kitchen and the wood chosen. From 20 euros/m²prices can fly up to more than 150 euros. Count Between 30 euros and 50 euros/m² for an oak parquet floor. Then, criteria such as the sophistication of the finish, or the ease of installation, will be able to increase the invoice.
(Thanks to Alexandre Rondeau, Product Manager Parquet at Leroy Merlin, for his advice.)
