A laminate kitchen apron is a practical wall cladding that protects the surface from splashes, steam and hot air. The material was created as a flooring, so its functional features contributed to the fact that designers drew attention to it when choosing wall finishes. Laminate not only protects the surface reliably, but also has an attractive appearance.
Material Features
Laminate consists of several layers. It is based on wood fiber, which gives strength to the material and is the basic component for the following layers.
The next component is paper, impregnated with a special composition, which gives the material moisture resistance. Then comes the decorative layer, which can have a varied texture. Thanks to him, the laminate can imitate wood, parquet, tile, stone. There are quite exotic options: under the skin of a python or crocodile, with bright abstract drawings, with the image of 3D.
The last layer is acrylic resin with special additives. The transparent layer has a protective function and keeps the laminate from moisture and abrasion.
The main criteria for quality material:
- Wear resistance class. It must be at least 32, because during operation the kitchen apron made of laminate is exposed to moisture, high temperatures and various contaminants, which must then be removed.
- Environmental Safety. For the kitchen, it is necessary to choose a material of class E1, which contains less formaldehyde, which have a negative effect on human health.
- Moisture resistance. Material with a high degree of protection against moisture costs a little more. It is not recommended to save and purchase material with poor protection, which will last less time.
The benefits of laminate for the kitchen
This material has many advantages that make it popular in the design of the kitchen. It protects the walls from dirt, grease, spray. A laminate kitchen apron is resistant to moisture, steam, and household cleaning products. It has a long service life and after many years will retain its original appearance. It does not deteriorate from regular washing and from exposure to sunlight.
Laminate flooring can be found in any hardware store; both regular and art materials are on sale. A variety of shades and textures allows you to choose it for any kitchen design.
If you wish, you can make a kitchen apron from a laminate with your own hands, because the material is easily laid on the wall. To design a kitchen, it requires very little, just one package is enough, but it costs a lot when compared with other facing materials.
Material flaws
Any material has flaws, and laminate was no exception. It is not very resistant to sudden changes in temperature and does not withstand intense heating, so a gas stove must be placed at a distance of at least 10 cm from the wall.
When installing plates from a laminate, it is necessary to carefully seal all joints so that water cannot penetrate into them, otherwise the material will gradually collapse.
Use in the interior of the room
A laminate kitchen apron will successfully complement the interior in any style, but in order to choose it correctly, you need to know some nuances. Material imitating wood, ideal for interiors in the styles of Baroque, classic, Empire, retro. Even in high-tech style, it will be appropriate if you select a specific texture.
For interiors, Provence or Country acquire panels with an aged effect. Gothic design is dominated by dark shades, a laminate of brown or dark red shade is suitable here.
This material is popular in the modernist and minimalist styles. In this case, light shades are selected. Designers advise designing spacious kitchens with a matte surface material, and a glossy finish is suitable for small rooms. It visually expands not only the working area, but also the entire space.
Which laminate to choose for a kitchen apron - the owner decides, but you must remember that the material must be combined with the design of the room.
Mounting tools
Before starting laying the laminate on the wall in the kitchen, you need to prepare all the necessary tools:
- building level;
- expansion wings;
- screwdriver;
- jigsaw;
- rubber spatula;
- dowels and screws;
- a screwdriver;
- hammer;
- pencil, ruler;
- Scotch.
Preparatory work
Laying the laminate on the wall in the kitchen begins with preparatory work to level the surface. It is necessary to remove dirt, smooth out all defects. Thoroughly clean the surface, cover the existing dents with putty.
For better adhesion of the laminate, a crate is nailed to the surface of the walls. Use reinforced mesh or wooden bars (they should be at least 30 cm from each other). The basis for the laminate is a concrete screed, which provides the cladding with strength and reliability. It is mounted on a crate, with the help of a building level, curvatures and irregularities are revealed. The concrete screed dries in a day, but if the layer is thick enough, you must wait 48 hours.
Castle mounting
To make an apron from a laminate for the kitchen without gluing, it is installed in a castle way. To do this, you need to purchase panels with spikes and grooves. The first row begins to be laid from the upper corner.
The thorn of one panel is fully inserted into the groove of the other at an angle of 45 degrees. The elements are connected until they click, and then knocked out with a hammer. The clutch is high quality and reliable.
Prepared elements are fastened with screws to the crate. After laying the first row are taken for the second. Start it with a pre-trimmed item. If you need to fit the panels, they are tapped with a hammer, laying a wooden block on them.
In order for the apron to be securely fixed to the wall, each subsequent row is laid with the panels offset in the previous one. This not only gives strength to the entire structure, but also looks spectacular.
How to make a kitchen apron from a laminate with glue?
This is a laborious and complex method, but it is possible to do it yourself. It will require much more time, but it has advantages over the castle method. This method is suitable for any type of wall; it does not require the installation of a crate.
Glue or sealant is applied to the edges of the panels, then the groove of one element is inserted into the spike of the other and pressed tightly against each other. Excess glue must be cleaned immediately with a damp cloth, it must not be allowed to dry on the surface of the panels. First lay individual rows of cladding, and then sequentially connect them together.
After the two rows are connected, it is necessary to stop work for 2 hours, so that the glue completely hardens. Then the installation continues. A break is made after connecting every two subsequent rows. Sometimes small cracks form at the joints, they must be coated with a special sealant. The wall covering will be fully finished after 12 hours.
The disadvantage of this method is that it is quite difficult to do quality styling with your own hands. This design cannot be further disassembled. Another disadvantage is that the glue will dry out over time, so the coating may break.
Criterias of choice
Reviews about the kitchen apron made of laminate are good, but before you start creating it, you need to know the basic requirements that professionals make for this coating. It is recommended to pay attention to such characteristics:
- Lining dimensions. To do this, make measurements. Most often, the apron is mounted so that it slightly extends beyond the area of the countertop. Typically, the height of the lining does not exceed 85 centimeters.
- Operational period. For the kitchen, you need to choose a durable and reliable coating that is not afraid of moisture and high temperature. Laminate is not an environmentally friendly material, but if the technology is followed, it will not cause harm to health. When choosing a material, you must ask the seller for a quality certificate, and if the store is not ready to provide it, then it is better to refuse the purchase. Laminate made with a violation of technology, will harm health. The owners of the apartment may exacerbate chronic diseases, asthma or bronchitis.
- Practicality. The surface of the walls near the sink and stove quickly becomes dirty. Therefore, to design an apron, materials that are easily washed are chosen. Recently, often laminate is taken to finish an apron, because it has excellent performance and looks attractive.
Most often, the color of the material is selected for the decoration of furniture and walls. This allows a neutral transition from the apron to the kitchen set and the walls. A sharp transition from the working area to the surface of the furniture is also allowed if a headset of dark color is chosen.