Choosing the kitchen floor correctly can be one of the most important successes in the kitchen reform. Glazed stoneware must meet three essential conditions:
- Resistance to abrasion or surface hardness of the enamel.
- As for the first, the measurement is made using the PEI scale, and it is classified from 1 to 5, with classification 1 corresponding to the minimum resistance, and 5 to the maximum resistance, such as shopping centers, stations, airports, etc. In the kitchen, the best choice would be at least PEI 4 abrasion resistant stoneware.
- As for the second, the surface hardness of the enamel is classified using the MOHS scale. In this case, the hardness will be based on the resistance to different minerals used, and the scale goes from 1 to 10. Regarding the subject at hand, we will mention the ones closest to the hardness that interests us: MOHS 7, QUARZO; MOHS 8, TOPAZ; MOHS 9, CORINDON; AND MOHS 10, DIAMOND. For the kitchen, it would be enough to choose stoneware with a surface hardness of MOHS 8 enamel.
- Slip or slip level.
Classified from 1 to 3, with 1 being the one with the greatest slippage, and 3 being the one with the least slippage, such as the stoneware that we must put at the exit of the pool, and we do not slide with wet feet. In the kitchen case, the ideal is level 2, because it does not slide, but it is not too rough for the daily cleaning task.
- Degree of water absorption or porosity.
This characteristic is closely related to the raw material’s density or compaction with which we have manufactured the material. The denser it is, the less porosity it has, and product stains that fall on it will not become embedded.
Following this technical part, in glazed stoneware, the good choice to place as a kitchen flooring should be with PEI 4 abrasion resistance, MOHS 8 enamel surface hardness, slip grade 2, and less porous as possible. These characteristics are mainly for glazed stoneware, as we mentioned above.
In terms of quality, above glazed stoneware, there is compact or technical porcelain stoneware, whose composition is complete, in its entire ickness, of the same raw material, composed of a selection of clays that allow it to be subjected to more degrees of temperature in the oven. This makes the particles more compressed and reduces the degree of porosity and the level of water absorption. The price rising a little, but, since we are talking about the surface of the floor, and not the sum of the walls, it will not affect our budget much, and we will have the best choice that exists for the floor of our kitchen.