Is the choice of cork floors justified? How to Choose a Cork Coating Cons of Cork Coating

Cork floor - environmentally friendly and practical flooring made of natural wood, cork oak bark. Learn more about the production, types, advantages and disadvantages of cork floors to make the right choice!

Choose glue and lock cork, with natural veneer or photo printing in the specialized online store Cork-24. Specialists are working for you who will select the best way flooring, will give all the necessary advice, arrange delivery in Moscow or Russia.

✔ Select a cork floor in the Cork-24 catalog.

Features of production

Cork flooring is made by pressing the bark of cork oak. These amazing trees living up to 200-230 years old, grow in only 7 Mediterranean countries, more than 50% - in Portugal. Such a narrow distribution is due to the special climatic conditions necessary for the full growth of the oak.

To obtain high-quality cork, the bark of the third cut is taken - from trees about 40 years old. The bark is removed in the summer: experienced workers use special tools and techniques so as not to damage the tree. It takes about 10 years to recover - with proper care behind the oak tree.

The removed cork dries on plantations for six months, after which it is transported to the plant, where it is dried in special chambers for another 6 months. The dried material goes to production lines for the production of various types of cork flooring.

Pros and cons of cork

The main advantages of cork flooring:

Environmentally friendly material... Cork - oak bark; no plasticizers are used in the manufacture; water-based varnishes are used to create a protective layer.
Thermal insulation... Cork floor tiles - natural material with a low coefficient of thermal conductivity. Additional insulation is unnecessary - the veneer itself is an ideal heat insulator!
Moisture resistance. Glue the cork does not absorb moisture, the appearance of mold, the development of microorganisms or fungi is excluded. Flooring recommended for wet rooms: bathroom, toilet, kitchen, balcony, loggia.
Strength... The coverings are tough and durable enough to withstand moderate mechanical damage, such as dropping a heavy object.
Elasticity... Cork tiles have a very elastic structure, quickly recovering after point deformation. The resilient surface reduces stress on the joints and spine.
Soundproofing... Floor cork has exceptional sound insulation characteristics, provides noise absorption, creates a comfortable and cozy atmosphere in the house.
Easy care... A cork board on the floor is unpretentious in operation: you cannot use abrasive compounds and solvents; we recommend detergents and polishes that create protective film on the surface.

Among the disadvantages are the rather high price of cork flooring, as well as low efficiency in combination with underfloor heating systems - due to the natural insulating properties of the bark. In addition, cork parquet boards are afraid of pinpoint dents and cuts. When installing furniture, it is recommended to make underlays for the legs.

Types of natural cork flooring

Locked floors

Cork laminate has simple technology styling: glueless locking joints are used. Multilayer structure with MDF or HDF board and a top protective lacquer layer applied in the factory.

Advantages of floating cork flooring:

operational packing;
use immediately after installation;
the possibility of dismantling;
no additional installation costs;
no need for a perfectly leveled floor base.

The cost of interlocking cork floors is slightly higher than that of glue floors. In addition, the coatings are less moisture resistant: it is recommended to use them in dry rooms without temperature extremes. For living rooms - living room, bedroom, nursery, as well as for offices with medium traffic, a floating cork floor is ideal. For you, we have compiled an excellent selection of keycaps from the best manufacturers!

Glue plug

A classic cork is glued to the floor with contact glue, and after drying, it is covered with several layers of varnish. The way to install the glue plug requires professional skills and experience.

Pluses of cork for glue:

moisture resistance;
the material is combined with other coatings;
styling without sills;
the scope is unlimited;
cut allowed.

Adhesive parquet is used for wet rooms, and is also indispensable for country houses, office and commercial buildings with moderate traffic. In the catalog of our company you will find a huge assortment of quality cork parquet at competitive prices!

Substrate

Technical cork is used as a heat and sound insulating substrate under the laminate, parquet board and other floor coverings. As a rule, it is made of cork agglomerate, produced in rolls.

Design solutions

The coating has a special texture, characteristic only for the structure of the bark of an evergreen oak. Additionally, there is the possibility of chamfering - from 2 or 4 sides.

However, manufacturers from Switzerland and Portugal went even further: a cork with photo printing appeared on the building materials market. Thanks to the use of modern digital printing, high image resolution and color reproduction are achieved. We offer exclusive cork floors with wood or tile prints from Corkstyle, Corksribas, Granorte Vita, Egger, Wicanders!

✔ In our salon you can also order professional laying of cork coverings in Moscow and the Moscow region.

Before purchasing a cork floor, check out the pros and cons of this product, which I will provide here in full. And if positive reviews on numerous sites dazzling with variety, then negative essays are practically not found. And not to find them because of the marketing manipulation of this popular product. After all, in order to sell profitably, no one will highlight the minuses.

I will describe the cork floor in this article not only as a master, but also as a consumer. The fact is that I had a cork in one of the rooms for about 6 years, until I replaced it with a laminate, and for this reason.

We purchased a cork castle floor for flooring in a children's room. They were guided by my experience in styling, the natural warmth and softness of the material. In this regard, cork is really an excellent material.

It so happened that while leaving on vacation, they left to live in the apartment of relatives. Upon arrival, they found several damaged boards. Relatives used a work stool without a plastic plug, which was left after the repair. We bought additional packaging of the coating and replaced the damaged areas.

A few years after replacing the old sofa with a new one, we saw a frightening picture. No, of course, we have noticed up to this point that the legs from the sofa leave marks, but did not attach much importance to this. All the same, the main area of damage was covered.

The depressing look of the spoiled cork finally convinced my spouse that they shouldn't have listened to me and laid a cork floor. The cork itself did not break through, but the coating was damaged by knocked down and crumpled veneer. You heard right, the top layer of the cork is faced with veneer. I offered to fix the matter in a simple way: re-install the cork. As a result, I changed it, removed the damaged panels to the last rows under the place of the future sofa. And got the floor like new. Here it is, plus an adhesive-free interlock.

Another 3 years passed, while my son was in the village and I had a few days off, they decided to replace the cork floor with a laminate. An old problem emerged - dark marks were left on the floor from the furniture legs. When dismantling, I carefully examined all the boards for further possible use or sale through Avito. For this reason, I sorted the flooring and this is what I noticed interesting after 6 years of operation.

What happens to the cork after 6 years of use

Cork floor bottom

The bottom of the cover in the lock version consists of a technical plug. Roughly speaking, a sheet of HDF plate is rolled cork backing 2-3 mm. In my case, I laid Art Cork over the foam insulation. Although it could be laid on bare concrete.

Somewhere I read information that a cork substrate, if laid on concrete without a film, will rot, turn into dust, and so on. Nothing like this. In one place under the radiator, where the caring mother-in-law was hanging up to dry the clothes, water penetrated. There is a gap between the plates in that place. The HDF sheet of the plate turned black, but the cork only changed color. That is, it is not covered with mold due to natural substances contained in it.

Lock connection,HDF plate

The lock connection used on my cork flooring is very similar in shape to the Uniclic locks. This type of adhesion is used on the renowned Quick Step laminate brand. Considering the fact that I had already gone through the flooring, the locks were in good condition, suitable for further installation.

Interestingly, the fibreboard is green. Usually this tone means the moisture resistance of the material.

Top layer of cork parquet

The top layer consists of technical cork. The fact that we choose a different texture in the store, the drawing is the applied thin veneer of the cork covering. And sellers, through ignorance or intent, do not inform buyers about this feature. And this part leads to abrasion and damage to the entire cork during operation.

Yes, the cork itself restores its structure in compression to almost its original size. How sellers convince us in stores. But a thin finish cladding, which gives a noble finish, is not capable of this. She crumples and squeezes.

Cork covering - pros and cons, review

It's time to leave your feedback, highlight the pros and cons of cork flooring. Now you know the structure of the coating, what it is made of and it has become easier to draw conclusions.

Here are some links on cork flooring for your reference.

The text discusses in detail such a type of material as cork flooring. From the article, you can find out what this type of finish is, what properties and characteristics it has, as well as evaluate the advisability of using natural coating in the interior by examining its advantages and disadvantages, consumer reviews, average prices and other factors.

Cork flooring is made on the basis of porous oak bark. The extraction of this material does not have a negative impact on nature. The place where the bark was cut continues to grow and renew, which allows this procedure to be performed every 9 years without threatening the condition of the tree. For the production of flooring, raw materials are used from 25-year-old oak trees. Younger trees are not suitable for this. The most valuable is the bark cut from 150-year-old oak trees.

A mixture of pressed bark is used as a base for the coating. As a result of special processing inside the furnace, the material is saturated with air. In this case, natural juice contained in micropores is used. He is called suberin. At the next stage, the material is given strength. For the so-called reinforcement, resins and wood dust are used, which are added in several layers.

The top layer is made of cork or other materials such as veneer or PVC. The scope of application of the floors, as well as their service life, depends on the properties and characteristics of the top coat.

To protect the coating from wear, as well as to give it a certain design, manufacturers use veneer in combination with cladding with other materials:

veneer - the layer thickness is only 0.5 mm. The coating is applied over the base on the adhesive;

veneer varnished for cork flooring - the varnish increases the life of the finish, which is ideal for living rooms, including bedrooms;
veneer covered with a protective vinyl film - it prevents scratches, and also prevents moisture from entering the material. Thanks to this, the manufacturer's warranty extends for 10 years;
veneer made of fine wood and covered with vinyl film - the material is a veneer of natural origin, made of expensive wood. For protection, it is covered with a layer of vinyl.

Note! Thanks to modern technologies consumers can buy cork flooring in any design. The method of photo printing allows you to apply a realistic imitation of grass, wood, sand, stone, etc. to the surface of the material.

Cork flooring: material advantages

Cork as a floor covering has many beneficial properties. This finishing material is lightweight in comparison with other types of coatings. The cork is characterized by sound impermeability. The material does not allow noise to pass through, so it is suitable even for recording studios. At the same time, the finishing has a low level of thermal conductivity, due to which the warmth of the room does not go into the floor, but is stored inside.

The surface of the cork is elastic and soft. Orthopedic specialists recommend using this type of decoration for people with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as as a coating in children's rooms. The cork is safe and environmentally friendly. Its surface does not slip, does not absorb liquids and does not emit harmful substances. In addition, the material has antistatic properties. The cork does not need complicated maintenance and perfectly repels dust.

The coating is resistant to liquids and chemicals. The exception is caustic solutions of alkaline origin. The plug does not impede natural air circulation. Thanks to this, the material does not contribute to the growth of bacteria and the aggravation of allergic reactions among the residents of the house. The cork is not subject to decay. She is not afraid of moisture. If the floors in your home become wet due to flooding, the coating will not deteriorate under the influence of the liquid, but provided that the surface has a protective treatment.

The cork is not afraid of temperature changes and is not subject to fading in the sun. Unlike laminate flooring, this material can be installed on loggias and open balconies. This type of coating is very strong and durable. Due to its porous structure, the material reduces the level of friction, therefore, the aggressiveness of external factors of influence is reduced.

Cons of cork floors

Like any type of flooring, cork floors have advantages and disadvantages. Due to its softness, the coating is squeezed over time under the weight of the furniture. Especially for bathrooms, manufacturers produce slabs with a thickness of 1-1.2 cm. The size of such products is 14.8x14.8 cm. If the coating in the bathroom is thinner, there is a possibility that the bathtub will pierce it through.

Do not walk indoors in shoes with rubber soles or high heels, otherwise marks will remain on the surface of the coating. Also, avoid placing latex or rubber rugs on the floor. The trace from these products after a long stay is practically not removed.

Useful advice! The pits left by the chair legs and light furniture will align themselves. For heavy furnishings, it is advisable to buy soft felt pads that will reduce pressure.

Significant disadvantages include the price of a cork floor. Moreover, the adhesive type of coating will cost much more than a cork laminate. On the other hand, due to the simplified installation of the key plates, the costs of purchasing the material are partially offset. As a result, the total cost of the coating will be lower than that of natural parquet.

Another disadvantage of cork is flammability. The material itself is not flammable. The flammable component of floors is its protective coatings, for example, paint, varnish, glue. The natural coating has a low level of resistance to moisture. This disadvantage can be eliminated with varnish, sealant or wax impregnation.

Some coating options (for example, adhesive-type floors) have a complex installation system. Only specialists can provide high-quality performance of such works. In addition, it is impossible to install the underfloor heating system under a cork floor. The material has a high degree of thermal insulation, so heat fluxes cannot enter the room.

Pros and cons of cork floors, photos, prices for various types of coverage

Manufacturers produce three types of cork, which are used as floor coverings:

solid veneer - the material consists of solid pieces of tree bark (this type of finish has a high price and is used to decorate ceiling and wall surfaces, as well as niches);
glomerate - the material looks like sheets consisting of crushed bark, glued together (this type of finish is practical and affordable);
combined cork - consists of agglomerate and veneer, they are glued together under the influence of high pressure.

For the production of combined cork, veneer is used, which is not suitable for the manufacture of slabs. As a result, the finish acquires a decorative appearance and a beautiful texture. The combination cork works well with other materials.

There are the following types of coatings:

Floating or chateau floor.
Adhesive floor.
Technical plug.

They have different properties and are characterized by a specific field of application.

Features of castle floor cork tiles

The floating floor consists of slabs interconnected by means of locking joints. The thickness of these panels varies between 10.5-12 mm. The size of the tiles is 18.5x90 cm. The finish is laid in the same way as a regular laminate.

For the manufacture of the base of these slabs, crushed chips are used. Wood or cork is used as a finishing coat, which is covered with a layer of paint and a print. It is advisable to use this type of finish in well-heated rooms where there are no temperature extremes. Sudden changes can negatively affect the condition of the lock connections.

Important! When buying slabs, be sure to pay attention to the quality of the locking joints. The integrity of the coating and its durability depend on them.

It is not recommended to use floating cork floors in high traffic areas such as walkways or kitchens. The coating installation system is quite simple. If one of the fragments is damaged during operation, you will have to disassemble whole line... The section from the wall to the place where the defective element is located is subject to dismantling.

Parameters influencing the selection. Properties of various materials. Features of the floor in different rooms... Additional floor modifications.

Cost of floating cork floors: price per meter of finishing

The leading manufacturers and suppliers of cork coverings are Spain and Portugal, where porous oaks are widespread. Asian products are in lower demand as climatic conditions this region is not allowed to grow high quality wood.

Average cost of 1 m² of Wicanders floating cork floors:

Collection name	Price, rub / m2
Originals	1650
Identity	2150
Personality	2150
Cork veneers	2220
Character	2280
Linn	2390
Cork plank	2450
Homecork	2490
Artcomfort Wood	2500
Artcomfort stone	2550

Features and specifications of adhesive cork floors

The adhesive floor consists of cork panels with an additional protective coating. The thickness of these elements is 4-6 mm. The material has a two-layer structure. At the bottom there is pressed cork chips, and the finishing layer on the panels is veneer. Elements can be either rectangular (60x30 and 45x15 cm) or square (40x40 and 30x30 cm). This type of coverage is suitable for rooms with increased level humidity such as bathroom and kitchen.

Before carrying out the installation, you need to carefully prepare the surface. The base for the installation of the coating must be perfectly flat. Glue is used to fix the panels. In order for the result of laying the coating to be of high quality and durable, all elements must be carefully adjusted. Backlash is not allowed.

With this material, decorative ornaments and patterns can be created on the floor. When the installation is completed, the cork is coated with a polyurethane-based varnish in several layers. It is imperative to process the gaps between the modular elements.

Useful advice! If one of the fragments is damaged, do not dismantle the entire coating. It is enough to cut out the damaged strip and replace it with a new one.

Average cost of glued cork floors: price per m2

The main criterion for choosing a floor covering is the manufacturer. The following manufacturers are considered the most demanded and the best on the market:

Wicanders;
Corkstyle;
Allied Cork.

Average price of cork flooring Wicanders:

Collection name	Price, rub / m2
Cork parquet	1230
Eco Cork	1340
Crackle	1400
Nuances	2000
Personality	2050
Identity	2050
Exotic	3700

What is the purpose of placing a technical plug on the floor

The technical plug is made from production leftovers. Therefore, it does not apply as finishing for floors. The main function of this material is to eliminate defects by filling (granules) or preparing the surface for laying the laminate. In the second case, the cork sheet is used as a backing that evens out the base.

The technical material comes in several forms:

Granules.
Rolls.
Plates.

Besides, technical material used to create additional sound and thermal insulation.

Technical traffic jam cost:

Form	Size, cm	Material thickness, mm	Price, rub / m2
Roll	100x1000	2	104
	100x1000	3	163
	100x2500	4	235
Plate	91.5x61	4	323
		6	464
		8	547
		10	666

Which is better to buy a cork floor: adhesive or floating

Adhesive and interlocking floors differ from each other not only in their structure, but also in properties.

An adhesive floor panel consists of the following components:

bases made of compressed agglomerate obtained by gluing;
wood veneer as a decorative coating;
a thin layer of varnish or vinyl protective covering that gives the panel a matte or glossy surface.

Advantages of adhesive coating:

It is not afraid of the influence of humidity and temperature extremes, as well as contact with water.
Installation in rooms with a high level of humidity or lack of heating is allowed.
The material is easy to cut, which facilitates the installation system.
Extensive selection design solutions(the coating can not only be tinted, but also mosaic patterns can be created on its basis).
There is no need to use sills at the joints between the cork floor and the base covered with parquet or tiles.

Disadvantages of adhesive coating:

Installation requires careful preparation of the base. Any changes in the surface will be conspicuous after the coating is laid.
Purchase of varnish and glue is required.
High-quality installation of the coating can only be done by specialists.

Note! The price of cork interlocking floors is much higher than that of glue floors. However, the installation of the latter requires the participation of specialists and the purchase additional materials, due to which the total cost of coverage increases significantly.

The locking plug consists of:

pressed agglomerate;
fibreboard HDF boards or MDF, complete with mounting spikes and grooves;
a protective layer of the agglomerate;
veneer finish;
a protective layer of vinyl film or varnish.

Advantages of castle floors:

There is no need to cut the material. No varnish or glue is required for installation.
It is not necessary to carefully level the base. A height difference of 2 mm per 2 m surface is allowed.
A simple installation system allows you to lay the cork yourself without the help of specialists.
Dismantling and reuse of the material in another room is possible.

The locking plates are not afraid of high air humidity, but provided that this indicator, like the temperature, is constant. The coating can withstand contact with water for no more than 24 hours. After that, it is imperative to dismantle the floors and dry its elements.

The choice of cork floors: owner reviews, pros and cons

When choosing a floor finish, you should pay attention to the quality of the cork agglomerate. Some manufacturers add cheap impurities, such as shavings, to this layer to reduce production costs. As a result, the material turns out to be tough, while it wears out faster. For this reason, it is worth giving preference to clean products, even if it is a compressed cork and its cost is high.

Adhesive floors have their drawbacks. Even the products of quality manufacturers may have minor defects. Most often, there are errors in dimensions, due to which the strips have different sizes. As a rule, they are small and are 1 mm in length or width. This indicator is considered normal, since due to the elasticity of the material, this disadvantage is compensated for during installation: the panels are compressed and the joints are tight. Sometimes planks with different thicknesses come across. This defect is much more problematic.

Useful advice! If the batch contains strips with different thicknesses, the material will have to be re-sorted. It is better to lay thin elements in those places where the transition will not be so noticeable. Thick ones can be corrected by removing excess thickness around the edges with sandpaper.

Since cork is a natural material, often on the surface there are defects such as cavities, an ugly color transition, as well as manufacturing defects (veneer peeling or its partial absence). Before proceeding with the installation, you should carefully inspect the material, glue the exfoliated places, and place the defective strips where they will not be so noticeable. Castle floors are more advantageous in this regard, because the protective coating hides all the flaws.

Considerable importance is given to consumer reviews when choosing a cork flooring for floors. The opinion of buyers who have already tried this type of finish can be informative and decisive.

Strengths and weaknesses of cork floors: customer reviews

Cork finishes are not as popular as other finishes that are already well known to customers. Those consumers who nevertheless ventured to purchase this material share their reviews on cork laminate on the forums.

“At first we considered laminate as a flooring, but found it too noisy and slippery. We have a dog in our apartment. I don't want to listen to the constant clatter of claws. Parquet was too expensive for us. Therefore, we decided to take a closer look at the cork coating. The material, of course, cost more than laminate, but its high price was outweighed by numerous advantages. The coating turned out to be soft and quiet, and most importantly, warm. The cork was laid on the floor on its own, without calling the master at home. Bribed by the naturalness and environmental friendliness of this material. I do not regret my purchase at all and I recommend it to everyone. A more comfortable finish simply cannot be found. "

Svetlana Ezhova, Moscow

“I have a twofold attitude towards cork floors. The material really has a lot useful properties... This is beauty, naturalness, and the ability to keep warm. On the other hand, it is not practical. The cork swells due to water, so the seams between the slabs can swell. Also, I cannot recommend this coating to those who have children in the house, because the surface of the cork is very sensitive to damage. The material requires careful handling. If you are willing to take proper care of it, the cork will not disappoint. "

Maria Korotaeva, St. Petersburg

What cork floors look like in the interior: photo

The use of this coating in the interior can be varied. In the photo, cork floors look prestigious and original, especially for the living room, bedroom and study. It is allowed to use in the children's room, but subject to careful treatment. The coating can be done in natural colors(natural) or painted in any shade of the palette.

The most common natural colors are:

yellow;
ocher;
light brown;
red brown;
mustard, etc.

Note! When choosing the color of the future coating, it is imperative to take into account the design and color of the furniture.

Can cork floors be used in the bathroom and kitchen

In any premises where the microclimate assumes a constant change in temperature, the cork will collapse and crumble. These rooms include not only the kitchen, but also the bathroom, which is also characterized by a high level of humidity. Temperature changes provoke the appearance of gaps in the coating. As a result, water begins to seep into the cork, causing the coating to peel off. It is also not recommended to use a cork on the balcony and in the hallway.

Problematic places are usually hidden from view:

under the bathroom;
behind the skirting board;
under the sink;
under the washing machine;
behind the outdoor furniture.

It is in these zones that water vapor settles and condenses, destroying the coating. As an alternative to protecting cork floors in your kitchen or bathroom, you can use a quality waterproof lacquer. However, it does not prevent the appearance of mucous blisters. Under the influence of moisture, they appear under top layer coatings and spoil its appearance. In addition, the cork does not have antiseptic properties, so a microbiological environment can form under it.

Experts do not recommend using cork in the bathroom. With regard to the microclimate, the kitchen has more gentle conditions, although even there the floor will be subjected to serious tests - constant pollution, spilled liquid (juices, coffee, tea), etc.

How to install slabs of cork flooring

The cork reacts sensitively to moisture levels, contracting and expanding depending on the room conditions. Therefore, before starting work, it is advisable to hold the packaging with the material for several days in the room where it will be laid. During this time, the humidity level stabilizes. A technical roll cork can be used as a substrate for the coating. The optimum thickness of this material is 2-3 mm. Step back 1.5 cm from the wall. The technical plug is laid on a waterproof foil over concrete screed.

Installation of the first row starts from the wall opposite front door, with an indent of 5 mm. If the material needs to be cut, the cut is made from the side where the ridge is. Do not touch the groove. It is advisable to use a circular saw or electric jigsaw to cut the plug. From hand tool it is better to refuse, otherwise the cork will crumble. The set of the second row is carried out with an offset of half the tile. A wedge (cork) and a rubber mallet should be used to fit the elements.

Important! It is imperative to leave an indent of 1-2 cm from the wall. Like any natural material, cork undergoes deformational changes, so you need to leave a little space for expansion.

After that, the coating is treated with several layers of varnish. The composition can be matte or glossy. The joint area against the wall is masked with wooden skirting boards.

How to properly install glued cork floors

Before work, the material must be sorted by selecting thinner elements. Thick planks should be sanded with sandpaper. The coating is laid on the base in the form of a concrete screed. It is allowed to install the cork on old linoleum, but on condition that its surface does not have swelling and damage. The main thing is that the surface is even, smooth, without dirt and debris. To level the base, you can use moisture resistant plywood or fiberboard.

If there are slight differences on the surface, it is advisable to apply a coat of primer. It will not only eliminate minor irregularities, but also increase the adhesion of materials. The recommended level of air humidity in the room is 65%, and the temperature is at least 18 ° C.

In this case assembly work should start from the middle of the room. To simplify the process of laying the coating, it is advisable to apply markings on the surface of the base. A cord is suitable for this. An adhesive composition is prepared according to the instructions. It is applied to the board surface using a roller. After that, the element is pressed tightly against the base, previously greased with glue. To apply the composition, use a fine-toothed spatula.

Excess glue must be removed immediately. There are special substances designed for these purposes - solvents. You need to act very quickly. Prolonged contact of the solvent with the coating is not allowed. In order to press the tile more tightly to the floor, its surface must be rolled with a heavy roller (metal).

After all installation work is completed, the room must be ventilated. It takes at least 36 hours to dry the coating. Then the surface of the cork is thoroughly cleaned of debris and opened with 3 layers of varnish. After 5-7 days, the floors can be used.

The advantages of cork like finishing material obvious. With proper care, the coating will retain its attractiveness for a long time. A wide range of colors and the possibility of applying prints allow you to create a unique design of the room. And provided that all technology requirements are met, cork floors can be laid on your own and you can save a lot of money on this. Installation of an adhesive coating is more complicated in execution. But this type of flooring is perfectly combined with parquet and laminate.

Floor covering is almost the most important element of interior decoration of premises. It should be durable, beautiful, easy to clean. It is desirable that it be pleasant to walk on it and also so that your feet do not freeze. All these qualities are answered floor covering from the cork. Until recently, cork flooring was very expensive. Not to say that now it is so cheap, but no longer so unattainable.

Types of cork flooring

In terms of appearance, there is a cork floor with a traditional pattern in different colors... But not everyone likes this pattern, so collections have been developed that imitate wood, stone, sand, even lawn grass... The images are very realistic (photo printing), and they are applied directly to the cork layer - there is no intermediate layer, therefore such a floor is a product of natural ingredients. The top of the design is covered with a protective layer of polyurethane or polyurethane varnish. Here is a protective layer - not the most natural, but there are no alternatives to it - the wood is also covered with varnish or paint.

Pros and cons

The cork floor has many advantages. They are "quiet", elastic, resilient, absorb sound well, conduct heat poorly. It is pleasant to walk on this floor both in winter and in summer. It is easy to clean - it is almost not electrified, the dust does not "stick", smooth surface easy to clean. Some colors are so "non-marking" that debris is not visible. This is at the same time a minus - you have to search for a dropped small thing for a long time.

One of the important advantages is that the cork floor is warm and soft.

It has few downsides - softness and high price. The softness is bad because the coating "crumbles" under the weight - furniture, heavy objects that have fallen, heels. But this disadvantage is compensated for when it is covered with several layers of varnish. And so that he does not get lost under the furniture, they choose it with wide legs, and also glue felt on them. When rearranging, you should also be careful - put it under the furniture legs. plastic lids... They distribute the load well.

Structure

Both types of cork flooring - castle and glue - are multilayer, but they have a different composition. The glue plug usually consists of (bottom-up):

In terms of thickness, this coating is thinner. It is more flexible. This determines the requirements for the preparation of the base: manufacturers recommend having an absolutely flat base. Otherwise, any dimple or hump will eventually be visible. Practice has established that the differences can be significant (up to 5 mm), but they must be smooth. There are no "steps" or cracks, but a smooth gradual rise or fall is not visible. The difference in dimensions formed during installation is compensated for by the elasticity of the coating.

The chateau cork floor also consists of several layers:

A cork floor with a lock is stiffer and very similar to laminate flooring. But only similar, as in the laminate - pressed paper, covered with a film with a printed pattern. This same material mainly consists of natural ingredients. It is the rigidity that determines the softer requirements of manufacturers to the base: there may be differences in height, but not more than 2 mm by 2 meters. Also, a substrate can be placed under this coating, improving sound and heat insulation.

Lock or glue?

How to choose which cork floor is better, chateau or adhesive? Each is not bad, but has its own nuances. For ease of selection and a clearer presentation, the properties of coatings are summarized in a table.

	Glue plug	Lock stopper
Moisture response	Not afraid of high humidity and "flood"	May swell when exposed to water
Base	It must be perfectly flat (according to the requirements of manufacturers, no drops at all)	Differences of no more than 2 mm by 2 meters are allowed
Styling	Requires care or skill	Easy to assemble
Laying speed	A long process - spread the glue, wait until it dries, adjust the cork, cover with 2-3 layers of varnish	Floor area 10-15 square meters assembles in a day (no experience)
Maintainability	The damaged fragment can be cut out, replaced and varnished	It is possible to replace the damaged strip, but it is necessary to disassemble the covering from the wall to the place of damage.

From this we can conclude that it makes sense to lay an adhesive cork floor in rooms with high humidity (kitchen, bathroom) and great cross-country ability(corridor, hallway). It can even be placed in unheated rooms or where there are high fluctuations in humidity and temperature (in baths, for example). V living rooms the interlocking cork coating feels great. The ease of installation speaks in its favor, but it is worth remembering that it is made on the basis of MDF and if water penetrates into the seams, the base will swell, the bar will deform. After drying, unfortunately, it will not return to its previous appearance. But in this he is no different from conventional laminate so it's not such a big drawback in living rooms. You just need to clean up the spilled liquid in time.

Photo printed cork floor - option for interior style

This does not mean that the adhesive coating cannot be used in rooms. Very much even possible. Many people like it better, because with a good layer of varnish it has excellent strength - it does not get pressed through by heels and furniture. Also the castle. It can be covered with a layer of varnish on top (but not from all firms) and used in the corridor, kitchen or bathroom. They also cover it with a special oil with hard wax (such as OSMO). The coating no less reliably protects against moisture penetration, but it is easier to apply and can only be renewed in some places. The downside is the high price, but its consumption for the locking plug is minimal - it is absorbed only into the joints.

Species and subspecies

Please note that there are different thicknesses of glued cork floors. The thinnest tile is 4 mm, it can be laid in rooms with low traffic, but it is better to use at least a 6 mm coating. A special subspecies is produced for the bathroom - large squares with a thickness of 10-12 mm and a size of 148 * 148 mm. The thinner coating of the bathroom legs will simply be pushed through.

In addition, a glue plug is produced with the first varnish layer already applied. It costs, of course, more expensive, but the number of layers of varnish is reduced - even one layer may be enough. Also, the front surface of this type of floor finishing material is protected from dirt, and the cork gets dirty very easily and all stains become visible after varnishing.

Modern cork coverings are not only in natural colors. There is a printed image of wood of different colors, sand with shells, herbs ...

There are subspecies in the castle cork floor. First of all, it should be said that there is a moisture resistant version. The base of this material is not MDF high density, but a special plate made of PVC and quartz, which is not afraid of water and high humidity. But this material does not have such a large assortment of colors and costs even more.

Any cork laminate has a protective coating. But it can be made of two materials - varnish or transparent PVC. Lacquer is more common, but PVC is stronger. Although, the laid coating with a varnish top layer can be re-varnished, having achieved high moisture resistance, but whether it can be done with a PVC coating is a question.

It is also worth considering when choosing an adhesive cork floor that after applying varnish, its appearance changes significantly. It becomes darker, the transitions are not so bright. To get a better idea of the end result, look for an interlock with the same color. As a result, you will be about the same.

Cork floor manufacturers and quality

There are two major manufacturers of floor plugs on the market: CorkStyle and Wicanders. They speak well of South Korean manufacturers. Their prices are not so high, and the quality is quite normal.

Specifically in the selection process, pay attention to the cork conglomerate itself (pressed layer). To reduce costs, chips and other cheap material are added to it, but the quality of this product is already far from cork. It is more rigid, wears out faster. Therefore, it is better to pay a little more, but choose with a cork layer, albeit a pressed one.

Those who are inclined to choose a glue cork for the floor should know that even very good manufacturers do not have ideal planks. They vary in size — plus or minus 1 mm in width or length — these are normal tolerances. They are compensated by the elasticity of the material: during installation, the cork is slightly compressed so that the joints are tight. In addition, there are strips of different thicknesses. You cannot compensate for this in any way, you have to sort through them, sort them. Thin ones are laid in one place where the transition will be invisible, for thick ones, the excess at the edges is sanded with sandpaper until the required thickness is reached.

This is also a cork floor - in the nursery

In addition, there are defects on the front surface of the cork. It is lined with cork veneer, and this natural material... It has depressions, ugly color changes, etc. There may also be production errors - veneer peeled off in some places or face polished to the substrate. Before starting the installation, all the tiles are inspected, the unsticked places are glued, the rest of the planks are used when laying in certain places. Read more about styling here, it is also described where to use these flawed planks.

Have cork laminate- there are no such problems in the interlocking cork floor - the protective coating has already hidden all the flaws. But when choosing this material, pay attention to the reliability of the locks - in cheap materials, they are the main problem.

Cork floors are becoming more and more popular as an interior decoration tool. And if until recently cork was considered exotic, today this material has confidently taken the position of one of the most popular. This is only on hand for consumers, because now the choice is not limited to a dozen options - the number of textures and colors is in the hundreds. Meanwhile, not everyone knows what a cork flooring is and how it is better than the usual linoleum or laminate. So let's get acquainted!

How do you get a tube?

Cork is the bark of cork oak from the Mediterranean. The main suppliers are Portugal and Italy. Oaks are specially grown and, upon reaching the age of 25, the cork is removed for the first time. The bark is removed at the moment when the tree is ready to get rid of it, i.e. this procedure for the plant it is completely painless and harmless.

After 9 years, the oak regains its original thickness - you can remove the bark again. It is important to note that capturing the plug is a manual process. Electric drills and saws cannot be used.

Benefits of a cork floor

If we talk about the advantages of cork, then the following should be noted:

soundproofing. Tired of neighbors complaining about the stomp of a child running around the apartment? Cork floors will solve this problem, because they have no equal in their ability to "muffle sounds";
thermal insulation. The cork floor is always warm, you can walk barefoot on it without any problems, even in winter;
immunity to deformation. No matter how heavy your furniture is, you shouldn't worry about dents on the floor - they simply won't be;
excellent shock absorption. The impeccable shock-absorbing qualities are confirmed by doctors. It has been proven that walking on a cork floor is good for the body, because the load on muscles and joints is significantly reduced.

It should also be mentioned that the cork is of no interest for wood-boring insects and rodents.

Cork floors have earned the most positive reviews due to their unique design. The production technology consists of several stages: the bark is crushed, then heated and placed under a press. As a result, the granules, sticking together, form a closed cellular structure. A honeycomb-like base contains many bubbles impregnated with suberin, a natural cork substance. Each component of such a structure is a shock-absorbing spring, an acoustic absorber, and a reliable heat insulator.

Cork floor - multilayer construction. Components:

cork agglomerate (crushed cork);
high strength board (resin-based wood dust);
cork agglomerate again;
face layer.

The face layer is different. It can be made of decorative veneer, or it can be made of valuable wood, varnished or a layer of vinyl.

The middle layer of high-strength slab is used only in floating cork floors, in adhesive - the middle consists of agglomerate.

Types of cork flooring

Cork floors are divided into two types: floating and adhesive. The first ones look like panels with a thickness of 9-12 mm. They are joined using grooves. On average, the service life is about 5 years. This indicator depends on the quality of the varnish with which the cork is covered. If a manufacturer prefers exclusively high-quality materials, then the life of the end result will also increase.

Adhesive floors - tiles with a thickness of 3.2 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm, which are glued to the base. The most durable cork is 3.5 mm, suitable for industrial premises and offices.

An adhesive floor is more expensive, and installation is not easy. But the reward for your work will be increased wear resistance: on average, the adhesive cork will last at least 7 years, and if you apply an additional layer of varnish, even more.

It is important!
For an apartment, it is better to purchase a 6 mm adhesive floor, which will retain heat and easily provide the proper level of comfort.

Choosing a cork floor

How to choose a cork floor is not an idle question for those who appreciate truly high-quality products. What should be considered first of all?

The main criterion for buying is the manufacturer. The most the best firms: Wicanders, Allied Cork, Corkstyle (Portugal). Next is the appearance. The cork must be packed neatly, the edges must be free of burrs and unevenness. Take the time to check if the samples are the same size - to do this, simply attach two tiles to each other.

Flip the cork tile over. Have you noticed any foreign inclusions? This means that the manufacturer, deciding to save money, mixed the cork with sawdust - the material will retain heat and absorb noise much worse.
For the living room and bedroom, get a lock stopper, for the bathroom, kitchen and hallway - glue. If it happens on its own, then pay attention to the instances with a chamfer. A chamfer is a layer that is cut at a slight angle. Such a cork will masterly hide the unevenness of the laying, which are inevitable in the absence of experience or in the presence of significant differences in the height of the base.

Consider your class. Class 31 cork is used mainly in rooms with low traffic (bedroom, nursery); 32 classrooms - in rooms with average traffic (living room, kitchen); 33 classrooms - where the load is the most, for example, in the hallway.

Cork flooring is a modern floor covering that has many advantages. So why not take advantage of such a valuable circumstance and fill the house sunlight and warmth?

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