What is interesting about cork flooring - we study the nuances

Tags:Living room and bedroom, Children's room, Kitchen

Until recently, cork was considered exotic and unsuitable for city apartments, but now everything has changed. People choose this coating because of its environmental friendliness. The plantations of the tree from which the cork floor is made grows in the Mediterranean. Before choosing a cork flooring, check the pros and cons. If you find a suitable option, the floors will last more than ten years.

PHOTO: nevskieokna.ru
Cork flooring is suitable for any modern interior, if chosen and used correctly

The content of the article

1 Variety of interior design solutions for cork flooring
2 All the pros and cons of cork floor tiles
3 Where is cork flooring used?
4 The structure and performance of different types of cork floors
5 Classes of cork covering by intensity of use and recommendations for use
6 Standard panel sizes
7 Variety of colors and designs for cork flooring
8 The best cork flooring manufacturers
9 What type of cork flooring to buy for your home
10 The nuances of installing cork cover
- 10.1 Features of the installation technique of a cork floor with a lock joint: video of a step-by-step process
- 10.2 Difficulties in laying adhesive cork
11 Cork floor care tips
12 How much does adhesive and locking cork flooring cost - an overview of the prices of popular brands
13 Customer reviews of cork flooring

Variety of interior design solutions for cork flooring

The owners of private houses are increasingly choosing cork because it is not only easy to use, but also looks aesthetically pleasing and prestigious. It is very convenient to walk on such a covering, you can even lie on it and not freeze, and this is very important for rooms in which children will sleep and play.

PHOTO: centrlaminat.ru
The popularity of balsa wood flooring is growing, it is used not only in country houses, but also in city apartments.

PHOTO: parquet-master.rf
Cork floor looks aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly

PHOTO: premium-laminate.ru
If you choose the right shade, you can decorate any interior

When choosing a tree and type of cork floor, you should take into account the general direction of style in the interior of the apartment.

PHOTO: tonysflooring.ca
When choosing a tree and type of cork floor, you should take into account the general direction of style in the interior of the apartment.

All the pros and cons of cork floor tiles

The cork cover not only looks beautiful, but is also very practical and even useful.

Advantages of installing a cork floor in an apartment:

long operation;
environmentally friendly material, safety;
during use, there are no dangerous and toxic emissions;
lightweight and soft material;
good sound insulation, air exchange;
cork is a good antistatic agent, due to which dust practically does not accumulate.

Before choosing this material, you should familiarize yourself with its disadvantages:

the thin coating is pressed through by heavy furniture and even stiletto heels. Thick cover up to 1.2 cm can support the weight of the bath;
latex mats and rubber shoes leave marks that cannot be erased;
high cost of cork;
flammability. The cork itself is not flammable, but the glue and varnish with which it is processed are flammable;
moisture resistance at a low level, it is recommended to additionally use a sealant, otherwise the material swells.

PHOTO: ural.org
Cork floors keep warm well

Where is cork flooring used?

Cork flooring is unique and can be used in almost any room, especially living room.

To extend the period of operation, it is recommended to choose a product with certain characteristics and high strength class.

PHOTO: your-photographer-daniil.rf

PHOTO: centro-pol.ru

The structure and performance of different types of cork floors

Manufacturers offer a choice of several options for cork coatings with different characteristics:

solid veneer - expensive, but high-quality coating. It contains whole pieces of tree bark. Such material is most often used for finishing floors, niches and ceilings;
glomerate - affordable and practical material. In production, crushed bark is used, which is glued and combined into sheets;
combined stopper - this type of coating is produced under very high pressure. The veneer is glued to the glomerate and a solid, reliable web is obtained. It looks aesthetically pleasing and unusual, and can be used for decorative purposes.

Before deciding to buy, it is worth considering all types of cork flooring.

The structure and nuances of installing a floor adhesive plug

Adhesive cork boards have multiple layers and bend well. The average thickness of one sheet is from 4 to 6 millimeters. As a rule, the first layer is pressed chips, and the second is veneer.

PHOTO: undhaus.ru
The adhesive cork floor has a multi-layer structure

In order to improve performance, the manufacturer applies an additional protective coating. In addition, photo printing can be applied to the floor on request. This add zest to the interior.

PHOTO: static-eu.insales.ru
Cork floor with photo printing

Features of installing an adhesive floor

Before you start laying the floor, you need to prepare the room well and make sure that there are no strong differences in height at the junction of the panels. This can cause the cork to crack. For installation, use a special glue.

If the work is done by an experienced and skilled craftsman, he can lay out various patterns and decorative images from cork. After the coating has been laid, several additional layers of protective varnish are applied.

PHOTO: dekormyhome.ru
If the look of an ordinary cork seems boring, you can use the photo printing service and create such a marine style

Structure and functional features of the castle cork floor

In order for the coating to hold tightly, all the individual panels are interconnected with locks located at the joints. These are very strong and reliable elements made of fibreboard. Laying and installation is carried out in the same way as laying laminate.

Manufacturers of interlocking floors use fine crumbs, and additionally cover the material with protective varnish layers and apply a decorative image or paint.

It is important to take into account that such a floor is very sensitive to temperature conditions, and in the event of sudden changes and fluctuations in temperature from cold to heat or vice versa, the splice joints occur.

You should know this! When buying material for repairs, you need to pay attention to the condition of the lock connections. If they initially have no defects, then the service life increases.

PHOTO: pol-comfort.ru
The castle floor has a complex structure

Floors with such connections are intended for installation in private houses and apartments, and are categorically unsuitable for public organizations, enterprises with a large flow of visitors. Also, such a floor is not installed in the hallway, in the kitchen or in the bathroom.

PHOTO: happymodern.ru
To lay the panels, you do not need to have special skills, even a simple universal builder can cope with this task

What is it - technical cork coating

The manufacturer uses the leftover material to make the technical coating. It is chosen in order to prepare the base and create the substrate. The granules are suitable for removing existing floor defects and preparing the surface.

Cork technical cover is also used as heat and sound insulation material.

This coating is produced in several forms:

roll;
granules;
plates.

PHOTO: diy.obi.ru
Technical cork in the form of rolls is used when laying the floor in the form of a substrate

Classes of cork covering by intensity of use and recommendations for use

Depending on how quickly the coating wears off, manufacturers assigned a certain class to each type of cork floor:

Class	Appointment
21	Bedrooms in houses and apartments, offices in a private house.
22	Living room and library in the house.
23	Kitchen and corridors.
31	Suitable for offices with a small number of visitors.
32	For offices with an average flow of visitors.
41	Suitable for industrial premises and withstands the weight of light trucks.

PHOTO: dekoriko.ru
Cork floor of 21 thickness class is suitable for the bedroom

Standard panel sizes

When choosing a coating, one should be guided by the generally accepted in production, standard sizes - one block of adhesive floor, as a rule, has a rectangular shape and dimensions of 60 × 30 cm or 45 × 15 cm.

A square shape with dimensions: 30 × 30 cm, 40 × 40 cm, 45 × 45 cm is also possible. The maximum panel size is 120 cm in length and 18 and more in width.

You should also take into account the dimensions of the lock connections - 18.5 × 90 cm. The thickness of the material can vary from 10.5 to 12 mm.

In modern production facilities, several standard sizes are taken as a basis, so you can choose a suitable coating in shape and thickness

PHOTO: akvakraska.ru
In modern production facilities, several standard sizes are taken as a basis, so you can choose a suitable coating in shape and thickness

Variety of colors and designs for cork flooring

Using cork boards, you can make ordinary repairs in a residential apartment, or implement unusual design solutions. The main advantage of the material is that it can fit into almost any interior or style solution, while the costs of the owner of an apartment or house are 100% justified.

Depending on which design project is chosen, you can choose the most suitable cork shades:

for large living rooms and bedrooms, natural wood and shades of oak, birch, cherry or pine are recommended;
warm, yellowish and brown shades are well suited for kitchens;
facades are laid out with a white coating;
in an apartment with an exotic interior, you can use American walnut and rosewood corks;
for modern apartments, for example loft, a coating that imitates pebbles or sea sand will look good.

PHOTO: i.pinimg.com

PHOTO: seal-parket.ru

PHOTO: changepol.rf

PHOTO: asparket.ru

The best cork flooring manufacturers

The first thing to pay attention to is the choice of the manufacturer. The quality and durability of the coating can only be guaranteed by trusted manufacturers that have been working for several years.

Products of several manufacturers are presented on the Russian market, the reputation of which is the best of all:

"Wicanders", head office in Portugal. Cork from the Iberian Peninsula is used, and only the latest and improved technologies are used in the production of the coating;
"Corcart" - it is also a Portuguese company that produces coatings with an unusual, unique design;
"CorcStyle" is a Swiss manufacturer recognized all over the world. During the production process, the boards undergo strict quality control, the collections are constantly updated, models of interesting design and good moisture protection are presented;
"Maestro" - the main supplier of flooring in Russia under the PolImPex brand, high quality products are presented;
Egger - German company. The quality has been appreciated all over the world. The manufacturer uses technology for applying the image in such a way that it does not wear out and does not fade for a long time.

CorcStyle Cork Floor with Photo Printed Backing

PHOTO: eparket.com
CorcStyle cork floor with photo printing on a protective layer

What type of cork flooring to buy for your home

The main question that worries consumers is which coating is best to choose, lock or adhesive. In order to make the right choice, you should study the characteristics, as well as all the pros and cons of both types of coatings. And if it is still difficult to make a decision, then you can also study photo examples to understand what a particular material looks like.

Characteristic	Adhesive cork floor	Castle cork floor
Humidity	It tolerates moisture well, and can even withstand small-scale floods.	Sealant treatment required. The seams swell quickly when exposed to water.
Base requirement	The floor must be level.	Minor defects are acceptable.
Mounting	Layout is carried out only by a professional.	You can assemble it yourself.
Installation speed	An adhesive composition is applied to the boards, waiting for drying. The floor is laid and covered with a protective varnish.	In a small room, you can lay out the floor in one day.
Maintainability	Repair of the damaged part is possible.	It is necessary to dismantle the entire site to the wall.

Adhesive coatings are recommended for rooms with high humidity, as well as where people often walk - corridors, baths, kitchens. For the bedroom and living room, a castle floor is best.

PHOTO: bezremont.ru
Ideal for the bathroom - adhesive cork floor

The nuances of installing cork cover

After the floor has been selected, they begin to lay it on metal or concrete.

Features of the installation technique of a cork floor with a lock joint: video of a step-by-step process

The laying takes place using the same technology as the laying of the laminate. The order of work is as follows:

The film is being laid.
The first row is laid out. It is necessary to make a 1 cm gap between the wall and the floor.
The second row is laid out. It is necessary to achieve an offset of half the length of one panel.

Master class on laying out on video:

Difficulties in laying adhesive cork

Floor covering is carried out by a master with a certain skill and experience. It is important that the substrate is well prepared and sanded. It is best to cover it with glue, and only then lay out the cork.

Features of installing an adhesive floor in the video:

Cork floor care tips

Maintenance of the cork floor is practically not required, however, before using the washing vacuum cleaner, it is worth treating the joints and joints with a sealant.

Advice! Compounds with solvents and aggressive chemical elements are not suitable for cork floors.

How much does adhesive and locking cork flooring cost - an overview of the prices of popular brands

The price for all types of cork coverings is set depending on the thickness, type and availability of decorative elements:

Manufacturer	Class	Cork floor type	Length, width, thickness, mm	Cost per 1 m² as of June 2019, rubles
"Viscork"	31	Castle	910×300×10,5	1812
Egger	31	Castle	1292×193×10	1955
"Wicanders"	31	Glue	600×300×6	2850
"Corkstyle"	33	Glue	915×305×6	3000
"Corcart"	33	Castle	1200×210×10,5	3254

Cork floor Corkstyle Impulse collection with photo printing

PHOTO: homemania.ru
Cork floor "Corkstyle" collection "Impulse" with photo printing

Customer reviews of cork flooring

Before giving preference to a specific manufacturer, it is worth studying real customer reviews. As a rule, they talk not only about the pros, but also the cons of the material.