Cork crumb flooring. Types of cork flooring

And in this article we will consider all, all aspects, we will analyze the cork floors into chips, identify the pros and cons, and also show you a photo of such a coating in the interior and voice approximate price.

What is a cork floor and what kind of coating can it be compared with

Cork flooring can be compared to OSB, only thinner and more flexible. This coating is made of cork chips, and she is still a tree, albeit a rather unusual one.

It is impossible to compare it with laminate and linoleum.

But also with a tree, because a tree is actually natural coating, but the cork floor is just pressed wood chips, on glue. And the base of the cork floor is the same as that of the laminate.

Therefore, dreaming that he "breathes" is not worth it. And what's the difference, really? Before laying any coating, now cover the screed with two layers of primer. And even though the fabric of the bed, the floor will still no longer breathe. Yes, and he does not need to breathe, there are windows for this ...

What are the benefits of cork flooring in the kitchen?

So, where do we start our debriefing? Perhaps - with the advantages of this coating. We draw your attention to the fact that we will focus on how the cork floor "behaves" in the kitchen.

1st plus - Waterproof

Many mistakenly believe that the cork floor is terribly afraid of water, as it is porous. But, it's quite the opposite. Water is not particularly terrible for a cork floor, since the very tree from which the coating is made absorbs only 20% of 100% spilled water. Remember the same wine corks: are they soaked through with liquid? And this despite the fact that humid environment they stayed for a very long time.

That is, if you pour a cup of hot tea on the cork floor, the puddle will remain on the surface for a very long time. It will not be absorbed anywhere, but rather simply disappear if it is not wiped.

Water tightness of the floor in the kitchen - great advantage . For example, the same tree is afraid of moisture, which means that you can’t wash it too often, forget about spilled cups of tea, too. But tea is nothing compared to the flood from above...

The cork floor, in this regard, "behaves" just fine. Yes, it may swell for a moment, but a month passes, it completely dries up and regains its original shape. As you can see, these facts go against the popular belief that cork is best suited for dry rooms in an apartment.

2nd plus - Warmth and softness

Even according to wooden floor not as pleasant to walk as on cork. In this regard, nothing can compare with him: he is like velvet, you can’t say otherwise. And, if you like to walk around the house barefoot - this is what you need.

In addition, it is warm to the touch. Even on cold days, cork flooring is warm, even warmer than wood. And this means that if you have small children who crawl on the floor, then the cork flooring for them is the best thing you can think of.

3rd plus - Noise-isolating properties

The cork floor perfectly muffles the sound. If you have a herd of restless children running around your house, then lay such a floor and the neighbors will be very happy. Yes, and you too. It is absolutely not audible in the house of trampling, roaring... Beauty.

But keep in mind that it dampens the shock noise. If you want to use the floor to protect yourself from the neighbor's screaming tape recorder from below, then leave this idea. Music is vibration and your cork floor will vibrate beautifully with the wall.

4th plus - Resistance to fungal attack

Managers who describe the benefits and wonders of cork flooring always mention fungus resistance. Perhaps this is actually an undeniable plus. But in our memory, there is not a single floor covering, which suffered from a fungus.

Perhaps you know of such cases? Write in the comments, we are interested in your opinion ...

And, in general, how much water should be poured in order for a fungus to form on the floor? And, if it is already formed (for example, from micro-leaks in pipes), then it will hit not the floor covering, but the entire screed! Both concrete and plaster...

You understand that in this case, the cork floor will not save you. So what if it stays? Tearing it off and re-laying it is almost impossible, contrary to the assurances of the sellers. They say that it can be rebuilt five times, nothing will happen to the locks. It will even become, it has been checked more than once.

5th plus - Saving dishes

If you often drop cups on the floor, buy a cork floor! This is the absolute truth, dishes practically do not break on it. And given the current prices for plates and other glass utensils, this is a big plus and savings in the future.

Of course, the thinnest glass goblet will burst. But an ordinary plate and a cup will survive.

6th plus - Low static

They say that dust practically does not stick to the cork floor. And it is true. It is non-static, therefore, there is almost no dust on it. Is it a plus? We don't know. After all, if there is no dust on the floor, then it is on other interior items. And, frankly, it's much easier to wipe the dust off the floor with a light movement of the mop than to wipe it with lighting fixtures, decorative elements...

And you can’t see dust on the cork floor, it’s motley! But, we could not help adding this item to the pros. If managers say plus, it means plus.

7th plus - Dust and crumbs are almost invisible on it

This is the continuation of the previous paragraph. Cork flooring is a lazybones dream. If the same laminate instantly betrays your laziness, then the cork one does not.

Crumbs and other small debris are not visible on it. Also, it is much easier to wash than other coatings: there are no streaks on it, which means that you don’t have to spend money on Mr. Proper and wipe it dry with a microfiber cloth (like glossy ceramic tiles, for example, or laminate).

8th plus - It does not slip

This point is rather controversial. Cork stopper strife. Or rather, cork flooring. Some floors are non-slip, and some are very slippery, because they are exposed with three layers of slippery varnish. That is why the reviews on the Internet are different.

By the way, about non-slip. This medal has back side. If the floor really does not slip at all, then this is fraught with worn socks, torn nylon tights and burns on the knees of children when they slow down on it with a run ... Children are like that, yes. They manage to bleed their elbows even on carpet, not like on cork.

And what are the disadvantages of a cork floor in the kitchen?

And now let's move on to the most important point - the cons. If they are not taken into account, it will be very annoying ...

1st minus - Doubtful appearance

Yes, the cork floor does not look very good, to put it mildly. Although, maybe you have a different taste and you do not agree with us. But we still believe that this floor looks extremely poor and gray.

There is absolutely no beauty in it. There is no special naturalness and aura in it either.

Although, things are much better with the design of cork floors now than some five years ago. You can find colors "under the tree", and something else more interesting than "no" cork crumb.

2nd minus - Price

Cork flooring costs twice as much as laminate flooring. Perhaps this is not a minus, of course. After all, the cork better laminate and, therefore, it is quite fair that it is more expensive.

But on the other hand, cork is quite a bit cheaper than a good deck board, which is just better than cork. Therefore, think about whether the game is worth the candle.

3rd minus - The need to perfectly level the base of the floor

If there are drops on the floor, your cork floors will come to an end very soon. They will be sold, torn and crumbled. The screed should be not just perfect, but super-ideal.

You yourself are unlikely to build such a thing and you will need to hire craftsmen. On the other hand, there is no big difference in price between the quality of the screeds, and the ideal one is needed not only for cork, but also for linoleum, laminate ...

4th minus - Burnout

This is a significant minus. If your kitchen is sunny side, then the cork floor will burn out very quickly. And the difference between the window area and the rest of the room will be simply colossal.

Making sure that direct sunlight does not enter the room is an unnecessary fuss that you will soon forget about. And as soon as you forget, the floor will slowly and surely burn out.

5th minus - Difficulty in care

The cork floor is porous, which means that it will not be so easy to wash it from something colored. For example, if you spilled cherry juice, then you have to kneel down and carefully rub the stain, while, on ceramic tiles, you can run a mop and voila ...

Also, over time, these micro-slots become clogged with dirt. And the cork floor, periodically, must be thoroughly washed with a brush, hands, otherwise it will look stale and gray.

6th minus - Vulnerability to punching and scratches

This aspect is also controversial and it all depends on the quality of the floor. Some floors are not afraid of punching and do not leave dents on them even from heavy furniture. And other floors are more delicate (read - cheap) and you will have to put pads on the legs of the table and chairs.

Of course, there can be no question of any walking in heels in the kitchen. But on the other hand, there is nothing to spank in shoes around the house. Learn to take off your shoes in the hallway.

7 minus - the inability to wash the paint

Some interesting things happen with the paint that got on the cork floor. We, for example, cannot explain this miracle, but it exists.

If hair dye gets on the cork floor, then it is not immediately wiped off with anything.

Well, just nothing, it is absorbed tightly. But a month, two, three passes, and the stain begins to gradually disappear and, as a result, it simply neutralizes. But on the other hand, for two or three months you admire a dark spot that cannot be removed.

Also, you will not be able to wash drops of brilliant green, iodine, paint for Easter eggs, inscriptions with a marker ...

8th minus - Inability to get rid of greasy stains

But the fat cork floor does not self-destruct, unlike paint. If the fat is not wiped off often, it will be absorbed, and you will never get rid of it.

Of course, you can sand the cork and open it with a new varnish. But this is dreary and long, and the veneer that covers the floor is quite thin and such manipulations have a limit.

About the environmental friendliness of the cork floor

Many people opt for cork flooring because of this benefit. It seems that it is so environmentally friendly and safe that it's just a nightmare. But in reality, this is nonsense.

Cork flooring is no better than laminate or linoleum. But a poor-quality cork floor is even worse, since the glue with which it is pressed can release harmful substances into the air for a very long time.

Then, the cork floor, without fail varnished. Is varnish environmentally friendly? And what does the cork have to do with it, if you don’t come into contact with it in any way? You breathe in the fumes of varnish and glue.

Furthermore, cork floor base- or the same vinyl or PVC. Layer cork– 2-6 mm (what a rarity, usually 2-3).

Judge for yourselves, why are there so many forests in the Mediterranean to provide the whole world with floors made of pure cork? This is just unreal. On the veneer are millimeters of this coating, millimeters. And the rest is the most ordinary materials.

Therefore, if your goal is environmental friendliness and complete hypoallergenicity, then laminate is better. It certainly doesn't vaporize anything.

It is also worth mentioning here cushioning properties about which sellers sing. It seems like walking on a cork floor is so good for the spine, as you walk almost on rubber, cushioning, cushioning ... This is not true.

Cork flooring is as hard as laminate flooring.

And it doesn't matter which manufacturer produces this product: there is no cork floor from one cork.

Is it possible to lay a cork floor on a "warm" floor

There is a rumor on the net that there is no reason to put electric heating under the cork floor, since the cork simply will not let it through. This is nonsense.

Try putting a piece of cork floor on the battery and you will understand everything. It conducts heat very well. Another question is that there is not much point in heating it, since it is quite warm in itself. Unless, if you removed the batteries and instead decided to equip floor heating then you can do this.

What kind of cork floor is best for the kitchen?

Cork flooring is of two types:

• Rolled (adhesive), which is spread out like linoleum and glued directly onto the screed;
• Tiled (castle), which is laid like a laminate on locks.

For the kitchen, it is better to take the first option, since it is without gaps.

The cracks swell with moisture over time, get clogged with debris ... This is not very practical for such a room, as you understand. In general, there are more types of cork flooring, but now it makes no sense to disassemble them, we are talking about design there.

Differences cork flooring from other popular flooring

Our review would be incomplete without a comparison with other types of flooring. It is in this way that it is easiest to understand whether there is a reason to buy a cork floor. Let's go.

Which is better: cork or ceramic tiles

Durability : ceramic tile lasts a long time, if you do not drop a cast-iron goose on it ... But you can drop anything on a cork, even knives. No scratches are particularly visible and holes from punctures with something thin - too.

As for which coating wears out faster - cork, of course. But on it the protective varnish is erased, which can simply be updated. But the cork tends to crumble from impacts and from punching.

In a word, nothing concrete can be said. If you don't start dropping the caterpillars, tiles are more reliable. And even more reliable - roll up the kitchen with asphalt, this will definitely be for centuries.

Ease of maintenance: it is much easier to take care of tiles, this is not even discussed.

Simplicity of flooring: under the "cork" you need to perfectly equalize the base. But the tile - you need to perfectly water it. If you leave air gaps in the adhesive or if you lay the tile unevenly, it will begin to lag and crack where the “play” has formed. Both leveling and laying are expensive. Therefore, here the score is 1:1.

Warmth: Well, here you understand everything yourself. Of course - a cork.

Which is better: cork floor or linoleum

Durability: cork is much more durable in operation, whatever one may say. Although, if you take linoleum for industrial purposes, then it will outlive you. But the colors of such linoleum are creepy, therefore, we are talking about a household version. And it is soft, torn, worn out, and after 10 years it looks like the devil.

Cork floors after ten years can be opened with fresh varnish and they will still serve. Due to the fact that they are so pockmarked, damage is not particularly visible on them.

Ease of maintenance: Linoleum is easier to care for as it is completely smooth. And the cork is porous and it is necessary to thoroughly wash out the dirt that clogs into microcracks.

Simplicity of flooring: Both coatings require Smooth surface. If linoleum is spread on an uneven floor, it will quickly wear off and look disgusting. Under the linoleum, every crumb and hole is visible.

Warmth: Both coatings are warm, but walking on the last one is 10 times more pleasant. Linoleum is like oilcloth to the touch, and cork is like wood.

Which is better: cork flooring or laminate

Durability: Laminate and cork last about the same. But the laminate tends to swell at the joints, which is why its appearance deteriorates. Cork, especially glue, looks much better.

Ease of maintenance: Laminate is easier to clean, as there are no pores on it, into which dirt clogs. But it has to be wiped dry after washing, as stains are too visible.

Simplicity of flooring: both are easy to lay. The main thing is to prepare the surface well, and laying is already the tenth thing.

Warmth: Both of these finishes are warm, but laminate is not as pleasant to the touch. In addition, he is very noisy.

Which is better: wood flooring or cork?

Durability: wood is much more durable, especially if it is not about parquet, but about deck boards. Yes, and it is easier to restore a wooden floor than a cork veneered one.

Ease of maintenance: it is easier to care for a tree, despite the fact that it needs to be periodically rubbed with mastic.

Simplicity of flooring: under the tree you do not need to equalize the floor and this is a plus. But it needs to be perfectly evenly laid on the logs, and this is a minus: professionals are needed here.

Warmth: it's the same warm covers. But judging by the reviews of the owners, the feeling of the cork floor is warmer.

Conclusion: We told you everything and even more about cork floors, their pros and cons, showed a photo and indicated an approximate price for 1 square meter. Now think for yourself, decide for yourself what is better to choose when you make repairs.

Cork flooring is used by apartment owners and country houses well-deserved popularity. And no wonder. Benefits similar material has a huge amount. It is made from the bark of a cork oak that grows in the forests of Portugal and Spain. In the production of such boards, a substance obtained from the cashew nut shell is used as a binder.

The main advantages of cork

This modern floor covering is popular with property owners primarily due to its environmental friendliness. After all, only natural materials are used in its production. During operation, the plates do not emit absolutely no harmful substances into the air.

In addition, the advantages of cork flooring include:

• Antistatic and hypoallergenic.
• Good thermal insulation characteristics.
• Moisture resistant.
• Attractive appearance.
• Good sound absorbing qualities.

Floor does not absorb any unpleasant odors. And it never gets moldy. This material is also resistant to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, it can be fearlessly laid even in rooms well lit by the sun. Another advantage of finishing this variety is that it is not at all afraid of vibrations. The cork coating, of course, can ignite. However, at the same time, unlike artificial synthetic materials, it does not emit any particularly harmful substances into the air.

Cork flooring: reviews of apartment owners

Since this material is simply remarkable operational characteristics and looks solid, the opinion of the property owners about him, of course, is only positive. Many people think that cork flooring looks no worse than parquet. But at the same time, it is much more resistant to mechanical damage. Good feedback the owners of apartments and houses deserve the cork for the fact that it is very pleasant to walk on it. Such a floor is never cold.

What should I pay attention to when buying?

When choosing cork floors, you should first of all consider such important factors:

1. Type of coverage.
2. His design.
3. Manufacturer's brand.
4. material thickness.
5. Its design features.

What are the types of cork flooring?

This finishing material is classified into three main groups:

• tiled;
• liquid;
• sprayed.

The first cork flooring can be used safely for 10-40 years. It does not leave traces from the legs of furniture. In addition, it is resistant to chemically aggressive substances and is very easy to install. Liquid cork coating is a new finishing material that has recently appeared on the market. Applying it to the floor surface is even easier than installing tiles. The installation technology of such a cork resembles simple staining. After drying, the liquid coating becomes porous and at the same time very dense. That is, in terms of its performance characteristics, it is similar to ordinary tiles. An attractive appearance is also what distinguishes this cork flooring. In the interior, it looks very solid and prestigious.

The sprayed coating differs from the liquid coating mainly only in the method of application. Its composition is almost the same. Apply a sprayed cork coating with a compressor and a gun (usually in two layers).

What could be the design?

Of course, cork flooring should be chosen in such a way that it fits as harmoniously as possible into the design of the entire room as a whole. The color of the material can vary from light beige (almost white) to brown and reddish. There are also yellow and even black tiles of this variety on sale. The texture of cork usually imitates wood. However, on sale there is also a finish of this variety “marbled” or in the form of sandstone. In some cases, silicone varnish is applied to the cork. This makes the floors even more resistant to abrasion and scratches.

Design features

Liquid and spray cork types are easy to install and look attractive. However, in our country, such materials are still used quite rarely. Most often, the owners of apartments and houses til the floors with more familiar tiles. This type of coating, in turn, is classified into two more large groups: adhesive and castle. The first option is better suited for high traffic areas. Laying cork flooring of this type, as the name suggests, is done on glue. Such a tile is held very firmly on the base. Many property owners also use it for rooms with complex contours.

Castle cork floors are mounted on the same principle as the popular laminate. Each plate in this type of coating is equipped with a special lock. Unfortunately, this mount cannot be called too reliable. These loosen up pretty quickly. Therefore, floating coatings at the final stage of installation are covered with a special varnish, including gaps. The need for this procedure is primarily due to the fact that if water gets between the tiles, the service life of the entire cork floor is significantly reduced.

In building hypermarkets today, cork flooring is sold, produced by a variety of companies. These can be Egger, Corkart, Allied Cork, Wicanders, etc. Basically, specialized stores sell European brands of cork. The Chinese, fortunately, have not yet mastered this market. And therefore, any cork today can be bought almost fearlessly.

Prices

Most often in construction hypermarkets there is a material of this variety of the Portuguese company Wicanders. This is arguably the best cork flooring available today. A square meter of plates from this manufacturer with a thickness of 4 mm will cost about 1000-1500 rubles. For the same material, but 6 mm, you will have to pay 2000-3000 rubles. Tiles with a thickness of 11 mm are even more expensive - about 4000 rubles.

Features of mounting adhesive tiles

The thickness of such a coating can vary from 3 to 6 mm. It is a pressed cork, covered with veneer of the same material and additionally processed protective composition. In order to perform high-quality installation of such tiles, first of all, you should take care of buying a suitable adhesive. Cork wood flooring - the material, as you can see, is quite expensive. And therefore, you should not save on glue for it. It is worth purchasing the tool recommended by the manufacturer. The only exceptions are those cases when the coating is mounted in the pool or bathroom. For such premises it is worth buying a special moisture-resistant glue.

Performing the actual installation itself, you must strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The instructions must be followed exactly. The fact is that cork coatings apply only with strict observance required technology styling.

Preparatory work

Before starting the installation of tiles, the floors must be leveled. The concrete base should be corrected with a self-leveling mixture. On the wooden surface you need to putty all the chips and scratches. If on such a floor there are cavities, scuffs or any bulges, it should also be preliminarily sanded and sanded.

What tools will be needed?

To work with a cork, you should prepare a meter rule, a construction square and a clerical knife. You also need to purchase a wide bath for glue and a new one. For even styling, you will need a chop thread. In addition, you should purchase a special one for parquet. Adhesives can be used for laying tiles different composition. Some of them do not have any smell. Others emit very harsh and unpleasant odors. In the latter case, before starting work, it is worth putting on a respirator.

Start work on laying the cork should be from the center of the room, moving to its edges. In order for the coating to lie as evenly as possible, you must first break it down with a thread. During the laying process, the adhesive is applied both to the tile itself and to the floor. It should be smeared over the cork as evenly as possible. These adhesives dry pretty quickly. Therefore, experts recommend simultaneously applying the product to such a number of tiles that can be laid in no more than half an hour. Accordingly, the floor surface should not be coated entirely, but partially.

Cork slabs should be laid as close as possible to each other. It pays to do the job more carefully. It will not be possible to correct anything after some time after laying due to the rapid drying of the glue. Mount the tiles so that the seams are in a run. In order for the elements to lie tightly and on the surface, it is necessary to tap on them with a mallet (over the entire area).

When laying the floor cork adhesive, to control the evenness of the rows, you should use the rule. This tool is applied to the end of the tiles and they make sure that there are no swellings and waves on the finished surface. Like parquet, cork flooring can change its area slightly with fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Therefore, it should be laid in such a way that there is a gap of about 5 mm around the entire perimeter of the room between it and the walls.

Sometimes it happens that a whole tile does not fit on the edge of the room at the final stage of laying. In this case, measure the distance from the wall to the last laid row and transfer it to the material. It is necessary to cut the tiles carefully - with a sharp clerical knife. Having made a deep incision, the element is carefully broken by hands.

Features of laying the lock plug

If the cork adhesive flooring is installed in approximately the same way as the parquet, then the floating one is laid approximately according to the same technology as the laminate. Previously, such a tile should be kept in the room in which it will subsequently be laid for 24 hours. Installation in this case is made from the wall. When laying a floating coating, as well as when installing an adhesive one, leave a gap around the perimeter of the room. temperature gaps. This variety is produced in the following order:

1. The first row is laid. When assembling it, the spikes on the ends of the panels should be firmly inserted into the grooves of the previous elements.
2. The last panel is cut to the required length. Its remainder is used as the first element in the next row. This ensures the expansion of the seams.

On the side, the panel is attached to the element of the previous row, inserting it with a spike into the groove at an angle of 45 degrees. After the coating is completely assembled, it is advisable to additionally treat it with varnish recommended by the manufacturer, or seal the seams with sealant.

If the installation of adhesive tiles in most cases is trusted by specialists, then the floor cork flooring, as you can see, is easy to assemble with your own hands. The cladding technology in this case is extremely simple.

Coating care features

Contact with different kind chemicals cork transfers relatively calmly. Therefore, the floors lined with it can be washed using any household cleaners. The only exceptions are those cases when hard-to-remove stains appear on the cork. It is not necessary to vigorously rub such pollution with shampoo. Better take advantage special means designed for cork. Like parquet, it is advisable to periodically rub the coating of this variety with a special composition prepared on the basis of paraffin and wax. The use of such a tool will help to make the floors more attractive and at the same time significantly extend their service life.

Floor covering - almost the most main element interior decoration premises. It should be durable, beautiful, easy to care for. It is desirable that it is pleasant to walk on it and that the feet do not freeze. Responds to all these qualities flooring from cork. Until recently, cork flooring was a very expensive pleasure. Not to say that now it is so cheap, but it is no longer so out of reach.

Types of cork flooring

If we talk about the appearance, there is a cork floor with a traditional pattern in different colors. But not everyone likes such a 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, because such a floor is a product of natural ingredients. From above, the pattern is covered with a protective layer of polyurethane or polyurethane varnish. Here protective layer- not the most natural, but there are no alternatives to it - wood is also varnished or painted.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cork flooring has a lot of advantages. They are “quiet”, elastic, resilient, absorb sounds well, and conduct heat poorly. It is pleasant to walk on such a floor both in winter and in summer. It is easy to clean - almost does not electrify, the dust does not "stick", the smooth surface is easy to clean. Some colors are so "non-staining" that debris is not visible. This is also a minus - a dropped small thing has to be searched for a long time.

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

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

Structure

Both types of cork flooring - lock and glue - are multi-layered, but their composition is different. The glue plug usually consists (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 even base. Otherwise, any hole or hump will eventually be visible. Practice has established that the differences can be significant (up to 5 mm), but they must be smooth. No "steps" or cracks, but a smooth gradual rise or fall is not visible. The difference in size that occurs during laying is compensated by the elasticity of the coating.

The castle cork floor also consists of several layers:

Lockable cork flooring is more rigid and very similar to laminate flooring. But it is only similar, since the laminate is pressed paper coated with a film with a printed pattern. The same material mainly consists of natural components. It is the rigidity that determines the softer requirements of manufacturers for the base: there may be differences in height, but not more than 2 mm per 2 meters. Also, under this coating, you can put a substrate, improving sound and heat insulation.

Castle or adhesive?

How to choose which cork floor is better, castle or adhesive? Each is good, but has its own nuances. For convenience of choice and a clearer presentation, the properties of the coatings are summarized in a table.

From this we can conclude that it makes sense to lay a glued cork floor in rooms with high humidity(kitchen, bathroom) and high traffic (corridor, hallway). You can even put it in unheated premises or where there are high differences in humidity and temperature (in baths, for example). AT living rooms the castle cork coating feels great. 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 plank will deform. After drying, unfortunately, it will not return to its original form. But in this it is no different from ordinary laminate, so this is not such a big drawback in living rooms. It is only necessary to clean up the spilled liquid in time.

Cork floor with photo printing - an option for an interior in style

This does not mean that the adhesive coating cannot be used in rooms. It's even possible. Many people like it more, because with a good layer of varnish it has excellent strength - it does not squeeze through heels and furniture. Also the castle. It can be coated on top with a layer of varnish (but not all firms) and used in the hallway, 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 the consumption of the locking plug is minimal - it is absorbed only into the joints.

Species and subspecies

Please note that there is an adhesive cork floor different thickness. The thinnest tile is 4 mm, it can be laid in rooms with low traffic, but it is better to use at least 6 mm coating. For the bathroom, a special subspecies is produced - large squares 10-12 mm thick and 148 * 148 mm in size. A thinner coating of the legs of the bathroom will simply push 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 coatings have not only natural colors. There is a printed image of wood of different colors, sand with shells, grass ...

There are subspecies of the castle cork floor. First of all, it is worth saying that there is a moisture resistant version. The base of this material is not MDF high density, and 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 wide range 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 familiar, but PVC is stronger. Although the laid coating with a varnish top layer can be revarnished, achieving high moisture resistance, but is it possible to do this with a PVC coating?

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 final result, find a castle cover with the same color. Your result will be about the same.

Producers and quality of cork floor

There are two on the market major manufacturer floor plugs: CorkStyle (CorkStyle) and Wicanders (Vikanders). 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, but the quality of this product is already far from cork. It's tougher and wears out faster. Therefore, it is better to pay a little more, but choose with a cork layer, albeit pressed.

For those who are inclined to choose glue plug on the floor, it is worth knowing that even very good producers planks are not perfect. They differ in size - plus or minus 1 mm in width or length - these are normal tolerances. They are compensated by the elasticity of the material: when laying, the cork is slightly compressed so that the joints are tight. In addition, there are strips of different thicknesses. You can’t compensate for this in any way, you have to sort them out, sort them out. Thin ones are laid in one place where the transition will be invisible, for thick ones, the excess is sanded off along the edges 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 sanded front to the substrate. Before laying, all tiles are inspected, unglued places are glued, the remaining planks are used when laying in certain places. Read more about laying here, where it is also written where to use these flawed planks.

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

Cork flooring has gained a lot of popularity over the past few years. This coating is chosen by practical people who value durability, environmental friendliness and naturalness. building materials what a cork is. It is most often used where surfaces are tested for strength and abrasion, namely in the kitchen or hallways. Therefore, cork floors, reviews of which are endowed with mostly positive opinions and impressions of operation, are so common in our country.

What is a cork floor?

Externally, a cork floor looks like a very light and porous material. In comparison with linoleum or laminate, many consider this type of coating to be a more advantageous option, since it is not inferior in strength to either one, and the environmental friendliness of the material is an order of magnitude higher, since cork is directly related to wood. Workers in the lumber industry have studied the properties of cork oaks, noticing that the trees shed their bark once every few years. That is, the upper layer can be removed without harming the plant. It is it that is used for the production of floor coverings, the bark is crushed, and then processed in high-temperature furnaces. The resulting mass is pressed, and we get a porous base for the cork floor - suberin.

Of course, before getting to the store shelves, the coating is processed, wood dust and resin are applied on it in layers. The front part of the floor can be made of natural veneer, vinyl or cork.

If you find it hard to imagine what it is, then you need to look through construction magazines or read consumer reviews. Cork flooring in terms of naturalness and environmental friendliness firmly occupies a leading position in the list of others.

Description of cork coatings. Their characteristics

Due to its unique characteristics, cork floor tiles have become one of the most popular floor tiles. Feedback from designers, engineers and ordinary people they say that this material is not only practical and durable, but also accessible to absolutely everyone. Cork floors have a number of unusual properties, namely:

• fluidity and buoyancy;
• high level heat and sound insulation;
• small specific gravity;
• high resistance to aggressive environments.

In addition, the cork is considered indispensable material due to the ability to reduce vibration, return to its previous shape and the ability to save energy.

Studying the composition is an important step in choosing a cork floor

Suberin is responsible for the elasticity in the composition of the floor covering. The 30% linguine contained in the cork determines the density of the material. The relief of the structure is achieved due to the presence of polysaccharides in the amount of 10% of the total mass, tannins and ceroids are responsible for the color and water resistance.

Why choose cork flooring?

Many buyers choose finishing materials, having first studied their advantages, cork floors are no exception. Reviews about them speak for themselves.

1. The first thing that worries all buyers is the warmth of the floor, and so, cork is the most pleasant to the touch material that slowly absorbs heat.
2. Soundproofing is something without which it is difficult to imagine life in apartment buildings. Cork floors (reviews about how well they "muffle" noise in the premises, buyers leave constantly) has high parameters for this criterion.
3. Cork quickly restores its former shape, that is, there will be no dents from furniture legs on the floor.
4. This flooring is easy to clean and requires little maintenance. Moreover, this should be done infrequently, since the cork does not collect dust.
5. Such a floor has such a property as resistance to slipping.
6. Cork coating has a positive effect on the human body, namely high values depreciation indicators relieve the load on the legs while walking and the spine.

The downsides of cork

In addition to the main shortcomings, there are also not very critical ones. Some people don't like the feel of cork. Indeed, this material is a bit rough, and to avoid this, you need to constantly use special tools.

Types of cork floors

Commodity forms of coating are quite diverse, in any hardware store you can choose the right floor for your home. Cork surfaces are:

• adhesive. The laying technology is simple. Adhesive cork floor, reviews of which are the most positive, is fixed with special formulations and mixtures.
• Technical. Such a cork coating is produced in the form of rolls or granules, which serve as insulation under the main floor.
• floating. In life, the cork floor is called "floating" parquet. It is a panel small sizes, interconnected special system fasteners, its other name is the castle cork floor. Reviews about it are very diverse, it all depends on individual preferences and habits for laying building materials - someone likes to fix tiles on glue, others like the old proven method of locking.

Features of adhesive cork coatings

If you decide to opt for adhesive cork floors, then you should know some features of this material. It consists of pressed chips and a decorative layer of veneer. The thickness of such a tile is 4-7 mm. Such floors are fixed with glue and varnished. Adhesive cork coating is chosen by those who plan to make a single style in an apartment without thresholds. With such material it is easy to make artistic styling.

The negative aspects of adhesive cork floors are as follows:

• Very often, instead of high-quality adhesives, in order to save money, cheaper and toxic mixtures are purchased, which adversely affects human health.
• Some buyers, for the same reason, do not varnish the floor well enough, respectively, after a year the coating will peel off.
• After laying such a floor, differences in the base are visible.

Features of castle cork coatings

Castle cork coatings differ from the previous type in ease of installation. This floor consists of three parts. The top layer is varnished, the middle layer is made of natural cork veneer, and the bottom layer is made of lower density agglomerate.

Where is this coating most commonly used? The most common option is to install a cork floor in the kitchen. Reviews in which buyers share their impressions about this natural material, most often contain information about laying the floor in the kitchen or in the children's rooms. The only drawback of such a coating is the inability to make a pattern or pattern, since the tiles need to be laid out in one direction.

How is cork flooring made? Choosing a high quality coating

Before choosing a cork floor, it is advisable to find out how it is made. The main attention will be focused on the process of manufacturing the top decorative layer. Appearance veneer is decisive in the choice of a particular model of flooring. It is made from oak bark, it can be pressed, natural or stabilized. Depending on the pressure and temperature of the veneer processing, the surface has the most ornate and unique patterns that appear during the production process.

Coating care

Of course, any coating requires maintenance, especially the cork floor in the nursery. Feedback on the use of this material in a child's room suggests that buyers are confident in the safety and environmental friendliness of the cork. However, in order for the flooring to retain its natural properties, it must be carefully looked after. Do not neglect the use of cleansing and polishing mixtures. After all, it is these compounds that form a protective layer on the floor and give it a special shine. The cork is afraid of aggressive influences, so in no case should you rub it with a metal brush or a hard sponge.

Laying technology

If you plan to install flooring for the first time, you need to carefully prepare for this process. The best way learn how to install cork floors - read reviews. People willingly share their technologies, give advice and recommendations.

The technology for laying cork flooring depends on the type of floor. If you purchased adhesive boards, then you need to buy the right glue for them. For lock systems you do not need to purchase anything additionally, you need to mount such a coating in the same way as parquet or laminate - from one panel to another.

First you need to prepare the base, level it and clean it. Any unevenness can lead to cracks in the cork. Next, be sure to make the markup, lay out the tiles preferably from the middle of the room. In the case of an adhesive floor, you need to process the seams with inside special sealant. Spread with glue work surface and lay the tiles. Thanks to modern compositions, the floor will seize instantly. A day later, the coating must be treated with a protective varnish.

This section will be most interesting to housewives, since cork flooring is most often installed in the kitchen. Feedback from female representatives is most often positive, apartment owners are satisfied with the performance characteristics of the cork.

cork flooring cost

When choosing any product, we first of all look at its price. What is the cost of a cork floor? As mentioned above, cork is distinguished by its high cost. The cost of such a coating depends directly on the thickness of the decorative veneer, namely:

• cutting thickness;
• production method;
• temperature and pressure during processing;
• degree of use of human labor.

It is very difficult to assess the price characteristics of a cork floor, since one manufacturer has the cost of a tile with greater density may be the same with another type of coating, but with a more pronounced pattern. Comparing CorkArt and MJO, the latter clearly wins in price. But if we talk about the density of the tiles, then "CorkArt" is almost twice ahead of its competitor. Therefore, many choose CorkArt cork floors, customer reviews often evaluate the quality of the material.

Which cork floor to choose? Overview of the best manufacturers

In the domestic market of building materials there are manufacturing companies from different countries, the most popular are manufacturers from China and Portugal.

Cork floors from these two countries are fundamentally different in their chemical composition, and hence the characteristics. Portuguese oaks grow in completely different climatic conditions. The bark of trees contains a large number of suberin, so they are considered more dense and durable. Due to this, there is almost no glue in the Portuguese cork coatings. What can not be said about the Chinese, in order to make a competitive price, Asian manufacturers have to use cheap and not very high-quality adhesive in the manufacturing process.

Most famous brand cork floors - Wikanders. The collections of this manufacturer are distinguished by proven quality, durability and a high level of sound insulation. CorkArt is not far behind. The firm is known a wide range decorated cork floor, to create this coating, materials from the very High Quality. Compared to its competitors, Corkstyle cork flooring (which has not received very positive reviews) is distinguished by its relatively cheap cost. Such a coating is very wear-resistant, but it is comfortable to walk on it only in shoes, since the cork is covered with ceramic varnish, which is very rough to the touch.

The Russian cork floor Maestro is produced at the factories of Wikanders. If you do not want to overpay for a brand, then you should choose a high-quality cork floor from a Russian company, especially since it is produced taking into account all the requirements for Wikanders quality standards.

After reading this article, you learned how to choose the right cork flooring, what to look for when buying.

If we compare cork material with other flooring options, then it is worth noting that the cork is not so strong. popular material, because of high cost, as well as the recent appearance on the Russian market.

Cork Information

The material itself is obtained from the bark of some trees that grow in warm countries. The very structure of the crust consists of pores that are filled with oxygen and nitrogen. Due to this, this material is very light, but at the same time quite strong. Due to the fact that oxygen and nitrogen are in the pores in a closed state, this material has good elasticity and elasticity.

Not much about the advantages of cork flooring:

1. environmentally friendly material
2. Low sound and heat conductivity
3. moisture resistance
4. Moderately resistant to chemicals for cleaning

Now in more detail about each quality of the cork floor.

So this floor has all the popular environmental friendliness only if it consists of a solid veneer. If it consists of cork chips, which are bound by some kind of chemical adhesives, then the environmental advantage here is much less. It is because of this feature that the price of a cork floor can fluctuate greatly. It is logical that a floor made of solid veneer will cost much more than a floor made of cork chips.

At the same time, when crumbs from cork material bind due to glue and plasticizers, it loses a number of those qualities that are inherent in a single piece of cork veneer.

Due to the thermal conductivity, which is very low for this material. Here everything is also clear, the particles of air and nitrogen in the capsules serve as an excellent barrier to heat and sound. If the soundproofing advantages of this material are important to you, then you should keep in mind that this is in place if the thickness of the veneer is more than 4-5 mm.

As for physical activity, here, as they say, everything in moderation. If the pressure is too strong, then a dent up to 0.3 mm deep may remain on the floor. such a threat can be attributed to women's heels, claws of animals - it is they who can cause irreparable damage to the cork floor.

With regard to resistance to chemical cleaning agents, the situation is as follows: the cork coating is not resistant to alkaline agents. But on the other hand, it can be safely removed with means that are based on acids.

At the expense of water, if you take a solid piece of cork veneer, then it does just fine. but if the coating itself consists of parts of cork material that is glued to an MDF sheet or something similar, then damage can be catastrophic. Thus, we come to the conclusion that cheaper cork flooring, which does not consist of solid veneer, is not suitable for rooms where there is a possibility of high humidity.

We will discuss all the pros and cons of cork, now we can decide whether we want to purchase such material, as well as at what price and composition we want to take it for our own construction.

The material itself, which comes to the shelves of Russia, is brought from: Spain, Portugal, China and Poland, where it is actually made from cork wood. Among buyers in Russia, cork floors of the Wicanders brand are very popular, along with them it is worth highlighting such brands as Corkstyle and Allied Cork.

Here is one video from the above company

An alternative to cork.

How to choose cork flooring

Before deciding what kind of material you are going to buy, it is worth highlighting those factors that play a big role in buying a cork floor.

• Manufacturer
• The underside of the coating must be as uniform as top part material
• The cuts on the sides of the material must be even and free of nicks and other defects. This is very important, so it would be useful to check all sides when buying in a store, if you don’t want to return later to change the marriage to a normal part or buy more material.

What is the cork floor

There are two options for the floor - adhesive and castle.

Adhesive installation of cork floor

The adhesive option is when a layer of glue is poured onto the material itself and onto the floor. this method is inherent in those visits where high traffic is planned, a large amount of dust and dirt. It is also convenient to lay out complex contours of the room in this way.

The essence of this method and protection lies in the fact that the material itself initially already has an adhesive coating, and when installed on the adhesive, it is coated several more times. After that, such a floor is not afraid of a lot of dirt or dust and water. Multiple application adhesive composition well masks the joints of the tiles, which gives the feeling of a monolithic cork floor.

We offer for review a video of installing a cork floor on glue

Important!!! With this method of installing the cork floor, the layer of glue will affect the color that the cork material originally had. This should be taken into account immediately, so that this fact would not become a disappointment for you later at the end of the installation.

as well as a number of tips for installing the floor on the glue

Cork thickness

Always a question for buyers. Because only good thickness will create a barrier to sound and heat. Here you need to build on your budget, how much it will allow you to choose the thickness of your flooring.

Thin thickness can be used in the case of a perfectly flat floor, as well as provided that the mechanical loads on the floor are minimal.

For Bath the best option There has always been and always will be solid cork veneer. (due to high humidity).