Laying cork floor

cork material is gradually becoming popular among the owners, and this despite the fact that in the market there are more practical solutions.The fact is that the cork coatings have many advantages that can not boast of even the parquet and laminate.

good news also is that the market can find a lot of different variants of cork, which is ideally suited to the specific conditions and scale.In modern conditions should be used cork cover.And it's not just about outdoor versions of the material.Now on sale there is a lot of different coatings.Some can be used as mural decoration, and others - to cover the ceiling.

course, do not forget about the shortcomings of cork.They do have a considerable importance, especially considering the fact that the floor covering housing operated continuously, so it's important to have excellent characteristics.On the negative sides of the cork flooring, we elaborated in this material.

Also, consider the process of laying cork floor, analyzing in detail each stage of work.Running a little ahead should be noted that the cork floor - it is really a good option for a large private home, and for a small apartment in an apartment building.

main features of cork

Obviously, cork floor - is a completely natural product that has virtually no analogues on the market.Of course, this is often the cork and captivates consumers.It is also interesting that in the market there are many variants of this product.Each owner has the opportunity to purchase the most practical option that will best side to show itself in concrete terms.

Next, consider the main types of cork floorings:

1. cork board.It must be borne in mind that this is the most expensive cork, which can be found on the market.By itself, the material is a large plate sizes that can reach six square meters.The thickness of the cork board is limited to 6 mm.Often, the material is coated with a durable lacquer as cork board is very sensitive to a variety of influences.
2. cork laminate.This material is substantially similar to a conventional laminate, but its characteristics are similar to the cork board.Unfortunately, this flooring is used infrequently.
3. pressed cork.It's kind of a budget version of the cork board.Despite this, the quality of material high enough, so much the negative aspects of the material has not.Pressed cork is a fine-grained texture that many may not be to the taste.You can also note the positive side, which deals with arbitrary dimensions of the material.Manufacturers themselves in this respect is not limited, so tiles of pressed cork can be a miniature and gigantic.
4. Cork MDF panels.This option is cork material has a low price.Externally, the material resembles a cork board, but most of all it has in common is a laminate.The material is based on MDF, followed by a layer of cork.This completes one composition layer, which consists of a thin veneer of cork.The advantage of this coating is that it does not need a lot of attention for its arrangement given to the quality of the underlying layer.

main advantages and disadvantages of cork floor

At the beginning of this material, we said that the cork coatings have many advantages.Of course, there are also significant shortcomings, some of which could materially affect the choice of consumers.Of course, the positives far outweighed the negative, and it is worth remembering.

Pros cork floor:

• natural material.Many people are skeptical about the modern materials that are produced on the basis of polymers and plastics.Obviously, in most cases, these human resources building - not the best option, as they may have some shortcomings, primarily associated with the negative impact on human health.Sometimes this influence is almost negligible, but in such situations, people used to prefer natural products.In fact, cork environmentally harmless to human health.In this regard, the material is much more attractive than the other floors.
• original coating.The point is that the plug is sufficiently resilient material.Accordingly, it is an excellent option for flooring in the nursery.This is a safer option than any other kind of sex.Also coating of cork floors did not slip, unlike laminate and parquet.However, we must remember that in a variety of commercially available coating to suit a particular room.For example, we can talk about the protective layers that protect the cork surface by the action of water or any other substances.
• sound and thermal insulation.Natural material with properties reminiscent of mineral wool or foam.In fact, cork flooring can be used as thermal insulation, and at the right approach material also isolates the external noise.However, it is not necessary in this respect to overestimate the material as to specific product properties of cork is still far.
• positive "perception" load.As we have said, cork floors are resilient, and that is why they are receptive to even very high loads.Accordingly, if placed on the floor of a heavy wardrobe, cork bit prosyadet.However, immediately after the cabinet will be cleaned, the coating will return to the starting position.This is a wonderful property that does not allow material to be damaged even in the harshest conditions.

Disadvantages cork:

• high price.Those who wish to buy a cork will have to pay a round sum.Of course, the whole point is that the material is natural, therefore, in such coating conditions are always appreciated more.Of course, you can always buy cheaper versions of floors, which are also made on the basis of traffic jams, but such decisions are deprived of the most important advantages of the original cork.Definitely, cover cork flooring throughout the house is expensive, so sometimes it is advisable to be limited to one or a couple of rooms.
• Fragility.Despite the fact that the cork can withstand severe stress, it is very easy to damage.One need only to stumble and hurt the surface.In this regard, cork cover essentially lose to other solutions available on the market.

In addition, the plug has other negative aspects.For example, the material has a high sensitivity to temperature changes.Also, natural products are very well absorb moisture.

If we analyze all the above points, the cork floor is hardly sustainable.Just a year or two after the start of operation it will be possible to notice significant problems on the cover, which can not be recovered.Accordingly, after some time will have to replace the floor.

also need to focus on the fact that only certain rooms can be used cork cover.This may be a children's room, bedroom, living room and a work room (Hall).In some cases it is possible to use cork flooring in other rooms, but only if the material has a special protective coating.

process cork flooring

Tools Required

In the process of laying cork is necessary to have a few tools:

• Mallet;
• jigsaw;
• roll for stitching (if the floor will need to sit down on the glue).

also in the need for cork floor baseboards and sills (since it is impossible to lay cork in doorways).

Preparations

Before you start laying cork floor, it is necessary to lead a number of responsible preparatory activities.

First and foremost it is about leveling the concrete floor.This often creates a concrete tie, but the problem lies in the fact that concrete has a small surface roughness, which, in turn, creates serious problems for the cork layer.

In such cases it is advisable to use a liquid balancer.

In addition, it is possible to produce laying cork floor over linoleum or laminate.In this case, it is also important to be sure that the base has a flat surface.

laying cork floor in the adhesive-based

should know that the quality of the adhesive cork floor depends on the quality of the glue.Unfortunately, a lot of selling defective products, so run into problems very easily.It is best to use non-toxic glue, which dries within 10 minutes.Best of all information related to the choice of adhesive, check with the coating manufacturer, as to be mistaken in choosing a product is very easy.However, it should be mentioned that in such a process are often not used PVA glue, as it is water-based.

• Laying cork coating begins with the center of the room.The process itself takes place in a spiral.At the beginning of the adhesive is applied to the base of the spatula.At the same time care must be taken so that the adhesive layer is the same.
• Each part should cover prikatyvat roller, about which we spoke earlier.Do not press too hard, but you need to be sure that the cork firmly located on the surface.
• With most conventional building level should be checked horizontal surface.Moreover, this procedure is carried out after the installation of virtually every unit of material.
• In that case, if the material starts a little "bully", you need to arm themselves with a rubber mallet and return stopper to its original position.
• During definitely will be situations in which the adhesive is to go outside (gap between).In this situation, the excess glue should be immediately removed using a cloth (preferably moisten it with solvent).
• around the room you need to leave a small gap, which will serve as space for the plinth.

Creating a floating floor

When it comes to creating a floating floor, it may consist of whole pieces of veneer, laminate or cork.It should be noted that the first version is rather complicated, so we will consider in detail the process of creating a floating floor on the basis of cork laminate.

• At the beginning of measurement facilities occur.It should be borne in mind that the material is expensive enough, so better to buy only the required amount of material.If it is necessary, you can then purchase a laminate.Immediately after the purchase of the material can not be used.It is necessary to sustain the cork product indoors during the day (this is a kind of process of acclimatization).
• base surface is covered with a film (overlapping).You also need to ensure entry to the wall.After repairs can be cut off any excess material.In places where the joints are created, you can use adhesive tape.
• Now you need to take care of laminate dimensions.The fact is that in the process clearly happens situation where plates sizes will not match the dimensions of the room.In this case, the material should be cut, but only on the part of the ridge.In no case can not be cut laminate from the slot.
• laying the material comes from the far corner.The crest of the next unit of material is placed in the groove of the previous plank.You also need to do everything possible to get around the walls were small margins (up to 30 mm).
• At this stage, the excess part of the film layer is cut with a knife construction.
• With mounting adhesive on the perimeter of the room attached plinth (preferably cork).By itself, the baseboard must hover over the surface of a couple of millimeters.
• Following the work floor can be immediately exploited.