Cork Floor Covering

When we talk about floors in the room, we usually mean not the very structure of the floor, but its upper part, which is visible to our eye. In addition to a purely aesthetic function, this coating must also meet other important requirements. Naturally, this coating should be durable and warm, have antistatic properties and good sound insulation. And most importantly, do not cause harm to health.

Cork flooring has all these qualities. From the bark of cork oak, ecologically clean parquet plates are produced, of various sizes, 4 to 12 mm thick and square sandwich-tiles 30х30 cm in size, 3 to 6 mm thick. The basis of tiles and parquet is a pressed cork with no binding additives. The front side of the tiles is covered with a veneer of cork or wood, which is protected by a transparent matte or shiny polyvinylpilene film. Parquet laths are covered with a special lacquer that fills the pores of the cork and gives the entire surface a soft gloss while protecting against moisture and contaminants.

Cork coatings have the following advantages: they do not absorb odors, isolate heat well, are durable and perfectly suppress noise. They have anti-allergic properties, and they do not form mold. Therefore, you can use this coating not only in the kitchen, but also in the bathroom. They have a high resistance to slipping, they have high antistatic properties, which means they do not attract dust. Cork covers have a wide choice of texture, pattern and models, and are very easy to operate.

Cork covers are made of two types: gluing and "floating". Usually, the glue is made of tiles, and "floating" from the parquet slats, assembling them using the "spike-groove" technology, and the joints are treated with special waterproof glue. The varnish is applied both at the factory and after installation on site. For these purposes, polyurethane-based varnishes are used, which, when filling joints, creates a seamless surface. In some cases, in order to improve the structure of the cork and show its texture in all its glory, the cork cover is rubbed with hot mastic from a mixture of wax and paraffin. The warranty period from the cork floor manufacturer is about 10 years, but the actual service of such sexes is much longer.

Several types of cork are available:

1. "Cork Master", who are not afraid of heavy furniture, or female heels, and have very high wear resistance.

2. "Wood-o-cork" is an analogue of the previous one, only as an ornamental covering they have veneers of valuable wood species.

3. "Eco Cork" refers to the coating of increased environmental friendliness and comfort. Here, the basis for the plates is the spring layer of the pressed cork, and the decorative layer of veneer. The thickness of this coating is only 6 mm, and it can be applied even in bathrooms and kitchens.

4. "Cork-o-floor Loc" and "Wood-o-floor Loc" refer to "floating" floors, have a basis of HDF, do not require thorough preparation of the base when laying. They can be laid even on the existing basis.

Of course, the cork flooring is not a cheap pleasure. But here everyone decides for himself what is more important: money or health.