Cork floors: types, features, ways of laying

After opening a bottle of champagne or wine, the person in the hand remains cork. It would seem, a trifle, which you should not pay attention to. But few people at the same time think that it holds real finishing material, from which cork floors are produced on an industrial scale. They can be used as rough or even finish flooring.

Cork floors are made using different technologies from the bark of two types of oak , which can be found only in the west of the Mediterranean. At the same time, the material is already taken from adult trees. The first time the bark is removed from oaks aged 25-30 years. If the removal procedure is performed correctly, no harm is done to the trees. Next time the bark can be obtained only after 6-9 years.
Manufacturing technology

- One-piece veneer. This kind of material is the most expensive.
- Agglomerates. This coating is made from cork crumb by pressing at high temperature. The material is the cheapest.
- A combination of veneer and agglomerate. For the production of coatings, small crumbs and large veneers are used.

Kinds of cork coatings

-Technical cork is available in the form of granules, plates or rolls.

-Gluous coatings are available in the form of tiles. The standard dimensions are 300x300, 450x150, 600x300, 450x450 mm. Such coatings may have an upper protective layer. Most often they are painted, which allows you to combine colors and create various drawings of them. In addition, this type of coating is considered to be the most moisture-resistant, which predetermined its use in wet rooms.

- Floating cork floors. Under such a loud name is hidden cork coating, glued to the panel of MDF. The standard size of one panel is 900x185 mm.

Advantages

- High heat and sound insulation.
- Chemical inertness.
- Does not rot.
- Orthopedic functions.
- It is not eaten by microorganisms, beetles and rodents.

disadvantages

- High price.
- Easy deformation of the material.
- Wiping of the protective layer over time.
How to lay a cork floor

1. Floating cork floor. The work is similar to laying a conventional laminate. On the cleaned surface of the floor should be placed a substrate, preferably cork. Next, the installation of panels begins. It is recommended that they be placed parallel to the sun's rays. The collection of sex is done in rows, that is, one whole row is collected, then the second one, and then they are joined together. And so on. The side gaps between the coating and the wall should be 1 centimeter. A spacer is installed every three rows.

2. Sticking by gluing. The work is more time-consuming. The first thing to do is to thoroughly clean the floor of dirt and dust, after which the surface must be covered with a primer. This is necessary for better adhesion of materials. When the impregnation dries, you can start installing tiles. To do this, apply the adhesive with a notched trowel. The tile is laid on the mortar and pressed. Between the coating and walls, leave a gap. To smooth the already grasped tiles, you can use a kiyanku. So it is necessary to spread the material throughout the room. The last step is to varnish the glued cork for the floor.
Owner feedback

When choosing a material, most people take into account the opinions of those who are familiar with it and, consequently, can say about its merits and demerits. All owners are of the same opinion that as a floor covering, cork floors have a number of advantages, among which one can especially note the moisture resistance, thermal insulation and even cushioning. But in the issue of strength, opinions differ. Someone argues that the floors are easily deformed, even from the slightest pressure, and others indicate that even after the furniture is rearranged, the floors look like new ones.