Are you looking for interesting solutions for apartment renovation?How do you like the option of laying a floor with cork flooring? Don't know what it is, what are the benefits for you and how to do it? Everything is very simple. Let's consider what a cork floor is and how to lay it correctly.
Cork flooring installation diagram.The material for making cork is the bark of the cork oak. The bark is removed from trees aged 25-30 years, but it is not used in construction. Then, over the course of 6-9 years, the bark is restored and removed again (if the technology is followed, no damage is caused to the tree). And this material is then used to make various products. According to the technology, cork can be divided into types:
- Veneer is the most expensive type of cork covering;
- agglomerate - the cheapest option (made by pressing crumbs at high temperatures with the addition of various resins);
- combined - both pieces of veneer and chips are used for production.
Finished panels can be treated with various compounds that affect the properties of cork and give it greater strength and moisture resistance.
Pros and cons of the material
Advantages of cork floors:
Table of characteristics of cork flooring.
- excellent heat and sound insulation;
- cork - the material is elastic and resilient, does not creak, does not slip, it is pleasant to walk on;
- the plug is not rotting and fireproof;
- The material is hypoallergenic, does not attract dust and does not accumulate static electricity;
- cork floors are capable of withstanding high pressures, including spot.
Flaws:
- like any natural material, the cost of cork panels is higher than the usual laminate or parquet board;
- The base for the cork coating should be perfectly even;
- If there are cats or dogs in the house, traces of claws may remain on the cork cover;
- Over time, the protective layer is erased and the tracks remain in places of heavy traffic.
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Types and variants of the cork floor
Widely used for final finishingthe first 2 types, it all depends on your choice. It is necessary to take into account that if you plan to lay cork flooring in a bathroom or toilet, then you need to give preference to the adhesive type. This is due to the fact that it is treated with a special composition that prevents swelling of the floor.
Two methods of laying cork flooring.Floating cork flooring is best used in rooms with low humidity: in the bedroom, nursery or hallway. To lay a cork floor yourself, you will need:
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Cork flooring technology
Surface preparation before layingcork flooring surface should be leveled if necessary. It should be dry, clean and primed. The old flooring does not need to be removed, but the cork flooring can be laid on top. Laying cork flooring on glue:
Cork floor installation diagram.
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Laying a cork floor of a floating type
Before laying cork panels, it is necessary tobase lay the underlay. The underlay for these purposes is unusual. It is also made of cork. If the surface is fairly smooth, you can take a 2 mm underlay, with small irregularities - 4 mm. Assembling the lock panels is not much different from laying the laminate. The 1st row must be laid from the wall along the light falling from the window. So the joints will be less noticeable. The smaller lock should be facing the wall. It is necessary to remember that between the wall and the panel you need to leave a thermal gap of 5-10 mm. Spacer wedges of the appropriate width are perfect for this.
Construction of a floating cork covering.The panels are connected using locks. After each panel is snapped into place, they are lightly tapped with a rubber hammer to ensure a secure fit without gaps. After all the panels have been laid, the skirting board is attached, which will hide the gap between the wall and the panels. You can choose any skirting board, but a cork one will look great. So, it will take much less time to lay floating cork panels. They already have a protective layer on top, so no additional treatment is required. When laying, you do not need to wear a respirator, and after that, ventilate the room and wait for the glue to dry. But floating panels have their drawbacks. The main one is that the joints are afraid of moisture, dirt can accumulate in them. Therefore, they require more careful maintenance than adhesive cork boards. Advice: do not plan to lay a cork floor on a heated floor. You will not achieve the desired effect, and cork itself is a warm material. Let's sum it up: it's very easy to lay a cork floor with your own hands, you just need to follow the recommendations given. Glued flooring is more expensive to install, but it's easier to use. And with a floating cork floor, installation work is cheap, but it requires more attention and care during use.
