The manufacturer has flooded the markets with itsoffers. Today there is no shortage of goods, the problem is in the choice itself - it is very difficult for an uninformed buyer to stop at a certain category and choose the best option. This can also be applied to floor coverings.
Layout of the laminate.
Cork or laminate?
The most popular floor coverings todayare considered cork and laminate. To understand what to apply to your own floor, you need to analyze these 2 materials by all qualities. Cork flooring or laminate will serve for a long time and qualitatively, if you follow the instructions for using such materials. Return to contents</a>Positive qualities of cork flooring
Cork panel diagram. They are:
- environmentally friendly material;
- safe for children's rooms;
- pleasant tactile sensations and the ability of the sex to take the original form;
- simplicity of installation;
- the ability to cover with cork not only floors, but also other surfaces - walls, for example.
There is no doubt that this is an environmentally friendly material.no - cork is made of wood, more precisely, suberin. The bark layer is removed from trees that are specially grown for this purpose, dried, crushed and pressed. After that, the material is cut into slabs. The special pattern of the wood makes the floor slabs different from each other, which does not disturb the overall picture. The coincidence can only be background, then the picture is unified. Cork is a soft material. Along with environmental friendliness, a floor made of such material is better than others for a child's room, especially when the child is small - his falls will not cause tears. Those who covered the floors in their bedroom are also satisfied - the surface does not require carpets and remains warm for a long period of use. As already mentioned, cork floors are warm. Moreover, it is very pleasant to walk on them. Cork sawdust is elastic, does not deform when large objects are placed on them for a short time. The ease of installation of the floor is that the cork slabs have the same locking fastener as laminate. It is more convenient to cut and adjust to the desired angle - unlike laminate, you can use scissors. The varnish applied as the last layer is very durable, but despite this, you can cut the cork slab without applying titanic efforts. Design solutions for the use of cork are enormous: this material can be used to cover not only floors, but also walls. Then the function of the cork will be not only aesthetic, but also heat-insulating. The richness of the choice of colors and the method of installation (gluing) allow cork to declare itself as a decorative material.
Cork floor installation diagram. Disadvantages of cork flooring:
- susceptibility to mechanical damage;
- increased absorbency of moisture;
- price.
Indeed, cork slabs can break.in case of improper installation or mechanical impact. It is almost impossible to repair a fracture - it begins to crumble and the places where there are cracks darken. You will have to replace the entire sheet. It is impossible to install cork in the bathroom on the floor due to its ability to absorb moisture. Unless we are talking about fumes. As a rule, moisture accumulates on the floor anyway, so its installation is impossible, but the walls behind the heated towel rail or coil can be decorated with cork. But this is not done often, resorting to uniform walls. The price of this covering is high. Firstly, this is due to the naturalness of the material and its plant production - cork groves require special care. Secondly, it depends on the class - economy, premium. Economy - this is usually waste from the main production. Then come the technical characteristics - thickness, length, width and quality of the lock - all this affects the price. Consultants can tell you more about the features of the coating. Return to the table of contents</a>Laminate and its characteristics Beautiful, durable,durable. The list is endless. Neat glossy surfaces are pleasing to the eye. The richness of the appearance is simply amazing - here are different types of wood, and fantasy patterns, and other beautiful drawings. But you need to properly evaluate the qualities - positive and negative, to make the right choice.
Laminate characteristics table. Pros:
- convenient form for installation;
- Waterproof, but this quality depends on the class;
- heat-resistant;
- resistant to mechanical damage;
- antistatic;
- not prone to fading and staining.
Installing the floor is really not too labor-intensive,since the laminate slabs are perfectly flat. You only need to take care of the 1st strip - level it, otherwise the rest will go crooked. Now laminate is produced in square and wider rectangular shapes. When buying, you need to pay attention to the serviceability of the locking joints: if there is deformation, you need to ask to replace the plate, otherwise there will be difficulties. Laminate is not susceptible to moisture, but you should not flood the floors with water: just walk on it with a damp cloth - it will shine like new. It is better to use special products for laminate for cleaning. Laminate is heat-resistant, but also within the norm: a dropped match will not harm it, as well as an iron placed on the floor. But if a fire occurs, then, of course, it will certainly burn. Heat resistance is clearly demonstrated if there is a "warm floor" system under the laminate.
Sequence of laying laminate.Laminate is resistant to mechanical impact. Of course, you shouldn't throw cabinets or rods on it, but it is quite possible to walk on the floor in heels. Unlike cork, they will not leave holes. Laminate has an excellent antistatic property: it does not attract dust, which means it will not conduct electricity. Stains on the laminate are easy to remove, the floor will not absorb them. You also do not have to worry about sunlight, it will not fade. Disadvantages of laminate:
- possibility of forgery;
- price.
Laminate is counterfeited more often than other materialsprecisely because of its rather high price. The price is high. It is formed from the quality, class, shape and other components. Also, pricing depends on the labor intensity of production: if a cork floor is easy enough to press, then the production of laminate takes time - it consists of several layers, which are independent coatings. Based on such instructions, you can make your own choice - cork floor or laminate.</ ul>
