Increasingly, when choosing a floor covering, the ownershouses and apartments decide to install the cork floor, the pros and cons of which, perhaps, are not always taken into account by developers. Recently, the import of this material into the domestic construction market has increased, and its range has been expanded, represented by a variety of colors and textures. Of course, the natural finish in the house is in any case more preferable than the synthetic one, but still it makes sense to consider the pros and cons of the cork floor in more detail. 
Scheme of cork flooring.
What does the cork floor consist of?
The raw material for cork coating isevergreen tree beech family, in vernacular - cork oak, which is cultivated in various areas of the Mediterranean. For the production of building products, bark that has been removed manually from trees that have reached the age of 30 is allowed. Within 6-8 years, the plant renews the cover, after which it is again ready to transfer a valuable peripheral layer, the structural structure of which includes suberin. It gives the finished product water and gas-tight properties, as well as reduces the thermal conductivity. For the production of a cork floor plate, the bark is ground and processed by modern technology by heating and pressing. As a result, a strong thermo-insulating base with damping and sound-absorbing properties is obtained. The cork floor covering consists of 4 layers, two of which are made from pressed crumb of cork oak bark and have a thickness of 1 mm. Between them is a layer of resin-mixed wood dust, it can be of a very different thickness. The fourth layer is the front one. 
Scheme laying cork floor. For him can be used decorative sheets of valuable wood, a simple veneer, a cork tree. Protects all this construction with an additional layer of varnish or vinyl cover. The traditional manufacturer of cork is Portugal, and in the domestic construction market its products are represented by such firms as Allied Cork Wicanders and Corkstyle. All of their products are considered high-quality, and do not worry about the advantages of this or that brand. Priorities can be the price and appearance of the product. Back to contents</a>
Types of floor coverings from cork
Three types of cork products are used for the production of a floor covering:
- veneer;
- agglomerate;
- combination of veneer with agglomerate.
The most expensive product is veneer, raw material forwhich is directly the peripheral layer of the plant. When creating an interior, floor slabs must be carefully selected according to the pattern and color palette, as all the plates have a variety of structural lines and original shades. The agglomerate is made from a mass of small cork particles that are heated in special furnaces and pressed. Such compressed plates can be purchased relatively inexpensively. Combined tiles consist of two layers: a fine agglomerate and a large sheet veneer. 
Types of laying the cork floor. Depending on the type of material used in the manufacture, the floor covering can be technical, adhesive and floating. Technical flooring uses the main pad for the laminate and linoleum, it increases the thermal and sound insulation of the room. In the sale of cork technical flooring is supplied in the form of granules, rolls and plates. Adhesive cork plates are available in the form of small rectangles and squares, treated with waterproof impregnation. They are suitable for decorating floors with patterns and ornaments. Their plus is that they feel great in the bathroom and other rooms where there is a high humidity. "Floating" floor or cork parquet is made in the form of floorboards from a cork, on one side of which a fibreboard is applied. The floorboards are sheets with dimensions of 90 x 18.5 cm. They are very easy to fit with a locking method, according to the principle of laminate assembly. Having dealt with a variety of types of cork, it is still necessary to understand what attracts most of the buyers to this material and what qualities can become an obstacle to its acquisition and installation, that is, to find out all the pros and cons. Back to contents</a>
Pros of cork floor
Table of technical characteristics of the cork floor. The undeniable advantages of the plug include its environmental friendliness, as well as its elasticity, elasticity and lightness. This is explained by the fact that in the oak cortex there are many closed pores, saturated with nitrogen and oxygen. Cork floor perfectly preserves heat, as it has good thermal conductivity. Anyone who has walked barefoot on the linoleum and treads bare feet on the cork cover, immediately notices the difference between the sensations of coolness in the first case and the feeling of warmth in the second. It is thanks to this cork coating is suitable for styling in bedrooms and children's rooms. Despite the fact that the cork is a wonderful conductor of heat, it does not have the ability to spontaneous combustion, and it does not emit harmful toxins even when burning. Positive qualities include the ability of cork materials to absorb noise inside the room. For flats in panel houses, where this problem is more urgent than ever, cork floors will be an excellent solution. One thing is worth considering: cork will not save you from the noise that has arisen outside the home. Repositioning furniture in the apartment with cork floors can be done without fear for the integrity and beauty of the floor covering. 
Cork floor coverings: agglomerate, cork veneer, mixture of veneer with agglomerate. Such a flooring withstands quite large loads without any consequences for themselves in the form of the carved traces from the legs of cabinets and armchairs. In addition, it must be added that cork floors have strong cushioning properties, and this, according to specialists in orthopedics, has a great effect on the human musculoskeletal system, since the load on the joints and spine is greatly reduced. In addition to the healing effect, the cork floors are almost not subject to abrasion, they are highly resistant to detergents, and they are not afraid of attack by wood-spitters and all kinds of pests. Back to contents</a>
Cork floor
Given all the positive qualities of sexualcoating of cork, you can come to the conclusion that such floors are the ideal option that many owners of houses and apartments try to find. But with all these wonderful qualities cork floors have their own shortcomings, among them it can be noted:
Sometimes defects formed during the servicecork floors, due to the choice of material from an unconscionable manufacturer or the violation of technology during installation. Therefore, despite some disadvantages, the cork cover is an excellent option for finishing the apartment, especially in the bedroom, the children's room and the living room.
