The bark of the cork oak, which is quite rareused in everyday life several decades ago, is becoming increasingly popular among the population as a finishing material. Cork floors, walls and ceilings have become a fashionable trend in interior design, and the popularity of this finishing method is increasing every day.
Cork wallpaper is pasted end to end,excess material is cut off along a ruler using a construction knife. Cork covering attracts consumers not only with its unprecedented durability and ability to withstand the effects of temperature and humidity changes, aggressive chemicals and fire, but also with excellent sound insulation, the ability to maintain a comfortable microclimate in the room, and ease of daily maintenance. Cork wallpaper has another important positive quality that inclines the population to choose this finishing material for repairs. Their correct pasting does not require professional skills and excessive effort, can be done independently, without the need to pay for the work of hired specialists.
Preparation of the wall surface and necessary materials for gluing
Cork covering scheme.The area where the wallpaper will be pasted must be dry and absolutely clean, in addition, it must be examined for cracks and unevenness. If the old covering has been removed from the wall, the remains of the wallpaper or other material must be carefully cleaned. It is also necessary to level the bumps, and fill the cracks with putty or cement-sand mortar. Walls prepared in this way must be covered with a primer. This must be done in advance so that the primer layer has time to dry well before pasting the cork wallpaper. Such treatment will protect the wall from excess moisture and improve its adhesion to the adhesive mass. Before purchasing cork wallpaper, calculate the amount of material required. Cork covering is available in two types: tile and roll. There are two types of glue for installing cork, regular contact and acrylic-based.
Wallpapering tools:glue bucket, spatula, scissors, plumb line, stepladder and others. Acrylic glue is applied only to the wall, this makes the work easier and reduces the consumption of adhesive mass, but contact adhesive composition, which is used to treat both wall and wallpaper surfaces, provides much better adhesion quality. The purchased cork covering should spend some time in the conditions of the room in which it is planned to be installed. Adaptation to the temperature and humidity conditions of the room will help to avoid subsequent deformation of the cork and its spoiled appearance. While the material is acclimatizing in the room, you can start preparing the tools necessary for the upcoming work:
- a construction knife or scissors;
- a comb with a small tooth;
- small spatula;
- horizontal and vertical building level;
- pencil for marking;
- long metal ruler.
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Wall marking and corking
Before gluing, the cork can be coatedstain, this will give the material a noble shade and emphasize the texture. Before starting the gluing process, it is imperative to mark the wall, regardless of which option for arranging the wallpaper is chosen - vertical or horizontal. When using sheet material, it is better to arrange the parts in a checkerboard pattern, this will make the joints between them less noticeable. Masking tape glued to the surfaces adjacent to the place where the adhesive mass is applied will allow them to remain clean. When working with the adhesive composition, it is imperative to use a spatula. It will allow you to more accurately apply the mass to the desired places and avoid it getting on the cork. It should be noted that it will be almost impossible to wash off the glue from the wallpaper later. It is better to cut with scissors - with their use, the cut will be more accurate than when using a knife. Cork is a very brittle material, so accuracy and unhurriedness in work will help to avoid spoiled workpieces. The technology of gluing cork covering corresponds to the same principle as ordinary gluing of wallpaper on a wall. First, a small part of the wall is coated with a notched trowel (do not forget that the adhesive dries very quickly) and the back side of the cork sheet. Then the material is applied to the desired place and after pressing it is carefully smoothed out. During these actions, air bubbles come out from under the sheet, the glue gets into its pores, and a tight and strong adhesion of the surfaces is ensured. A rubber pressure roller or an ordinary fine-nap paint roller is well suited for smoothing. The adhesive composition protruding along the edges is quickly removed with a small spatula, wiping off the remains with a damp sponge, trying to touch the surface of the cork as little as possible. A special corner is mounted on the outer corners. Cork sheets are quite thin, but they should not be bent in the corners of the room, nor glued to each other, making an overlap. If desired, the finished walls can be covered with furniture varnish, which will give the material a shine. Such treatment is not necessary for cork wallpaper, which was waxed during production; it has sufficient protection from dust and moisture and does not require additional impregnation.
