Cork floor: advantages and disadvantages of the material. Cork flooring: types, sizes, recommendations for selection and care

When choosing a floor covering, it is important to consider not only its beauty, but also wear resistance, durability, and ease of maintenance. It is good if the floor is warm and pleasant to the touch. It is also important to consider its heat and sound insulation capabilities. Cork floor meets many of the requirements that apply to floor coverings. Cork has a lot of advantages, but it is also not without disadvantages. At proper care and the choice of cork flooring, taking into account the characteristics of the room, the floor will last for decades. We will list the pros and cons of cork flooring, its varieties and features of care.

Scope of cork coating

The production process for cork is as follows:

• first, the bark is removed from the cork tree;
• then it is crushed to a state of crumbs;
• raw materials are mixed with synthetic thermosetting resins;
• the mass is pressed into sheets 0.6 cm thick;
• tiles are cut out of them (it can be square or in the form of rectangular panels like parquet).

Also on sale there is a roll cork material, which is used when laying some floor coverings, and cork laminate. Cork for the floor used as a standalone floor product(we are talking about the castle and adhesive varieties of tiles), so as the basis for laying parquet boards, laminate, massive board.

Important! Cork substrates and cork tile products are successfully used in the decoration of walls and ceilings of a room, since they have excellent soundproofing abilities.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cork flooring has the following benefits:

1. The surface is resilient and elastic, so it is pleasant to walk on it.
2. The floor is warm, conducts heat poorly and perfectly absorbs sounds.
3. surface of natural material pleasant to the touch, so it is pleasant to walk barefoot on it. Cork is ideal for children's rooms.
4. Another plus of cork is that the surface is easy to care for (varnishing makes maintenance much easier). It does not electrify, does not collect dust and pollution.
5. The coating looks original in the interior, decorated in eco-style or retro style.
6. If you are looking for flooring that is comfortable for your feet, cork is the perfect choice.

Cork for the floor has certain disadvantages:

1. Of the minuses, it is worth mentioning the high cost. If you decide to choose a cork floor, the price per square starts from $11-13. For the master to lay the cork floor on the glue, the price per m2 is $ 4.8.
2. In a room with increased traffic and loads on the surface, you should not lay a cork floor, its disadvantages are associated with low resistance to mechanical damage. The lacquer coating helps to slightly compensate for this shortcoming.

Types of cork by connection method

Depending on the method of connecting the individual elements of the floor covering, two methods are distinguished from the cork: adhesive and locking. Consider the characteristics of each of them.

Castle

Elements with a lock in their structure and type of connection are very similar to laminate. Therefore, they are often called cork laminate. After laying, the coating is not bonded to the substrate, as it does not adhere to it. Also, the surface does not need to be applied with a finishing layer, since it has already been applied at the factory. Usually this is a layer of PVC or varnish.

Adhesive

Adhesive tiles do not have locks and are laid joint to joint. There are products that require pre-adhesive application to the base and tiles, and elements that have an adhesive layer applied at the factory. In the latter case, before laying, you just need to remove the protective paper from the adhesive layer and attach the tile to the base.

This covering consists of a cork veneer glued with an interlayer of pressed cork. After laying, the material is firmly bonded to the base and needs to be coated with a protective coating (usually varnish, oil or wax).

Standard sizes and characteristics of coatings

Characteristics of cork coating:

1. Due to the high content of suberin in the composition of the material, it well smoothes minor irregularities of the base.
2. Cork thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.04 W / mxK (this is even lower than that of polystyrene foam). Due to the saturation of gases and a large number the material has high thermal insulation properties.
3. Plate 2 mm thick dampens noise with intensity within 16-20 dB. This is achieved due to the large number of pores.
4. The material does not accumulate static electricity, therefore the floor surface is antistatic.
5. Rough, pleasant to the touch cork It is completely non-slip, which is very convenient for a home with small children.
6. Cork is not susceptible to damage by bacteria and fungi. It does not collect mites and dust, so it is suitable for allergy sufferers.

The size of the cork cover varies depending on its type. So, on sale you can find square elements with a side of up to 30 cm and rectangular panels. maximum length 1.2 m and a minimum width of 180 mm. The thickness of the elements usually ranges from 3.6-5 mm.

How to choose the right coverage for the type of room?

To choose a quality cork, use our recommendations:

1. The highest quality cork is made in Portugal, so pay attention to the manufacturer. Polish, Chinese and Spanish products are also in great demand.
2. A quality product comes with good packaging.
3. Be sure to check the geometry of the plates. To do this, fold two products from different packs. If they fit snugly without gaps, then the product is of high quality.
4. With back side panel must be uniform. The presence of various inclusions indicates the addition of waste during the production process.
5. Be sure to consider the purpose of the room, the style of the interior and the degree of load on the floor.

Cork floor care

Proper cork care is quite simple:

• the surface can be vacuumed and washed;
• in case of heavy pollution, it is allowed to use detergents, but only without abrasive inclusions;
• do not use hard steel brushes and other abrasive devices for cleaning;
• a vinyl-coated surface needs periodic mastic application (usually this is done every two years);
• it is better not to walk on such a floor in rubber shoes so that no traces remain;
• do not lay rubber mats on the cork;
• To protect against scratches, furniture legs are covered with special pads.

If the cork floor is laid in compliance with the technology and adhere to all recommendations for surface care, then the coating will last for more than one year with the preservation of all technical characteristics.

Cork floors - appeared on the domestic market relatively recently, but are actively crowding out traditional tiles, laminate and linoleum. Knowledgeable consumers choose this material for their houses and apartments, doubters try to find out and weigh all its advantages and disadvantages.

Cork features and variety of offers

The lightness of this flooring is due to its cellular structure. Sealed micro-capsules are filled with a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, which makes up to 90% of the total mass. Also in the cork is a fairly high content organic compounds: ligina and suberina. The first provides water repellency, the second - resistance to static loads.

At different types cork flooring pros and cons are slightly different, and this should be taken into account when choosing. They are most pronounced in natural veneer (boards), which is made from the bark of a cork tree. Moreover, it is important to note that the quality of Asian and European material is different. The veneer is available in the form of tiles or large sheets(up to 6 m 2) 4-6 mm thick. To facilitate laying on a concrete floor, the wrong side is protected with a vinyl film. It is environmentally friendly, the safest, but also the most expensive.

The middle price category includes:

• Cork laminate is a layered material, on the front side of which there is a veneer coated with a special varnish. It has a locking system, it is offered in standard sizes for such products;
• MDF panels with cork - crumb (agglomerate) is layered on the base by hot pressing, and on top - veneer up to 4 mm thick. Has a protective varnish or vinyl flooring;
• Tiles - made from cork chips or veneer scraps, offered in size ranges of 60x90, 60x60, 30x30 cm, etc.

Benefits of cork flooring

The average service life, depending on the operating conditions, is 7-10 years. Adhesive options are more wear resistant and durable. Cork is also resistant to insects and rodents.

Cork floors are environmentally friendly and safe for health, during service they do not emit harmful substances. In addition, they have antistatic properties - they do not attract or accumulate dust. Therefore, they can be used in the homes of allergy sufferers. Orthopedists note a positive effect (load reduction) for the musculoskeletal system. This is due to the softness and springiness of the material.

An important indicator is its thermal conductivity. It is in the range of 0.03-0.04, and for air - 0.025 W / (mK). Therefore, heat is not absorbed, so walking barefoot on traffic jam is very comfortable. Feet are warm and pleasant. This floor has good soundproofing characteristics. Depending on the features and thickness of the cork, the noise reduction coefficient is 0.85. Neighbors below will definitely not hear moving furniture or loud sounds of music. However, it does not protect against noise from outside.

The cork has a high coefficient of friction (0.4), therefore it has a non-slippery surface. However, this value may vary due to polymeric, waxy coatings. It is this that determines the smoothness of the floor, and this moment is important to consider when choosing. The residual deformation of the cork is 0.2 mm. Therefore, after removing the static load (for example, furniture), the floor is leveled.

Cork floor also:

• UV resistant;
• does not ignite;
• does not rot;
• impact resistant chemical substances except alkalis.

Disadvantages of cork flooring

One of the main disadvantages of a natural cork floor, users call the relatively high cost. Its price is higher than traditional laminate. Although the cork is more cost-effective than a massive board.

Cork is an environmentally friendly material, but any synthetic coatings reduce this figure. However, without them, the base will wear out faster, which will negatively affect the term of operation. In addition to the defenseless layer, it actively absorbs odors, moisture and fats, becomes sensitive to the effects of heels and claws of pets. Therefore, once every 1-2 years, the coating must be renewed.

The rationality of installing a warm floor system under cork remains controversial. Experts note that its effectiveness will not exceed 20%. Prolonged heating can also cause adhesives to dry out and delamination of cork laminate or boards. To the disadvantages of products with lock systems include the likelihood of getting wet. But this is only possible with improper installation.

Cork floor - perfect solution for many rooms, however, when choosing it, it is important to weigh the pros and cons. It should be noted that the latter are much less.

Oak bark floor slabs are positioned as a practical, original and functional flooring. Their production is carried out by both well-known factories and local organizations. Let's see if the cork floor is as good as they say about it.

Cork coating: characteristics and types

The bark of the cork oak, which grows in Portugal, Spain and other Mediterranean countries, is used to produce many household items and some production processes products: wine bottle corks, bags, shoes and much more. But the most interesting product is the flooring.

For the production of cork flooring is used:

• solid veneer - a thin slice of bark, the most expensive option;
• granulated (finely ground) bark mixed with polymeric binders and special additives - agglomerate. This is the most accessible and widely used in the production of finishing and decorative material.

The structure of the cork tree - photo.

The peculiarity of cork is in its structure. The structure is well represented in the photo below. It can be seen that the product consists of honeycombs filled with air. This is what provides the material with its famous elasticity under mechanical stress.

Cork flooring is available in several types:

Rectangular or square tiles

It is made from agglomerated chips up to 8 mm thick. Some designs may add a V- or U-chamfer. The shades of the finished floor are very diverse - from natural to extravagant. The latter is achieved through the introduction of pigments into the composition or the use of surface photo printing technology: a high-resolution photograph is applied to the finished coating, depicting a board or artistic parquet, marble or grass, leather, etc.

The product is mounted adhesive method. Wherein back side can be clean or with a layer of glue already applied to it, covered protective film. The result is a durable, reliable and beautiful cork floor. There are, of course, downsides to this setup. Firstly, after work on the surface, it is necessary to apply a layer of varnish, wax or oil. Secondly, the replacement damaged area complex and laborious.

Photo of cork laminate.

This is an HDF board veneered with pressed cork or solid cork. Paper impregnated with polymer resins is glued from below or a cork substrate is integrated. Such a coating is very convenient in laying, as it is mounted in a glueless, "floating" way.

Cork flooring for wet areas

Cork laminate on a composite hydrobase.

The same laminate, only instead standard plate HDF uses a composite sheet made from a mixture of PVC, quartz filler and some other components. The product is called hydrobase. Its texture is visible in the photo below. It is not cheap, but practical and durable. A kind of LVT-cork floor is formed. Its advantages are undeniable - absolute water resistance, provided that a protective polyurethane or acrylic varnish is applied to the surface after laying.

Care finished coating from cork is simple. Manufacturers recommend protecting the canvas from abrasion loads by:

• flooring of anti-splash rugs;
• sticking tread pads made of felt or plastic on furniture legs;
• laying silicone protective mats under the rollers.

Advice! Any rubber products are left on the cork stubborn stains, therefore, do not purchase carpets or carpets based on polymeric gum elastic.

Cleaning can be done with a vacuum cleaner or a well-wrung soft tissue. Abrasive detergents, brushes with hard bristles, and solvents are contraindicated for cork. And to remove stains or heavy dirt, it is better to use special cleaners from the Loba, Forbo, etc. series.

Pros and cons of cork flooring

The unusual structure of the flooring and the lack complete information spawned a lot of speculation and rumors about the traffic jam. First, let's list the advantages of the material. Among them:

Now we list the disadvantages of cork as a floor material:

Regardless of which cork floor is chosen, its pros and cons can be turned to your advantage in any case. If the product is of high quality, from a trusted manufacturer, then it has:

• certificate of compliance with Russian quality standards or production rules;
• sanitary and epidemiological conclusion. That is, the products have been tested for compliance with the standards for the release of toxic substances (formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and others), have low PDN values ​​and are allowed for use in residential premises;
• fire safety certificate.

choose quality coatings and strictly follow the installation instructions. Then the cork floor will be the best purchase for you.

Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for their selection. Just send in the form below detailed description work that needs to be done and offers with prices from construction teams and firms will come to your mail. You can see reviews of each of them and photos with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.

A complete renovation in the apartment is impossible without laying the flooring. Along with parquet, laminate and linoleum, cork oak bark slabs are increasingly being used today. The popularity of this species finishing material explained large quantity benefits. In addition, cork is considered environmentally friendly, and its appearance makes the room cozy and warm.

What is cork flooring

Fashion on finishing premises cork tree came to us from Europe. The material used as raw material is oak bark, which grows in the Mediterranean countries. In Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Algeria there are whole plantations of these plants, which are grown for building materials. The appearance of cork flooring may vary in color, contrast, texture. Each fragment has an individual pattern, and when magnified, it can be seen that the cork is porous. This type of finish is also used for walls and ceilings.

Production technology

Manufactured floor plug in the form of plates rectangular shape, 4-10 mm thick. The bark is removed only from old trees, over 30 years old, and over the next 6-9 years it grows again. The resulting raw material is crushed and subjected to heat treatment in special furnaces, then pressed. After the press, a porous granular material of a unique color is obtained - suberin. The next step is to build up a second layer of this material to increase strength.

Suberin is covered with a decorative shell - cork, vinyl or natural veneer. The most expensive building materials are made using pressed veneer - it is obtained from the most beautiful views traffic jams. Agglomerate veneer will cost less - it is made from heavily crushed bark with the addition of auxiliary materials to increase wear resistance. There is also an alternative veneer - an agglomerate with the inclusion of large cork fragments.

Specifications

Cork flooring has features that are worth remembering. The main characteristics of this building material are due to the porous structure and the presence of air in cells with dense walls:

• Elasticity. If you drop an object of increased fragility (glass, porcelain), it will not break.
• Moisture resistance. This parameter is determined by the quality of the impregnation (protective layer) - varnish or vinyl film. good sex not afraid of water and other moisture. Otherwise, the cork may be deformed, especially if moisture gets into the lock joint.
• Soundproofing. Pressed bark is the leader in noise-absorbing properties; it is not for nothing that this material is used as a layer under the wallpaper to protect against noise. The sound of footsteps on such a floor is almost inaudible, unlike parquet and laminate. The average noise reduction is 10 dB.
• Thermal insulation. Another characteristic of cork boards is their warm surface. Cork thermal conductivity coefficient 0.042 W/m*K. This is lower than that of insulation materials such as polystyrene foam.
• The weight. Cork oak bark is very light - a cubic decimeter of raw material weighs only 210 g.
• Thickness. On average, the thickness of the protective layer of the cork finish is 0.5 mm, and the thickness of the finished board is 3-6 cm.

colors

You can buy cork flooring to match the furniture, walls or a contrasting shade. Until recently, the lion's share of the market was occupied by natural eco-colors. Today, the color of this material can be any, and the pattern can imitate pebbles, marble, parquet and much more. decoration finished slabs carried out industrial way:

• after the manufacture of building materials, its surface is polished;
• a layer of white pigment is applied;
• photo printing using a printer;
• a lacquer layer is applied to increase wear resistance.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cork floor tiles are in demand due to their advantages. Among them are the following:

• Softness and high shock-absorbing qualities. It is pleasant to walk on cork without shoes, it has orthopedic properties.
• The thermal insulation properties of cork flooring are higher than those of parquet and linoleum.
• It is difficult to slip on such a floor - a slight roughness of the coating prevents slipping.
• Cork does not accumulate static electricity - dust will not collect in the corners. It is easy to care for such a coating - the floor can be wiped with a damp cloth, washed, vacuumed.
• The protective layer prevents moisture and dyes from being absorbed. In case of accidental contact with drops of wine, beetroot, berry juice - they can be easily washed.
• Construction material treated with an antifungal agent high humidity and dampness in the room, mold will not start in the corners.

• Possesses fire-fighting properties. In the event of a fire in a room, the cork can only char.
• Wear resistance. The service life of the coating, made according to the rules, reaches 20 years.
• The ability to recover. Dropping a heavy object can leave a dent. Over time, the recess will partially or completely disappear - the cells have a “memory” effect and the walls are restored when crushed.

However, the coating is not perfect, it has its own negative sides. For example, soft finishes cannot be used in commercial premises. Other disadvantages of cork:

• Castle coatings do not like moisture, which can penetrate into the joints. To protect against water ingress, the joints are covered with sealant. Moisture-resistant materials can be used in the bathroom and bathroom, but when wet, they become slippery.
• There is a possibility of damage by sharp or cutting objects.
• quality cork finish cost more expensive than laminate or linoleum.

Types of cork flooring

Building material for the floor using cork oak bark is produced in the form of slabs or elastic fabric, which is rolled up. There are two types of coating, which are made in the form of rigid plates - adhesive and castle. Both types are performed on a rigid base (MDF or HDF), on which suberin is fixed and decorative coating. Produced in rolls technical plug- it can be used as a substrate for parquet or laminate, or as soundproofing for walls and ceilings.

Adhesive tiles after laying needs additional processing- otherwise, the seams may diverge when moisture enters or changes in temperature. The surface is opened with several layers of varnish, or treated with colorless oil with hard wax. This impregnation gives additional properties– smooth, velvety surface and moisture resistance. The lock covering is completely ready for operation after assembly.

Adhesive plug on the floor

For rooms where a regular load is expected (kitchen, hallway, corridor, office), it is better to choose an adhesive cork floor. It is suitable for the living room, bedroom. Paving slabs can be purchased different sizes- 300 x 600 mm, 610 x 915 mm. Such a coating is elastic and thin, its structure is two-layer - cork agglomerate and decorative cladding(veneer). To the virtues adhesive tiles include:

• Opportunities for design solutions– plates are cut by combining fragments different color and invoices.
• Additional protective covering will allow the floor to be used in rooms with high humidity or high mechanical stress. For a nursery or bedroom, the cork can be left unvarnished to provide additional thermal insulation properties.
• Adhesive coating exploit long years- the plates have high wear resistance.

The disadvantage of such plates is the complexity of installation. Adhesive blanks are fixed perfectly flat surface free of moisture and dust. Do it yourself without experience similar material difficult - it is better to invite a specialist. The second disadvantage of the plates is the cost - in addition to the base material, you will have to purchase glue, varnish, substrate and prepare a screed.

with lock connection

"Floating" or castle - a popular option for cork flooring. Each board, 900 x 185 mm in size, is a fragment completely ready for installation. For its manufacture, pressed cork chips are used, reinforced from below MDF board, with decorative veneer or a layer of paint with front side. The fragments are assembled into a single sheet with the help of tongue-and-groove locks on the sides. Glueless coating is suitable for a bedroom, children's. Advantages of cork "laminate":

• Not attached to the screed, does not require the use of glue, possible self assembly.
• Price square meter lower than glue plug which requires additional costs.
• It does not need to apply varnish, wax, oil - all this is taken into account in the production process. This makes the job easier and reduces installation time.

A cork board on the floor with locking joints also has disadvantages. Do not lay "laminate" in rooms with high humidity - the seams may disperse. In high-traffic areas, a floating floor can quickly wear out and lose its appearance. Such a coating has a low service life, on average - 7-15 years. In this case, it is possible to replace the damaged fragment, but for this you will have to disassemble the entire row, starting from the wall.

Mounting

Proceed to laying the adhesive floor from the cork should be after appropriate preparation. To do this, you must perform finishing screed then thoroughly clean the floor from dust and dirt:

• The cement screed is treated with a primer - this increases the adhesion of the coating to the floor.
• Before starting work, markings are made from the center of the room.
• The glue is applied to the plates with a roller, on cement - with a spatula with a comb, then the fragment is pressed to the base, smoothing with a metal roller.
• After the glue has dried (1.5 days), the cork is opened with varnish. It is advisable to apply at least 2 layers.

Easier and faster to install cork laminate. Before laying it cement screed cover with waterproofing polymer film and a substrate (cork or PVC):

• The first row is mounted at a distance of 5 mm from the wall opposite the entrance. An electric jigsaw is used to cut boards.
• The next row is placed with an offset to get a rhythmic pattern. The plates are adjusted with a wedge and a hammer.
• The distance from the wall should be within 2-3 cm. Then this groove is closed with a plinth.
• Lock joints can be treated with wax to prevent swelling when moisture enters.