One of modern materials, which is widely used is natural cork. This material is used for finishing walls, floors and ceilings. If you decide to make a ceiling from cork, then you need to know some of the features of this material. By using natural cork you save forests and your health.
Cork is a natural, environmentally friendly material that is made from the bark of the cork oak tree. Portugal is the birthplace of cork forests; its territory contains 33% of the world's forests.
Cork oak bark is the dead part that is the best natural material. Due to its honeycomb structure and cell membrane, it has many positive properties, such as lightness, increased wear resistance, low thermal conductivity, it is able to maintain its original size when different temperatures and humidity.
Features and structure of cork material
Cork for the ceiling is a natural material. The main advantage of natural cork is, of course, its weight, as well as its elasticity and high elasticity. Another feature of cork is, of course, its sound insulation, it absorbs sound, as well as thermal insulation. So it turns out that finishing with cork is a good sound and heat insulation of the room.
This natural material is absolutely harmless to humans and pets.
Cork finishing is very practical option, because such a ceiling does not need special care, it is easy to keep clean with a vacuum cleaner and a sponge.
An interesting fact is that natural cork has not lost its basic qualities for more than a hundred years, so we are convinced that cork ceilings are indeed a very profitable and practical choice.
The structure of cork panels is determined by the method of its processing. Large pieces of bark are cut into sheets, and small pieces, incl. irregular shape crushed and the resulting granules are pressed into sheets of certain sizes.
Cork flooring usually comes in natural colors in shades of brown.
Advice: when purchasing cork panels, make a calculation adding 10% to repair damage and eliminate installation errors.
Conditions and installation of cork tiles
- Before installing cork slabs, be sure to prepare (prime and putty) all cracks and irregularities;
- All adhesives are very flammable, and when using them, you need to thoroughly ventilate the room and be sure to follow fire safety regulations;
- The room in which installation is being carried out should be ventilated for about 60 minutes when working with an absorbent base and about 90 minutes when working with a weakly absorbent base. At the same time, a draft can reduce the ventilation time;
- At low air temperatures, and also if high humidity, then the ventilation time should increase;
- It is better not to use glue if the room is below -15° C, or the humidity is above 75%;
- All materials, as well as the air in the room, must be at the same temperature;
- Approximate drying time is about a day;
- And the final hardening takes from one to two weeks.
Cork ceilings are easy to install; the main thing is to glue the panels onto an absolutely flat, dry and clean surface. All irregularities will be noticeable.
If the room has high humidity, it is better to use waxed cork or apply a layer of varnish.
Tip: If the ceiling absorbs moisture strongly, it must be primed with a diluted dispersion adhesive solution before installation if it is dusty.
So, to install a cork ceiling you will need:
- a regular knife for cutting excess slabs;
- glue, acrylic and contact adhesive are suitable, but before purchasing, ask a specialist which adhesive will be best for your tiles;
- ruler and square to make lines and markings;
Ceiling installation with cork tiles
- First you need to mark the ceiling. To determine the center of the ceiling, you need to pull 2 ropes diagonally and mark in the very center with a pencil.
- Before use, the glue must be stirred thoroughly. Glue consumption is approximately 200-250 g. per sq.m.
- We apply the first layer of glue under 4 tiles, they will go from the center.
- Using a fine-pored roller or spatula, apply the adhesive evenly to the ceiling and to the back of the cork tiles so that there are no gaps. (See also article.)
- All wet excess glue can be removed with water.
- As soon as the glue on the ceiling and tiles dries a little, apply and press, avoiding air bubbles.
- We glue the tiles without any seams and they should form a continuous surface. We press the tiles to the ceiling with a rubberized roller.
- We move the roller diagonally, usually from the center to the edge of the tile.
- We lay the first tile to the left of the center, one of its corners should be in the center, and if there is a lamp there, then we cut off the corners of the tile. Once we align the tile along the outlined lines, press it tightly to the ceiling and fill all 4 sectors in a circle.
- We lay subsequent rows parallel to the first, trying to avoid any gaps between them. It all depends on the first row; if it lies flat, then all subsequent rows are aligned along it.
- Next, we glue the tiles in a square spiral.
One of the presented innovations of modern finishing materials is cork floor tiles. Many buyers doubt whether it is worth purchasing cork coverings for a house or apartment. Let's consider what types of cork tiles can be purchased in stores, as well as what advantages and disadvantages they have.
What are cork coverings made of and what types are there?
The name of the material suggests that the basis for creating the coating is cork. This is a safe and environmentally friendly material, namely cork oak bark. The tree has very thick bark, and the process of removing it does not threaten the life of the oak itself. For the first time, bark is removed from an oak tree that is approximately 20 years old. This bark is of low quality. Subsequently, the procedure is repeated every decade until the tree reaches two centuries of age.
Each time the quality of the bark becomes better, and by 150 years you can remove the highest quality and most valuable material. After grinding and pressing the bark, a base for cork tiles is obtained, which is covered on top various materials made of wood.
Cork floor tiles can be made from veneer, a mixture of veneer and agglomerate, or agglomerate. This determines its quality and cost:
- Whole slabs or sheets can be made from cork oak veneer; most often this material is used as a decorative finish for tiles;
- Agglomerate is the name given to crumbs compressed at high temperatures. This material is used either as a substrate or for the production of cheap coatings;
- Mixing veneer with agglomerate is used for decorative finishing.
Floor coverings can be floating or adhesive. The first type of tiles has a thicker middle layer, its thickness varies around 1 cm, it is made of dense wood material.
To finish the front side, cork, valuable wood species or a paint coating are used. The tiles are installed on the floor in the same way as laminate. Such slabs are called floating due to the installation methods. No additional fixation is required for their installation. Sudden temperature fluctuations can lead to destruction of panel joints. The service life of a floor with floating slabs is about 5-6 years.
Adhesive tiles are glued to the floor using glue. It is thinner than floating, about 0.5 cm. Outwardly similar to tiles or parquet. This cork covering serves long term and can be used in high traffic areas. Manufacturers claim a ten-year service life of adhesive boards. The photo below shows several types of cork floor tiles.
The main advantages and disadvantages of cork tiles
Like any other finishing material, cork flooring has a number of advantages and some disadvantages. The positive properties of cork tiles include:
- The safety of the material, which does not cause allergies and also does not contain harmful to health components;
- Fire safety. Cork material is not flammable;
- Cork does not have the ability to absorb foreign odors, which is especially important for the kitchen floor;
- The floor surface has high friction, such a coating will not slip. This is especially true if you have small children;
- Cork flooring is different thermal conductivity properties. The surface of the floor is pleasant and warm, it is comfortable to walk on barefoot, it is suitable for small children to crawl on;
- Cork has soundproofing properties and does not allow noise to pass through;
- One of the most significant advantages is its shock-absorbing properties. Walking on such a floor reduces the load on the spine;
- Cork material is antistatic, does not attract dust and is less dirty.
The disadvantages include:
- Heavy furniture or high-heeled shoes can leave damage to the floor surface;
- Rubber materials leave marks on cork tiles;
- The material is not durable when trying to tear;
- In the production of tiles from natural materials glue used synthetic origin and non-natural paint and varnish coatings.
For cork covering, you should not bother with a pry bar. warm systems, since the cork does not allow heat to pass through, which will not enter the room. Should be considered this feature material.
Manufacturers and prices
Prices are indicated at the time of the exchange rate USD 62 rubles. for 1$.
Products made from cork materials from Portuguese manufacturers are considered to be of the highest quality. Portugal is the birthplace of the cork tree. Germany, Spain and other countries also produce cork tiles.
Wicanders
The most famous manufacturer of cork coverings in Russia. This Portuguese company offers a wide selection of finishing materials that are suitable for both home interior, and for office or public premises with high traffic. Different collections differ in types varnish coatings and surface quality.
The price of cork flooring from Wicanders ranges from 2,300 to 4,000 rubles. behind square meter. There are sellers offering some models for 1500 rubles/sq.m.
Maestro Club
This brand unites manufacturers from several countries. The products of this brand are of decent quality and meet the requirements of quality and environmental safety. The advantage of the brand is the price. This is the same case when there is no need to overpay for the manufacturer's brand.
The cost of this manufacturer’s products is 1400-2000 rubles/sq.m.
MJO
The Portuguese company MJO offers products only with locking connections, that is, floating type. The brand belongs to the economy class category, which may affect the quality; over time, cracks may appear at the joints. The range is represented by five different collections. A average cost materials from 1500 to 2300 rubles/sq.m.
Oak bark floor slabs are positioned as a practical, original and functional covering. Both well-known factories and local organizations are involved in their production. Let's find out if cork flooring is as good as they say it is.
Cork coating: characteristics and types
The bark of the cork oak tree, which grows in Portugal, Spain and other Mediterranean countries, is used to produce many household goods and some production processes products: wine bottle caps, bags, shoes and much more. But most interesting product counts flooring.
For the production of cork flooring we use:
- solid veneer - a thin cut of bark, the most expensive option;
- granulated (finely ground) bark mixed with polymer binders and special additives - agglomerate. This is the most affordable and widely used in the production of finishing and decorative materials.
The structure of balsa wood - photo.
The peculiarity of cork is its structure. The structure is well represented in the photo below. It can be seen that the product consists of honeycomb cells filled with air. This is what gives the material its famous elasticity under mechanical loads.
Cork flooring is available in several types:
Rectangular or square tiles
It is made from agglomerated crumbs up to 8 mm thick. Some designs may add a V- or U-shaped bevel. Shades of the finished floor come in a wide variety - from natural to extravagant. The latter is achieved through the introduction of pigments or the use of surface photo printing technology: a photograph is applied to the finished coating high resolution, depicting a board or artistic parquet, marble or grass, leather, etc.
The product is mounted using the 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, disadvantages to this installation. Firstly, after work, you must apply a layer of varnish, wax or oil to the surface. Secondly, replacing the damaged area is difficult and time-consuming.
Photo of cork laminate.
This is an HDF board veneered with a sheet of pressed or solid cork. Paper impregnated with polymer resins is glued to the bottom or integrated cork backing. This coating is very convenient to install, as it is installed in a glue-free, “floating” way.
Cork flooring for wet areas
Cork laminate on a composite hydrobase.
The same laminate, but instead of a standard HDF board, a composite sheet made from a mixture of PVC, quartz filler and some other components is used. 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 installation.
Caring for the finished cork covering is easy. Manufacturers recommend protecting the fabric from abrasive loads by:
- flooring of dirt-proof rugs;
- gluing felt or plastic protectors to furniture legs;
- laying silicone protective mats under the rollers.
Advice! Any rubber products leave hard-to-remove stains on the cork, so do not purchase rugs or carpets based on polymer gum.
Cleaning can be done using a vacuum cleaner or a well-wrung soft fabric. Abrasive detergents, brushes with stiff bristles, and solvents are contraindicated for cork. And to remove stains or heavy pollution It is better to use special cleaners from the Loba, Forbo, etc. series.
Pros and cons of cork flooring
The unusual structure of the floor covering and the lack of complete information have given rise to many speculations and rumors about cork. First, let's list the advantages of the material. Among them:
Now we list the disadvantages of cork as a flooring material:
Regardless of which cork floor you choose, you can use its pros and cons in any case to your advantage. If the product is 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 MDI values and are allowed for use in residential premises;
- fire safety certificate.
Choose high-quality coatings and strictly follow the installation instructions. Then cork flooring will be the best purchase for you.
Advice! If you need repairmen, there are very convenient service by their selection. Just submit in the form below detailed description work that needs to be done and you will receive offers with prices from construction teams and companies by email. You can see reviews about each of them and photographs with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.
What are cork floors? A regular bottle stopper has many more possibilities. Quite often it is used in interior decoration. Cork makes excellent finishing materials with mass positive qualities. For example, cork flooring today is one of the most prestigious.
Cork, made from cork oak, is the lightest hard flooring available. It has very low thermal conductivity and high level sound absorption. More than half of all cork products in the world are produced in Portugal.
Interestingly, trees do not need to be cut down to obtain cork flooring. Usually this is done by simply removing a layer of tree bark. This is done carefully so that the tree can grow further and bark grows on it.
But before the first harvest, the cork oak must grow for about a quarter of a century. And the bark can be removed from such trees every decade. The lifespan of cork oak is about 160 years. Therefore, one tree can be used for stripping about fifteen times.
It is worth noting that cork production is very rational and economical. All the most suitable materials are recycled fine particles material. For example, when producing a cork board for the floor, even granulated cork, which is waste from the production of bottle caps, can be used.
Types of Cork Flooring: There are several types of cork flooring. This technical jam, adhesive cork flooring, as well as floating cork flooring. What are their differences?
Technical plug can be produced in various options. For example, in plates, rolls, granules. This type of material is not used as a finished floor. But it can be used to act as a substrate. For example, under laminate. This material has excellent properties and is used for additional insulation floor. Also, various voids and niches are filled with granules or cork crumbs.
The second type of cork is adhesive cork flooring, or adhesive cork flooring. Such materials are available in the form of tiles of various sizes. The standard sizes of square tiles are: 300×300, 450×450 mm, and also rectangular tiles: 450×150, 600×300, mm.
Tiled cork flooring materials may have an additional top protective covering. Similar cork tiles can be different colors, which allows you to create original designs and ornaments from them.
Adhesive floors can be used even in rooms with high humidity. They are quite resistant to water. For example, tiles can be used to make a cork floor in a bathroom or toilet.
Floating cork flooring is also called cork parquet. This small pieces corks glued to MDF. Standard size cork parquet - 900×185 mm.
Laying such parquet is quite simple; it is carried out according to the laminate principle, that is, it has locking system. It is better not to use cork parquet flooring in damp rooms, as the MDF may swell.
The top layer of floating cork floors can also be made of decorative veneer not only from cork, but also from expensive wood. On top of such materials are coated with several layers of varnish or a special protective vinyl film. Pressed cork is used as the middle layer.
Cork finishing materials:
There may be several options for manufacturing finishing materials from cork.
- The most expensive type of cork covering (for floors, walls, ceilings) is made from solid cork veneer. Entire collections of coverings are made from this material, for example, cork floor tiles. The selection is made based on the color of the individual components.
- The second type of cork materials is agglomerate made from cork chips. Under influence high temperature the crumbs are pressed into single layers of flooring. This is the most cheap material. All small waste from cork production can be used for this purpose.
- The third option for materials is a combination of large veneer and agglomerate. Quite a good compromise solution. Small and large parts cork material combine successfully to create excellent quality products.
Despite this variety and difference in price, all three options do not differ in their mechanical qualities and wear resistance. Their differences are appearance, as well as in the use of not entirely environmentally friendly plasticizers when working with crumbs. Therefore completely environmentally friendly material only veneer is made of cork.
Benefits of cork:
Cork boards have many undeniable advantages. Here are some of them:
- High level of thermal insulation of the floor covering.
- Excellent soundproofing qualities.
- made of cork, pleasant to the body, quite warm and slightly springy.
- They are not afraid of moisture.
- This material does not rot.
- Cork is chemically inert.
- Cork is not damaged by microorganisms, rodents, or insects.
Flaws:
- The cost of veneer is quite high. Agglomerate is much cheaper.
- When standing for a long time cork floor heavy furniture will leave dents.
- The protective coating on the cork may wear off over time. In this case, you will have to update such coverage.
Peculiarities
Cork flooring has a honeycomb structure, hence their ability to retain heat well, not allow sound to pass through and have springy qualities.
The pressure of heels on cork floors leaves no traces: the cork accepts its original appearance and does not slip. This coating has a beneficial effect on the human musculoskeletal system. Cork floors have antistatic and bactericidal qualities, which makes them possible wide application. In addition, it is a very beautiful and prestigious finishing material.
Options for the front layer of cork coverings
Today, manufacturers of cork flooring offer several options for finishing the front top layer:
- a thin layer of veneer is applied to a base of pressed cork to improve decorative qualities material;
- a similar layer of veneer, but additionally coated with several layers of varnish to increase wear resistance;
- the veneer layer can also be covered with a layer of transparent vinyl film, which has increased wear resistance;
- in some cases, a layer of expensive wood veneer is applied to a pressed cork base, and the top is also covered with a vinyl film.
Where are cork flooring used? The scope of application of these materials is quite extensive. They are used in any premises: in offices, public reception areas, in supermarkets, in train stations and airports, in cafes and restaurants, in studios, photo and video salons.
But the most common use of cork floors is residential premises. They can be used in rooms for any purpose. This perfect coverage for children's rooms, bedrooms, living rooms. The cork is also suitable for use in the kitchen or bathroom. But for these rooms only adhesive versions of cork are used; MDF-based parquet is not suitable.
Laying technology
How to install cork flooring? As usual, some preparatory work. Any cork coverings will be reliable and durable only if the base is well prepared. The surface must be smooth, clean and dry. It can be wooden, concrete, metal, etc. If the surface is uneven, you can use self-leveling mixtures. Often sheets of plywood or thin fiberboard are additionally laid on the base of the floor, securing them with nails or self-tapping screws along the entire perimeter. It is important that the joints of these sheets do not coincide with the joints of the cork coverings.
To glue cork tiles, it is best to use a special adhesive recommended by cork manufacturers. In some cases, you can use PVA glue, but certain types of it can lead to deformation of the tiles and their shrinkage. Therefore, this adhesive is more often used for unsealed tiles with vinyl protection at the base.
Typically, cork tiles are laid from the center of the room to its walls. You must first sort the tiles by color and texture (smooth or grainy). Laying grain tiles crosswise creates the impression of a single surface. You can alternate between smooth and grainy tiles.
First, lay out the entire floor pattern dry, without glue. In this case, you can slightly adjust the placement of the tiles so that there is equal space on each side. This way, the cut tiles along the edges will look like a beautiful frame.
Let's start gluing the tiles. The adhesive is applied to both the tile and the base. It should dry out slightly. Usually the time is indicated on the packaging.
Carefully glue several in one direction. Further from them, glue the remaining tiles closely without gaps. It is recommended to tap lightly on top of the tiles rubber mallet, especially along the edges of the tiles.
Remaining glue can be removed with a damp cloth. If the glue has dried, soak a rag in white spirit. Immediately after laying the tiles, you can walk on it. Furniture can be placed no earlier than after a few days.
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Lately
material made from cork raw materials is gaining great popularity. What are cork tiles. One of them is adhesive coatings in the form of tiles of various sizes. It is available in thicknesses of 2-6 mm:
- square shape with side dimensions 300, 450, 600 mm
- rectangular elongated type - 150x450; 300x600 mm
Cork floor tiles of smaller thickness have a harder structure, so it is recommended to lay them in rooms with high traffic.
The thicker material has excellent elasticity and increased thermal insulation. These tiles are ideal for flooring in residential buildings.
Special properties of cork floor tiles
The use of natural, environmentally friendly raw materials for the production of cork tiles offers the consumer a lot of undeniable advantages in contrast to other analogues:
- the original structure of the material provides excellent noise and thermal insulation
- restores well flat surface under minor mechanical stress, for example, after walking in high-heeled shoes or rearranging furniture
- upper layer with small corrugations renders massotherapy on the soles of your feet when walking barefoot
- has excellent resistance to high humidity
- cork floor tiles have increased stability to abrasion during long-term use
- Provides a wonderful feeling of warmth when walking barefoot, thanks to the slow absorption of human heat
- does not require high costs During use and cleaning, just wipe it wet rag or clean with a vacuum cleaner
- dust and dirt do not accumulate on its surface
- anti-condensation properties prevent the appearance of mold and fungal colonies
Application of cork floor tiles
Thanks to the excellent properties of natural raw materials and good resistance to moisture, cork floor tiles originally complement the interior of the bedroom, kitchen, living room and even bathroom. A wide range of colors and textures makes it possible to choose cork flooring to suit your needs. sophisticated style rooms.