When choosing a floor covering, it is important to consider not only its beauty, but also wear resistance, durability, and ease of maintenance. It’s good if the floor is warm and pleasant to the touch. It is also important to consider its heat and sound insulation capabilities. Cork flooring meets many of the requirements for flooring. Cork has many advantages, but it is also not without its disadvantages. At proper care and choosing a cork covering 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 types and care features.
Application area of cork covering
The cork production process is as follows:
- First, the bark is removed from the cork tree;
- then it is crushed to a crumb state;
- raw materials are mixed with synthetic thermoactive resins;
- the mass is pressed into sheets 0.6 cm thick;
- tiles are cut from them (it can be square or in the form of rectangular panels like parquet).
Also on sale are rolled cork material, which is used when laying some floor coverings, and cork laminate. Cork flooring is used both as an independent floor product (we are talking about the interlocking and adhesive varieties of tiles) and as a basis for laying parquet boards, laminate, solid boards.
Important! Cork substrates and tile products made from cork are successfully used when finishing walls and ceilings of a room, as they have excellent soundproofing abilities.
Pros and cons
Cork flooring has the following advantages:
- The surface is resilient and elastic, making it pleasant to walk on.
- The floor is warm, does not conduct heat well and absorbs sounds well.
- Surface made of natural material pleasant to the touch, so it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot. Cork is ideal for children's rooms.
- Another advantage of cork is that the surface is easy to care for (varnishing makes care much easier). It is not electrified and does not collect dust or dirt.
- The coating looks original in an interior decorated in eco-style or retro style.
- If you are looking for a floor covering that is comfortable for your feet, cork is ideal.
Floor cork has certain disadvantages:
- One of the disadvantages is the high cost. If you decide to choose cork flooring, the price per square starts from $11-13. For a craftsman to lay a cork floor with glue, the price per m2 is $4.8.
- In rooms with high traffic and loads on the surface, you should not lay a cork floor; its disadvantages are associated with low resistance to mechanical damage. The varnish coating helps to slightly compensate for this shortcoming.
Types of plugs by connection method
Depending on the connection method individual elements There are two ways to create cork flooring: glue and lock. Let's look at the characteristics of each of them.
Castle
Elements with a lock are very reminiscent of laminate in their structure and type of connection. Therefore they are often called cork laminate. After installation, the coating is not connected to the base, since it is not glued to it. Also, the surface does not need to apply a finishing layer, since it is already 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 preliminary application of glue 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 cork veneer glued to a layer of pressed cork. The material, after installation, is firmly bound to the base and needs to be applied protective coating(usually varnish, oil or wax).
Standard sizes and characteristics of coatings
Characteristics of cork coating:
- Due to the high content of suberin in the composition of the material, it smoothes out minor unevenness of the base well.
- Cork thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.04 W/mK (this is even lower than that of expanded polystyrene). Due to gas saturation and a large number The material has high thermal insulation abilities.
- Plate 2 mm thick dampens noise with intensity within 16-20 dB. This is achieved due to the large number of pores.
- The material does not accumulate static electricity, therefore the floor surface is antistatic.
- Rough, pleasant-to-touch cork does not slip at all, which is very convenient for a home with small children.
- 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 differs 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 coating for the type of room?
To choose a quality cork, use our recommendations:
- The highest quality cork coverings are made in Portugal, so pay attention to the manufacturer. Also in great demand Polish, Chinese and Spanish products are used.
- A quality product with good packaging.
- Be sure to check the geometry of the slabs. To do this, fold two products from different packs. If they fit tightly without gaps, then the product is of high quality.
- The back side of the panel should be uniform. The presence of various inclusions indicates the addition of waste during the production process.
- Be sure to consider the purpose of the room, the style of the interior and the degree of load on the floor.
Caring for cork floors
Proper cork care is quite simple:
- the surface can be vacuumed and washed;
- may be used in case of heavy contamination detergents, but only without abrasive inclusions;
- do not use hard steel brushes or other abrasive devices for cleaning;
- surface with vinyl covering needs periodic application of mastic (usually this is done once every two years);
- It is better not to walk on such a floor in rubber shoes, so as not to leave marks;
- Do not place 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 adheres to all recommendations for surface care, then the coating will last for many years while maintaining all technical characteristics.
A material previously used only for certain purposes - cork - has received a household purpose. They began to use it in the decoration of apartments and houses, in particular, to make finishing coatings from it for any surfaces - floors, walls, ceilings.
Let's look at what cork flooring is - a new product that provides not only style in the interior, but also has valuable qualities.
Where does the cork come from?
If you look carefully wine cork, it is clearly visible that it consists of crumbs carefully pressed together. 
Cork is nothing more than the bark of wood, but not any kind, only oak. At a certain period of time, it is removed, and the tree gives next material, suitable for the production of products. As a rule, the oak species from which cork is obtained grows in Asia - where cork production is on stream.
Cork manufacturing technology
1. Cork veneer. 
Various thicknesses, it is used for manufacturing floor tiles or wall covering– wallpaper.
2. Combined products with agglomerate - a fine fraction of cork chips. To make production waste-free, premium raw materials are supplemented with leftover parts from the production of luxury products. 
3. Fully agglomerated products. They are cheaper than high-quality raw materials, but do not lose their properties.
Types of cork flooring are mainly tiles or veneer. The first option is cut into convenient lamellas and glued to a solid base - HDF, MDF, etc. 
The second one is laid as a linen. 
Cork floors
The most expensive option for flooring is cork. large size– up to 6 sq. m. 
It is the most environmentally friendly, since no chemical binders are used for its production, wood resins are sufficient. After installation, the floors look like one whole.
A popular option for laying cork flooring is slats or floorboards. This is a canvas pasted on fibreboard With locking connections. To produce such a coating, all three types of cork are used - solid veneer, with agglomerate or completely finely dispersed material. Protective layer varnish or wax appears. 
Cork tiles
To lay cork on walls and ceilings, tiles are made - a flexible sheet small sizes, convenient for self-installation. This material is easy to cut if you need to lay it in a certain order or in compliance with a certain geometry. 
We can assume that cork wall tiles are completely environmentally friendly raw materials. Its thickness is sufficient to avoid the use of adhesives.
Cork wallpaper
The types of cork wall coverings also include traditional wallpaper made from natural materials. Also distinguished by purity, due to their thinness. Wallpaper can be with or without a base - paper. 
The process of gluing to the wall does not differ from the standard one. It is only important to wait a period for the natural stretching of the natural material. Then the canvas will lie flat and firmly.
Advantages and disadvantages of cork floors
Cork has not gained much popularity only because of its high price - laminate or even parquet turn out to be cheaper in comparison. High price not the only drawback of the cork:
Labor-intensive care. The new coating is easy to keep clean in the usual ways, but without high humidity. In the future, due to abrasion, the stains become corrosive, and it is possible to get rid of them only by restoring the canvas.
Impossibility of installing heated floors. The cork does not require this. In addition, a constant temperature difference can critically influence the canvas, causing it to swell or dry out. After a few years, it will turn to dust.
The location of the plug to mechanical damage. Similar to linoleum, it is easy to drop something sharp on a cork floor and tear it. Pets love to sharpen their claws on it. Heels are prohibited.
The advantages of cork are as follows:
1. Undeniable naturalness. We are talking about canvases, wallpaper and wall tiles. Boards or floorboards are less suitable for this parameter. Such coverings are best suited for children's rooms and bedrooms, where a healthy atmosphere is important. 
2. No footstep noise. Cork soft material. In addition, it is not hazardous - children and the elderly are protected. There is an opinion that cork floors, due to their shock absorption, are beneficial for the musculoskeletal system.
3. Heat preservation. Unlike laminate, linoleum or ceramic tiles, natural material maintains its temperature, and standing on it barefoot is very pleasant.
Cork floors are used in combination with other coverings - it is suitable for children's rooms and bedrooms, but other options are sought for other rooms.
Cork thickness
The main parameter for durability is the thickness of the cork flooring. 
Cork floor boards consist of five layers:
1. Stabilizing layer of cork – 2 mm.
2. Fiberboard.
3. Pressed layer – up to 3 mm.
4. Decorative veneer – up to 0.8 mm.
Based on these parameters - they should not be lower, otherwise the strength will be in question and higher - this will affect the cost - you can choose cork covering, the thickness of which is optimal.
Conclusion
It is up to the apartment owner to choose natural cork as a floor covering. It has approximately equal advantages and disadvantages. To decide, or more precisely, it is recommended to find out about the behavior of such coverage from the owners based on reviews. Finding them won't be difficult.
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Cork floors have recently appeared on the market, but have already gained great popularity
Floor coverings offered at construction market V wide range and cork flooring is no exception. However, it is this type of coating that has won the attention of thousands of home owners, and therefore let’s take a closer look at its quality characteristics.
Beautiful combination of cork floors and white walls in the interior of a country house
Terracotta color in the living room interior
Udachnoe contrasting combination turquoise carpet and cork flooring in bedroom design
Beautiful bedroom with Art Nouveau elements
What is cork flooring
To obtain cork chips, the bark of the cork oak tree is crushed.
The emergence of this type of coating was marked by an increase in popularity natural finishing materials. The coating has the peculiarity of being easy to manufacture. The raw materials for the production of the material are taken from cork trees, which are shed on a periodic basis. top layer bark, it is this material that acts as the manufacturing material for champagne and wine. Over a long period of existence manufacturing industry such waste was forgotten and completely disposed of, however, due to the development modern technologies the industry began to improve: it became possible to produce sheet material for finishing, which could already be classified.
Production technology
Cork production technology
The bark of this wood material can be used without damaging the tree itself.
- The porous structure of the material is crushed and then goes through a processing stage using high temperature conditions.
- The crushed crumbs have a certain pressure under which the sheets are pressed and then laid in layers in turn. cork panels and covered with resin.
Strict studio apartment in a modern style
Cork flooring looks great in a modern kitchen
Classic in the interior of a small living room
Today, among the main models of such coatings you can find materials with vinyl layers, other reinforcing elements and decorative details. Cork acts as a wear-resistant and elastic material equipped with elastic properties. The uniqueness of the raw material lies in its naturalness, and its properties can often exceed even the most immodest expectations of its owners.
Cork is native to warm countries - representatives of the Western Mediterranean - Algeria, Morocco, Spain, as well as European country Portugal. Cork oak bark is the main source of such material. The tree grows very slowly, but every few years it provides the industrial sector with this unique cork material, which allows them to create beautiful floors.
Cozy living room in fusion style
Cork flooring in modern kitchen design
Types of products
The classification of these elements is quite extensive; they are divided depending on their basic properties.
Adhesive floors
Stylish and very comfortable children's room
Cork flooring for a small kitchen
This type of product is represented by solidly pressed tiles, equipped with dimensional parameters - 30*30 cm, 60*30 cm, 45*45 cm, the thickness of the parts is 4-6 mm. Often, structures of this type with different patterns are used to create floors; the tiles are resistant to moisture, can withstand optimal temperature changes, and the presence of a special impregnation layer ensures the absence of cracks and excellent thermal insulation properties.
Castle floors
White color will help make the interior visually more spacious.
The checkerboard cork floor looks very interesting.
Beautiful studio apartment with cork flooring
During manufacturing and installation work, similar panels are connected to each other using the method by which other floor coverings are laid; the use of the tongue-and-groove system takes place. Such structures are tightly fixed to the base elements; if necessary, the covering can be dismantled. Each panel has a unique pattern that makes it appearance special and unique.
Technical floors
Technical cork will be an excellent substrate for the main coating
Technical cork can act exclusively as a substrate for other floor coverings and represents wide range Features of use in public places and buildings. Having considered cork floors, pros and cons, photos, prices and varieties, you can proceed to the instructions technical features and application aspects of each type of coating. This will help you finally decide how to choose the right cork floor specifically for your living space.
Cork floor in the interior of a children's room for a girl
Chic living room with large windows in Art Nouveau style
Advantages of cork products
There are many more of them than disadvantages, because it is not without reason that cork floors are widely used in various fields in many respects.
- Ecological properties of cork, which can be traced and observed even during mining raw materials. To obtain the material is not contaminated environment, does not harm nature. The coating of this material does not “attract” reality, this is especially important for people who have allergies. When interacting with high temperatures cork flooring does not emit toxins.
Cork flooring has many advantages
- Soundproofing characteristics - due to these parameters, cork flooring can be used on the floor. They have found particular relevance in recording studios. Even if any heavy object falls on such a floor, you are unlikely to hear a crash, which cannot be said about other types of floors.
- The softness of the floor and its thermal insulation characteristics. The floor has an incomparable softness and is warm to the touch, which allows you to walk on it barefoot and feel comfortable. Upon contact, the coating does not absorb heat human body, unlike tiles, for example. There is no need to install a heated floor system under such a covering.
Successful combination blue And wooden furniture in the kitchen interior
The cork covering is very pleasant to the touch
- Comfort of use and benefits for human health. Cork acts as an elastic material, so it has the property of springing and acts as a shock absorber.
- Simplicity of installation and ease of installation are significant advantages that can be noted in favor of cork flooring. Installation can be done with your own hands, and the requirements for the work are the same as for many other coatings: to do this, it is enough to glue the slabs with a special glue.
- Easy to care for – truly a coverage of this type not picky about operating conditions and care details. To ensure proper attention, all you need is a damp cloth and a bucket of water, perhaps with a little detergent. IN in this case The use of abrasives and special solvents is strictly prohibited.
Cork floors are easy to clean
- The long service life pleases the owners, because the products are wear-resistant, and the honeycomb structure is almost not subject to mechanical influences and friction. The service life of such a coating reaches 10 or even 20 years, which is quite a long time for the floor as a whole.
- Relatively light weight, allowing the material to act as great alternative for use on walls in panel houses . You will not hear not only your neighbors, but also your own steps.
Modern technologies make it possible to use cork floors in the kitchen
Country style in the kitchen interior
Living room in eco style
Considering cork flooring (pros and cons, photos, reviews, varieties and characteristics), it can be noted that this ideal option for home and apartment. And the ability to reduce the load on the supporting system allows it to be used by people with poor health indicators.
Disadvantages of cork flooring
The high cost of the material is one of the main disadvantages of cork coating
- High cost of the product - indeed, cork flooring is much more expensive than similar coverings, but if you take into account the ease of installation and ease of maintenance, the result will be even cheaper than purchasing parquet.
- Insufficient level of resistance to moisture - but this property is only relative, since if you choose adhesive boards made from cork, the problem will disappear automatically. And thanks to the interlocking coatings, which are impregnated with wax, they also have optimal characteristics.
- Another significant drawback of cork is its flammability and mechanical instability to physical influences. Under the legs of the furniture, if it is heavy, there may be depressions from them, but if you put gaskets to reduce the pressure, the problem can be considered solved.
Glass walls in country house design
Floor-to-ceiling windows will visually expand the space of your room
Thus, cork flooring, pros and cons, the price of which is acceptable for a product in this group, is perfect coverage, since it does not harm health and has no significant disadvantages in use. If you solve the problem urgently, you can avoid major shortcomings.
Cork floor installation
Laying a cork floor with your own hands will not pose any special problems.
Installation of cork covering can be carried out using two methods - using adhesive laying and using interlocking covering. Both systems have their own pros, cons, and features, so it is necessary to consider each of them in detail and draw a special conclusion regarding the use of one or another technique.
Laying interlocking covering
Laying interlocking covering
Laying the interlocking coating does not require the help of qualified specialists
The process is carried out with interlocking coating Quite simply based on the mosaic principle, so the services of qualified specialists and the use of expensive additional resources are not required. But the presence of special locks ensures a decrease in water-repellent properties, but this is not critical for rooms, but on the properties bathroom or kitchen floors may not have the best effect. Using floor varnish, you can begin to eliminate this defect.
Black walls are a very bold decision
Laying the adhesive coating
Beautiful modern kitchen with cork flooring
This decision is more capital, since additional costs will certainly be required here, in addition to those spent on traffic jams. At a minimum, you will have to purchase glue, but such slabs have more low cost, and if you execute installation work do it yourself without the involvement of qualified employees, then performing such work can be even cheaper than installing locking elements.
Laying the adhesive coating
A beautiful and well-maintained cork floor (pros and cons, we have already reviewed the reviews) is the key family happiness and well-being. Despite the high cost of basic materials, it is gaining momentum in popularity and is appreciated by consumers for its high-quality and numerous characteristics. Natural coating will come in handy for houses and apartments, and it can be installed in any room, making its appearance and interior original and special.
Materials for making coatings
Cork is a very environmentally friendly type of material.
The variety of cork floors available today is enormous.
We have already noted that cork floors are made from the durable bark of the cork tree - that is why they are popularly called cork floors. At the same time, there is a basic requirement for the tree: its age should be no more than 30 years. The manufacturing process begins with the stage of grinding the bark, followed by heating and pressing it into special molds. In addition, finishing walls with cork can also be relevant, especially for places where, due to technical factors, it is impossible to carry out insulation and finishing of external walls.
Sheets cork material for floor
Cork floors (owner reviews, pros and cons can be found on the Internet) are offered in a wide variety, so it will not be difficult for you to choose an option that suits the pattern, texture, color and other characteristics. Mastery of installation technologies will allow you to achieve high-quality results and create a floor that will serve faithfully for a long time.
The combination of red and gray in the living room interior
Due to its qualities, cork is ideal for a child's room.
Apr 16, 2018 Sergey
Oak bark floor slabs are positioned as a practical, original and functional covering. They are produced by both well-known factories and local organizations. 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 considered to be floor covering.
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. At the same time reverse 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, stiff bristled brushes, 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.
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Cork floors are becoming increasingly popular as a means of interior decoration. And if just recently cork was considered exotic, today this material has confidently taken the position of one of the most popular. This is only beneficial for consumers, because now the choice is not limited to a dozen options - the number of textures and colors is in the hundreds. Meanwhile, not everyone knows what cork flooring is and why it is better than the usual linoleum or laminate. So, let's get acquainted!
How do you get a cork?
Cork is the bark of the cork oak tree, a native of the Mediterranean. The main suppliers are Portugal and Italy. Oak trees are specially grown and, upon reaching 25 years of age, the cork is removed for the first time. The bark is removed at the moment when the tree is ready to get rid of it, i.e. this procedure It is completely painless and harmless for the plant.
After 9 years, the oak restores its original thickness - you can remove the bark again. It is important to note that obtaining a cork is a manual process. Electric drills and saws cannot be used.
Benefits of cork flooring
If we talk about the advantages of cork, it is necessary to note the following:
- soundproofing. Are you tired of your neighbors complaining about your child running around your apartment? Cork floors will solve this problem, because they have no equal in their ability to “muffle sounds”;
- thermal insulation. The cork floor is always warm, you can walk on it barefoot without any problems, even in winter;
- immunity to deformation. No matter how heavy your furniture is, you don’t need to worry about dents on the floor - they simply won’t happen;
- excellent shock absorption. Impeccable shock-absorbing qualities have been confirmed by doctors. It has been proven that walking on a cork floor is beneficial for the body, because... the load on muscles and joints is significantly reduced.
It should also be mentioned that cork is of no interest to wood-boring insects and rodents.
Floors cork reviews deserved the most positive thanks to their unique design. The production technology consists of several stages: the bark is crushed, then heated and placed under a press. As a result, the granules, sticking together, form a closed cellular structure. The honeycomb-like base contains many bubbles impregnated with suberin, a natural cork substance. Each component of such a structure is a shock-absorbing spring, an acoustic absorber, and a reliable heat insulator.
Cork flooring is a multi-layer structure. Components:
- cork agglomerate (crushed cork);
- high strength board (resin-based wood dust);
- again cork agglomerate;
- front layer.
The front layer varies. It can be made of decorative veneer, or it can be made of valuable species wood coated with varnish or a layer of vinyl.
The middle layer of high strength board is used only in floating cork floors, in adhesive - the middle consists of agglomerate.
Types of cork flooring
Cork floors come in two types: floating and adhesive. The first ones have the form of panels 9-12 mm thick. They are joined using grooves. On average, the service life is about 5 years. This indicator depends on the quality of the varnish with which the cork is coated. If the manufacturer prefers exclusively high-quality materials, then the “lifetime” of the final result increases.
Adhesive floors are tiles with thicknesses of 3.2 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm, which are glued to the base. The most durable plug is 3.5 mm, suitable for industrial premises and offices.
Adhesive flooring is more expensive, and installation is not a simple matter. But the reward for your efforts will be increased wear resistance: on average, an adhesive cork coating will last at least 7 years, and if you apply an additional layer of varnish, even more.
This is important!
For an apartment, it is better to purchase a 6 mm adhesive floor, which will retain heat and easily provide the proper level of comfort.
Choosing a cork floor
How to choose a cork floor is not an idle question for those who value truly high-quality products. What should you consider first?
The main criterion when purchasing is the manufacturer. The most best companies: Wicanders, Allied Cork, Corkstyle (Portugal). Next is the appearance. The cork must be carefully packed, the edges must be free of burrs and irregularities. Take the time to check whether the samples are the same in size - to do this, simply attach two tiles to each other.
Turn over cork tiles. Have you noticed any foreign inclusions? This means that the manufacturer, having decided to save money, mixed cork with sawdust - the material will retain heat and absorb noise much worse.
For the living room and bedroom, purchase a locking plug; for the bathroom, kitchen and hallway, purchase an adhesive plug. If it happens on our own, then pay attention to specimens with a chamfer. Chamfer - a layer removed under small angle. Such a plug will masterfully hide uneven installations, which are inevitable in the absence of experience or in the presence of significant differences in the base in height.
Consider class affiliation. Class 31 cork is used mainly in rooms with low traffic (bedroom, children's room); 32 classes - in rooms with average traffic (living room, kitchen); 33 classes - where the load is greatest, for example, in the hallway.
Cork floors are a modern floor covering that has many advantages. So why not take advantage of such a valuable circumstance and fill the house sunlight and warmth?