How to lay cork flooring. Cork flooring: how to install it correctly? How to lay cork adhesive boards on the floor

One of essential elements interior decoration the premises is its floor covering. They are presented to him special requirements: beauty, ease of care, wear resistance. It is highly desirable that it is not slippery, so that it is comfortable to walk on even when wet. Modern cork material meets all of the above requirements.

Not so long ago, a floor made from it was an almost unattainable pleasure. Now, of course, it also does not belong to economy class materials, but many compatriots can afford it. Cork is the bark of a special cork oak tree, which is widespread in countries with humid and warm climates.

The largest plantations of this tree grow in Spain and Portugal, providing the countries with primacy in the processing of cork material and the production of various building materials from it. It is also cultivated in some Asian countries useful plant, but the quality of the resulting cork is lower there.

Cork floors - varieties

Conventionally, all types of coatings of this type can be divided into three types: technical, adhesive and interlocking. Floors that require an adhesive base are completely natural.

These are pressed solid slabs (or panels) - they can have different sizes: 45x15, 60x30, 30x30, 45x15. Their thickness can vary from four to six millimeters.

The material has a two-layer construction. The top layer is usually represented by high-quality high-quality veneer, the bottom layer consists of cork chips pressed under pressure.

MDF is in the middle. Top part The structure consists of a special cork veneer. The stove has standard sizes 90 by 18.5 cm, with a thickness of 1.2 cm.

Just like the usual traditional laminate, cork has special grooves and locks. Thanks to this, the installation process is significantly simplified. It does not require sealants and an adhesive base, but a 2-3 mm substrate is required under it.

When the coating is laid and installed, several layers of varnish must be applied to it. Which varieties to use for this are usually recommended by the manufacturers themselves. cork laminate.

The technical covering made from cork is a remnant of production, therefore this material in fact, they are never used for final finishing. It is usually produced in granules, plates or convenient rolls.

Its main purpose is to use it as a substrate for laminate flooring. In addition, it can be used to mask and remove significant defects in the base.

Obvious advantages of cork flooring

The cost of cork flooring is higher than linoleum and traditional laminate. And yet, it can be considered quite profitable.

Let's look at the advantages of cork coating:


Cons of cork flooring

Cork, like any building material, has not only advantages - it also has some disadvantages. What can be attributed to them?


Laying cork on the floor - preparation

To install cork floors, use various ways. The choice of a specific method in each case depends on the material chosen for the floor covering.

The floor can be adhesive (attached to the base) or floating (its individual elements are connected only to each other).

It is advisable to carry out work in warm weather. This is necessary to ensure that the temperature difference in the rooms where the material is stored and where it will be installed does not exceed seven degrees.

Humidity limits should be no more than 65 percent.

Before laying cork flooring, it is necessary to prepare the base well, which should be dry and level. All cracks and crevices must be carefully sealed.

It is recommended to use vapor-tight and waterproofing materials that can create reliable protective barriers. You can use gypsum fiber sheets, moisture-resistant plywood or self-leveling screeds.

Minimal differences in height are acceptable. All existing joints are sealed silicone sealant, after which the seams are leveled. The surface must be primed.

Cork flooring - installation with glue

It is not recommended to unpack the tiles immediately after purchasing them - they must remain in the conditions in which they will be installed for at least three days.

Humidity and temperature regime– the indicators should be 65% and 18 degrees, respectively. It is recommended to start installation in the center of the room, and not from the corner, as is desirable for many other materials.

First, markings are made using a beating cord, which facilitates the installation process.

The adhesive composition can be dispersive latex-acrylic or polychloroprene based - it can be applied both to the slabs and to the prepared base. For the floor it is better to use a special notched trowel, but a soft roller is more suitable for cork.

The applied adhesive is kept for a specified time (determined by the manufacturer), only then installation begins. Individual elements pressed against each other and against the base, tapped with a rubber mallet or ironed with a roller.

After this, the coating is left to dry for about a day, but the time period may vary for each specific brand of material.

Then the finished surface is freed from debris and dust - it is convenient to do this with a household vacuum cleaner. After a thoroughly cleaned floor, you can begin to varnish it with special two-component water-based polyurethane compounds.

The varnish is treated in several layers, at least three - this ensures better preservation and wear resistance of the cork coating.

Application can be carried out with or without sanding, glossy or matte varnishes are used. Within a few hours the treated surface will dry, but it is better to wait longer.

It is advisable not to touch the surface at all for about 24 hours.

As for a thorough load, you will have to wait longer. Only after 5-7 days will the floor become stable enough for the maximum possible load.

Today's flooring market is quite diverse. We are interested in cork floor coverings. They come with a lock (or “floating”) and adhesive. Or rather, the nuances of laying cork floors.

In this article we will dwell in more detail on the process of laying cork flooring with glue.

As in any matter, you need to carefully prepare before installing the adhesive plug.

We will also show a video of installation and photographs of what will happen at the end of the work.

Preparing the floor for installation

Firstly, the peculiarity of laying cork with glue is that the cork sheets are laid directly on a concrete base or on plywood. Smooth concrete base - perfect option for laying the adhesive plug. Modern Construction Materials allow you to get flat surface without defects such as cracks, bulges and dents, the presence of which is absolutely unacceptable if you want to have a beautiful, pleasing floor.

Important! At the stage of preparing the base for the adhesive plug, do not skimp on a good leveling mixture such as Vetonit Plus (“Optiroc”), Uzin-NC 145 (“Uzin”), Emfisol P2 (“EMFI”), etc. After all, the better prepared base, the easier the installation process will be.

If the floor is wooden, it is recommended to lay sheets of thick, high-quality plywood on it and secure them well with screws. The joints of the sheets must be puttied and thoroughly sanded. The base must be dry. Before gluing natural cork coverings, you must make sure that the humidity concrete base does not exceed 2.5-3.0%. Humidity control is carried out using special devices such as CM Tester, Hidromette E80 or GANN RTU 600. If the humidity of the base exceeds the permissible values, it is recommended to use special compounds Barreira 1 or Barreira 2.

The base must be clean. The surface of the base should be free of paint residues, oils, wax, old glue and other substances that reduce the adhesion of the glue. Dust can form a separating layer between the adhesive layer and the base, which significantly reduces the strength of the adhesive joint. For this reason, the floor surface must be thoroughly vacuumed before installation.

The air temperature in the room should not be lower than 18º C, humidity - 40-65%.

Also, do not forget to choose the right glue for cork floors, and familiarize yourself with the types of cork floors

Preparing the cork for installation

So, you have a perfectly flat, strong, dry and clean base. (the surface is considered flat if the gap between the control strip and the surface being tested does not exceed 2 mm over a length of 1 m, and no more than 4 mm over a length of 2 m. To minimize the presence of dust on the surface, we recommend priming it with a deep penetration primer.

Another important point which cannot be ignored: the cork material must rest in a room ready for installation for at least two days, undergo so-called acclimatization to avoid deformation of the material after installation.

Glue plug installation tool

While the cork is curing, prepare the necessary equipment:

  • ruler (preferably metal);
  • roulette;
  • paint pencil;
  • technical knife;
  • brush with natural bristles (100mm - optimal width), in this case it is advisable to trim the brush, leaving about two centimeters of pile.
  • rubber hammer;
  • glue;
  • microfiber roller (for water-based varnishes);
  • container for varnish.

The cork is glued with a special glue for cork coverings, which comes in two types: glue on water based and solvent containing adhesive. But we must remember that all water-based glue has a significant drawback - it is susceptible to moisture. In case of possible flooding there is a risk of peeling off cork coverings. From this point of view, adhesives containing solvents are preferable.

In turn, solvents can be limited or synthesized. Organic solvent glue is more environmentally friendly. We can recommend glue such as Cork House or Bunitex.

Important! All brands of glue based on any solvent are flammable and toxic to one degree or another). Therefore, it is necessary to carry out work with respiratory protection (respirators) and open areas of the body (overalls) and with a constant supply of fresh air.

Features of laying the adhesive plug

The peculiarity of laying the adhesive plug is that the laying begins not from the edge of the room, but from the center. Therefore, it is important to correctly and accurately make markings, which is one of key points. The final appearance of the cork covering after installation depends on the correct marking. To make the markings, you need to carefully measure and draw a straight line parallel to the wall in the center of the room and another parallel to the first at a distance of the width of two tiles. Or draw a straight line diagonally across the room if you have diagonal installation.

Do not stack cork sheets all in a row. , and each plate has its own unique pattern. Therefore, you have the opportunity to realize your artistic taste and, having examined each plate, lay them out and select the design on the cork the way you like. After this preparatory moment, you can proceed directly to installation.

Laying cork flooring We start from the center of the room. It is important to glue the first tile perfectly along the line. After all, even the most minimal deviation from a straight line when laying the first tile towards the end of the room can give a significant error, which will affect appearance the entire floor.

When using contact adhesive, it is necessary to apply the adhesive on both surfaces: on the base and on the tile itself, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.

To get tight joints, the plates are glued with a slight overlap on the previous one, while holding the edge of the plate so that it does not stick prematurely. The free edge of the plate is pressed, after which the entire plate is pushed into place, and the resulting microwave, as it were, is driven towards the joint, then the joint will turn out to be very tight. those. The plates are stacked "pull". The joints must be tapped with a rubber hammer for a tighter fit.

Difficult installation moments

Difficult moments: pipes and jambs. Near the pipes central heating the cork is placed using a paper template, which is placed on a piece of tile of the required width; the place where the pipe will be is carefully drilled or cut out (the plasticity of the tile allows this to be done quite simply and easily). If there are already jambs, they will need to be filed down. To do this, place a cork sheet next to the jamb with the back side up, and pressing a hacksaw tightly against it, file the jamb so that the cork sheet can fit under it.

Cork sheets should be laid staggered so that the joints are invisible. We must remember that cork sheets can be different sizes with or without chamfer. When laying cork with a chamfer, you need to ensure that the joints alternate rhythmically, then the floor will have a more beautiful finished look.

Varnishing a cork floor

After the cork is laid, it is necessary to coat it with varnish. There are cork coatings with prevarnish (a layer of varnish already applied). This cork can be varnished in two layers.

If the cork is without a varnish coating, it must be primed with a primer from the same manufacturer as the varnish that covers the floor. We recommend IRSA primer and varnish (Germany). Some craftsmen suggest treating floors with varnish diluted with water as a primer, but we believe this is absolutely incorrect and unacceptable. Use a primer and varnish intended for these purposes, then your floors will be guaranteed to have the wear resistance class declared by the manufacturer.

Important! Before applying varnish, the floors must be thoroughly vacuumed, because... every tiny speck of dust will be visible and impossible to remove.

How much does it cost to order cork flooring?

Since the process of laying adhesive plugs is very difficult and requires the installer to have certain skills, we recommend contacting certified teams specializing in this area finishing works. The cost of the work varies depending on the installation method (straight or diagonal), the width of the cork lamellas being laid (the smaller, the higher the complexity of installation) and the thickness of the cork material. If it is 4 or 6 mm cork, the cost of installation will be from 300 rubles/m², 8 mm cork will cost you from 400 rubles/m², and if you decide to decorate your home with artistic cork parquet, the price tag for installation may start from 600 rub/m².

View the full list

Today's flooring market is quite diverse. We are interested in cork flooring. They come with a lock (or “floating”) and adhesive. Or rather, the nuances of laying cork floors.

In this article we will dwell in more detail on the process of laying cork flooring with glue.

As in any matter, you need to carefully prepare before installing the adhesive plug.

We will also show a video of installation and photographs of what will happen at the end of the work.

Preparing the floor for installation

Firstly, the peculiarity of laying cork with glue is that the cork sheets are laid directly on a concrete base or on plywood. A smooth concrete base is ideal for laying adhesive plugs. Modern building materials make it possible to obtain a smooth surface without defects such as cracks, bulges and dents, the presence of which is absolutely unacceptable if you want to have a beautiful, pleasing floor.

Important! At the stage of preparing the base for the adhesive plug, do not skimp on a good leveling mixture such as Vetonit Plus (“Optiroc”), Uzin-NC 145 (“Uzin”), Emfisol P2 (“EMFI”), etc. After all, the better prepared base, the easier the installation process will be.

If the floor is wooden, it is recommended to lay sheets of thick, high-quality plywood on it and secure them well with screws. The joints of the sheets must be puttied and thoroughly sanded. The base must be dry. Before gluing natural cork coverings, you must make sure that the moisture content of the concrete base does not exceed 2.5-3.0%. Humidity control is carried out using special devices, such as CM Tester, Hidromette E80 or GANN RTU 600. If the humidity of the base exceeds the permissible values, the use of special compounds Barreira 1 or Barreira 2 is recommended.

The base must be clean. The surface of the base should be free of paint residues, oils, wax, old glue and other substances that reduce the adhesion of the glue. Dust can form a separating layer between the adhesive layer and the base, which significantly reduces the strength of the adhesive joint. For this reason, the floor surface must be thoroughly vacuumed before installation.

The air temperature in the room should not be lower than 18º C, humidity - 40-65%.

Also, do not forget to choose the right glue for cork floors, and familiarize yourself with the types of cork floors

Preparing the cork for installation

So, you have a perfectly flat, strong, dry and clean base. (the surface is considered flat if the gap between the control strip and the surface being tested does not exceed 2 mm over a length of 1 m, and no more than 4 mm over a length of 2 m. To minimize the presence of dust on the surface, we recommend priming it with a deep penetration primer.

Another important point that cannot be ignored: the cork material must rest in a room ready for installation for at least two days, undergo so-called acclimatization to avoid deformation of the material after installation.

Glue plug installation tool

While the cork is curing, prepare the necessary equipment:

  • ruler (preferably metal);
  • roulette;
  • paint pencil;
  • technical knife;
  • a brush with natural bristles (100mm is the optimal width), it is advisable to trim the brush, leaving about two centimeters of bristles.
  • rubber hammer;
  • glue;
  • microfiber roller (for water-based varnishes);
  • container for varnish.

The cork is glued to a special glue for cork coverings, which comes in two types: water-based glue and solvent-based glue. But we must remember that all water-based glue has a significant drawback - it is susceptible to moisture. In case of possible flooding, there is a risk of cork coverings peeling off. From this point of view, adhesives containing solvents are preferable.

In turn, solvents can be limited or synthesized. Organic solvent glue is more environmentally friendly. We can recommend glue such as Cork House or Bunitex.

Important! All brands of glue based on any solvent are flammable and toxic to one degree or another). Therefore, it is necessary to carry out work with respiratory protection (respirators) and open areas of the body (overalls) and with a constant supply of fresh air.

Features of laying the adhesive plug

The peculiarity of laying the adhesive plug is that the laying begins not from the edge of the room, but from the center. Therefore, it is important to make the markings correctly and accurately, which is one of the key points. The final appearance of the cork covering after installation depends on the correct marking. To make the markings, you need to carefully measure and draw a straight line parallel to the wall in the center of the room and another parallel to the first at a distance of the width of two tiles. Or draw a straight line diagonally across the room if you have diagonal installation.

Do not stack cork sheets all in a row. , and each plate has its own unique pattern. Therefore, you have the opportunity to realize your artistic taste and, having examined each plate, lay them out and select the design on the cork the way you like. After this preparatory moment, you can proceed directly to installation.

Laying cork flooring We start from the center of the room. It is important to glue the first tile perfectly along the line. After all, even the most minimal deviation from a straight line when laying the first tile towards the end of the room can cause a significant error, which will affect the appearance of the entire floor.

When using contact adhesive, it is necessary to apply the adhesive on both surfaces: on the base and on the tile itself, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.

To get tight joints, the plates are glued with a slight overlap on the previous one, while holding the edge of the plate so that it does not stick prematurely. The free edge of the plate is pressed, after which the entire plate is pushed into place, and the resulting microwave, as it were, is driven towards the joint, then the joint will turn out to be very tight. those. The plates are stacked "pull". The joints must be tapped with a rubber hammer for a tighter fit.

Difficult installation moments

Difficult moments: pipes and jambs. Near the central heating pipes, a plug is placed using a paper template, which is placed on a piece of tile of the required width; the place where the pipe will be is carefully drilled or cut out (the plasticity of the tile allows this to be done quite simply and easily). If there are already jambs, they will need to be filed down. To do this, place a cork sheet next to the jamb with the back side up, and pressing a hacksaw tightly against it, file the jamb so that the cork sheet can fit under it.

Cork sheets should be laid staggered so that the joints are invisible. We must remember that cork sheets can be of different sizes with or without a chamfer. When laying cork with a chamfer, you need to ensure that the joints alternate rhythmically, then the floor will have a more beautiful finished look.

Varnishing a cork floor

After the cork is laid, it is necessary to coat it with varnish. There are cork coatings with prevarnish (a layer of varnish already applied). This cork can be varnished in two layers.

If the cork is without a varnish coating, it must be primed with a primer from the same manufacturer as the varnish that covers the floor. We recommend IRSA primer and varnish (Germany). Some craftsmen suggest treating floors with varnish diluted with water as a primer, but we believe this is absolutely incorrect and unacceptable. Use a primer and varnish intended for these purposes, then your floors will be guaranteed to have the wear resistance class declared by the manufacturer.

Important! Before applying varnish, the floors must be thoroughly vacuumed, because... every tiny speck of dust will be visible and impossible to remove.

How much does it cost to order cork flooring?

Since the process of laying adhesive plugs is very difficult and requires the installer to have certain skills, we recommend contacting certified teams specializing in this area of ​​finishing work. The cost of the work varies depending on the installation method (straight or diagonal), the width of the cork lamellas being laid (the smaller, the higher the complexity of installation) and the thickness of the cork material. If it is 4 or 6 mm cork, the cost of installation will be from 300 rubles/m², 8 mm cork will cost you from 400 rubles/m², and if you decide to decorate your home with artistic cork parquet, the price tag for installation may start from 600 rub/m².

View the full list

Cork flooring is becoming increasingly popular, which is not surprising, because it provides benefits that are not available to other flooring materials. And if the cork floor is made of natural material- luxury is not for everyone due to the high price, then manufacturers are ready to offer equally durable options, but from cheaper material. Laying a cork floor with your own hands is not difficult, let's find out how to do it.

Despite the fact that this material gained popularity and demand not so long ago, manufacturers offer a wide variety of options. Everyone chooses the one that he likes best and meets his requirements. There are 4 types of this material:


HDF cork laminate

We need to go into a little more detail on HDF cork laminate, because this is what is most often purchased, focusing on the “price-quality” principle, where price is a priority, because the quality of the material is far from so rosy. Under the foreign abbreviation lies an ordinary fiberboard board, which is covered with a layer of cork. Moreover, most often there is no normal consistency between the plate and the cork, and the chemical impregnation of the material is not an example to follow.

This laminate is cheap, but also creates the appearance of a high-quality cork floor. That is why it is bought more often than other varieties. Cork laminate has a multi-layer structure, and the design is similar to laminate - a strip with a fastening lock. Based on the structure HDF laminate there is pressed cork chips, and it is covered with cork veneer, which forms the pattern of the slab, coated with varnish. Density shapes bottom layer wood fibers, and the structure is pumped - agglomerated cork.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cork flooring has its disadvantages and advantages. Let's start with its positive aspects:

  • walking on it does not tire your legs, because the floor is springy;
  • even without a carpet, the floor is warm and comfortable;
  • has excellent thermal insulation;
  • does not transmit sound;
  • completely ecological and natural.

But it also has disadvantages:

  • if we are talking about board or veneer, then it has a high price;
  • some varieties are difficult to install;
  • the strength of the coating can be called relative;
  • odors are poorly removed, for example, from spilled odorous liquid;
  • cannot be used in rooms with sharp temperature fluctuations and humidity, which lead to its crumbling;
  • a cork floor can create an environment under which it reproduces well pathogenic bacteria and flora, so it is not uncommon for fungal mucus to be found underneath after opening the floor a couple of years after installation.

Ideal premises for this floor



No matter how expensive the type of cork floor you choose is, and no matter how well you take care of it, it is a short-lived material.

Step-by-step instructions for installing cork on the floor

In practice, installation of such flooring can be carried out in 3 ways:


Let's consider the last two in more detail, since most often installation work are carried out precisely according to them.

General preparatory work and tools

The preparatory stage for both installation methods is almost similar and has strict requirements that must be met:

  1. If your subfloor is made of cement screed, then you need to close it with something, and not put the cork directly on it. During operation, the screed will work like sandpaper and will destroy the surface of the floor, which will lead to its brittleness and crumbling.
  2. Make sure the subfloor is completely dry before installation, otherwise any moisture will quickly absorb into the cork, causing it to swell and ruin it. That is why, in order to avoid oversight, it is recommended to go over the black surface with a hair dryer.
  3. All cracks must be carefully caulked, both from risers with heating or water supply, and from radiators, because they often condense moisture, which is detrimental to this sexual material.
  4. Cork slabs are relatively brittle material, therefore it is recommended to level the subfloor using a liquid leveler.
  5. It is better to make the finishing layer from linoleum, or you can install the cork on the old coating, be it the same linoleum or laminate.

The permissible humidity indicator for the rooms in which this will be installed finishing material- no more than 60%.

Tools

To install cork flooring you will need the following tools:

  • electric jigsaw;
  • level with a working surface of at least 500 mm;
  • rubber mallet;
  • special baseboard;
  • door sills;
  • for adhesive installation - a device for applying glue and a rolling roller;
  • for installation of a floating floor - wedges for spacers.

Installation using the "floating floor" method

One person cannot handle this installation, so you will need the help of a couple of your friends or relatives. And do it like this:

  1. After measuring the room and drawing up an estimate, you need to buy a stopper and leave it unpacked in the room for a day. This will allow the material to adapt to the microclimate of the room.
  2. On the prepared subfloor you need to lay rolled cellophane, with pockets on the sides of at least 100-150 mm. Laying should be done with an overlap of no less than 200 mm each.
  3. It is better to start laying veneer or cork laminate from the far corner of the room, doing it in transverse rows. In this case, the seams of the planks should be shifted towards the previous row by at least a third.
  4. 2 cm are set aside from the wall for free play of the cork floor, which may, during operation, either expand or contract due to changes in the humidity of the room.
  5. Finish laying the slabs by cutting the film flush along the upper edge of the floor.
  6. The final direct installation is the installation of a cork plinth, which is glued to the wall with special glue. Be sure to keep an eye on excess glue and remove it immediately so that it does not spoil the appearance.

When gluing a cork board, be sure to leave a gap of 0.2 cm between it and the floor for free play of the floor covering.

Glue mounting

The choice of glue in this process is one of the main points, because the strength of installation and service life coverings.

The use of PVA glue for laying cork flooring is strictly prohibited, as it causes the floor to swell.

And they do it like this:

  1. Laying the slabs begins from the center of the room, along a spiral contour.
  2. Spread the glue over the floor and press the cork board onto it.
  3. Push the slabs tightly together.
  4. Be sure to go over the surface with a special roller.
  5. Check each tile with a level.
  6. All excess glue should be removed immediately, rather than waiting for it to harden.
  7. Make a distance of at least 2 cm from the walls.
  8. Leave the floor to dry for a day.
  9. The cork plinth is laid as in the previous method.

Useful video “How to lay cork with glue”

You can make a cork floor with your own hands, but if you are not sure that you will do everything correctly, then it is better to turn to specialists. Of course this is financial expenses to pay for their services, but they will carry out the installation in such a way that you will enjoy it for many years. And if you want to do everything yourself, but start with small room and give preference to the glue method, because it is the simplest.

How to lay cork flooring? Laying interlocking cork flooring is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. A video on installing floating cork floors and recommendations from experts will help you get the job done.

Floating cork floor. What is this?

Interlocking cork floors are often referred to as “floating.” The panels are connected to each other in a manner reminiscent of laying laminate flooring. A tongue-and-groove system is used.

They are not tightly attached to the base. If necessary, the coating can be disassembled. The joints are glued special glue for cork that is not afraid of moisture.

To arrange the castle floor, cork panels are used, consisting of several layers. Veneer made of valuable wood or cork is glued on top. The unique design of each panel makes the interior unique.

How to properly install interlocking (floating) cork flooring

Useful tips for installing cork floors yourself:

  • Before you begin installing your cork floor, purchase tools and materials. Don't forget the plastic film and cork backing for the insulating layer;
  • After purchase, the coating must be placed in the room where installation will take place for a day or two to acclimatize it;
  • Do not perform work if the room is cold: below +17C - +18C;
  • Prepare the base. If the old one is linoleum or carpet, it is important to check that it is perfectly level. Deviations from the norm are unacceptable - there will be distortions of the cork slabs;
  • The concrete surface must be dry, clean and always level. Consequences of level violation - poor-quality joining, distortions, etc.;
  • To cut slabs, use a fine-toothed hacksaw or jigsaw. A square is useful for marking perpendicular angles.

Video on how to lay cork flooring.

Laying technology

  • Work begins with installation polyethylene film and substrates, if the base is a cement screed;
  • If the base is carpet or PVC coating(linoleum), just clean it;
  • The first panels are attached in the front right corner, always perpendicular to the window. The joints are so invisible;
  • In the first row, the end parts of the panels are connected. To do this, the end of each panel following the one already laid is applied at an angle of 30 degrees to the previous one;
  • The panel is carefully lowered to the floor and the lock secures the connection. Lightly tap the short end with a rubber mallet. right side through a small piece of panel inserted into the lock located on the short side;
  • Be sure to leave a gap of 5-10 mm for expansion;
  • The second row begins to be laid by cutting off the panel located last in the first row. Size – at least 20 cm;
  • Experts recommend laying cork panels staggered so that the beginning of every second row is a trim of the panel, and not the whole product;
  • If there are heating pipes in the way, you need to cut a gap in the coating to expand the material. The size is the same as near the walls;
  • A profile called a sill will help secure the cork panels in place. doorways. It is attached directly to the floor at the joint between the panels;
  • The pegs or spacer wedges are removed immediately after the installation of the floating cork floor is completed;
  • The plinth is attached only to the wall, leaving a gap that will allow the covering to move.

Video instructions for laying cork on the floor.

Underlay for cork flooring

When laying interlocking cork flooring, an underlay is used. It is made from crushed and compressed bark of a special cork oak tree.

Substrate– an important layer that is needed for heat, sound and waterproofing. Natural, environmentally friendly, non-flammable, durable cork backing is several times superior in its characteristics to other insulating materials.

Laying the substrate

  • A day before the start of work, technical cork in rolls is brought into the room where work on arranging the interlocking cork floor will be carried out;
  • First of all, lay PVC film to protect the surface from moisture;
  • Approach to walls – at least 5cm;
  • Lay the pieces of film overlapping, the margin reaches 20 cm. The parts are fastened together with special tape;
  • A rolled cork covering is placed on top of the film layer;
  • The distance between the wall and the substrate, as well as between adjacent pieces of technical cork, is 15 mm.

Prices for interlocking cork flooring

The cost of cork flooring varies depending on the reputation of the manufacturer, brand, collection, the presence of a moisture-resistant coating, and the thickness of the material.

How much does a castle floor from well-known companies cost?

Average price for 1 square meter :

  • — 1033 rub;
  • CORKART - 2083 rubles;
  • Ipocork - 1103 rubles;
  • Go4cork - 1321 rubles;
  • Granorte — 1027 rub.
  • KWG 349 – 1027 rub.

Installation prices

If you are not confident in your abilities or do not have the the right amount free time for self-installation cork floors castle type, contact specialists. Brigade experienced craftsmen will do everything quickly and efficiently preparatory work, installation of cork flooring and will give recommendations for its operation.

A comprehensive team that installs a floating cork floor on a turnkey basis charges for its services, on average, 130 rubles. for 1 sq. meter. Prices may vary slightly in different regions depending on the demand for the service.

Be sure to enter into an agreement that will insure you against unscrupulous performers.

How to care for cork floors, how to wash them

Caring for natural cork floors quite simple:

  • Wipe the floors with a damp cloth;
  • Vacuum them;
  • Use detergents, but without aggressive components, such as solvents or solid particles;
  • Companies producing cork floors offer special means for the care of their products. Among them: Wicanders Power emulsion (removes dirt and grease), V-Care (adds shine and protects the surface), KorkCare (creates protective layer for shine and dirt repellent);
  • To protect the room from street dust and dirt, place a mat at the door. Base with inside should not be rubber or latex;
  • Place special felt pads or cork circles on the legs of your furniture to prevent objects from scratching the floor or leaving dents. Rubber is not suitable!
  • If your cork floor is covered with vinyl, once every three years in residential areas and annually in areas common use rub it with special mastic.