Cork floors: the pros and cons, as well as specifications and examples of existing offerings from manufacturers

A cork floor boasts many advantages not inherent in other types of floor covering

There is a desire to lay at home plug, but do not have confidence in their abilities? Let's find out just how difficult this procedure and whether to pay money for it. Our experience allows me to say that anyone can cope with the laying of the floor covering and step by step instructions visually confirm my words.

Manufacturing technology

Pros and cons of cork floor directly related to the technology of its production, so to start is to get acquainted with her:

1. Bark is removed from the cork oak after reaching the age of thirty. It is noteworthy that in the future the procedure can be repeated every 9-12 years. The very same tree dies before the bicentennial;

Removing bark from the cork does not cause him any harm

1. Previous shredded bark;

Shredding bark occurs using special equipment

1. Crushed chips are heated and processed in the oven;
2. The heated mass falls under the pressWhich turns into suberin, a mixture of tubes with air bubbles;
3. One gets the "pie":

• suberin;
• Durable layer of wood dust and resins;
• Again suberin;
• Facing layer, as which may be used natural veneer, cork or vinyl.

Scheme cork coating structure, which parts may vary depending on the type of product and manufacturer

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the advantages of cork floor are most significant are:

dignity

1. low thermal conductivityWhose index ranges between 0.03 and 0.04 W / (m × K). Due to this quality can be identified at once two beneficial effects:

• Reduction of thermal losses the entire room;
• Excellent tactile sensations. On the tube, you can sit, lie or stand barefoot without feeling emanating from the underground cold, which is not true, for example, a tile, marble or linoleum;

On the cork floor to sit not cold than sometimes nice to use, convenient to stretch your legs

1. orthopedic impact. Floor cork acting on its feet like a shock absorber due to its structure that though amenable to a mechanical action, but immediately tries to restore its shape. As a result, significantly reduces the load on the locomotor apparatus;

Especially helpful to lay the plug in the nursery. Firstly, it will contribute to the healthy development of the spine and legs due to their depreciation properties, and secondly, will soften the fall of the child and prevent them receiving serious injuries during active games.

According to the cork floor to walk barefoot is not only warm, but also more pleasant and even helpful

1. good sound insulation. sound absorption coefficient of the cork is 0.85. So the neighbors below will no longer have to complain about the loud walking, dancing or moving furniture;

Even shoes with thick heavy soles will not be able to squeeze out loud sounds while walking on cork

1. Environmentally friendly. It does not emit toxic substances or allergens, which once again proves the usefulness of the floor laying of cork in the nursery;
2. Slip resistance effect;

Cork stage less traumatic

1. antistatic. Cork does not accumulate electric charge therefore does not collect dust;
2. Humidity resistance. Stopper repels water due to what can be used for finishing bath;

The interior of the bath plug can be used not only for finishing the floor, but the walls

1. Fire. On the possibility of enhancing the fire safety should never be forgotten;
2. The lack of effect of absorbing foreign odors. And it is very useful in case of finishing the kitchen, which during its operation is always a lot of flavors generated during cooking;

Cork flooring in the kitchen and will smell like wood, not spices, fish or fried onions

1. Durability. Operational life of cork coverage is not less than fifteen years;
2. Easy maintenance. Dirt in the plug is absorbed poorly, the dust does not intend, and household chemicals it transports easily. So to keep clean floor under consideration will be easy;

Monitor the cleanliness of the cork floor is easy, because it is not afraid of wet cleaning, do not use in this household chemistry

1. UV resistance. It does not fade even after prolonged and direct exposure to sunlight;

In places of permanent fall sunlight tube does not lose its color saturation

1. Easy to install their own hands. Two types of products can be distinguished by the type of installation:

• Castle tube. At the ends of such products have special locks, such as those that can be found on the bunk or laminate. They are enough to connect the groove in the groove to obtain a finished coating;

Laying cork sections with no locking system is of great complexity

• adhesive cork. In this case, installation is performed with a special glue;

Laying cork floor adhesive requires additional tools

1. No harm environment. For example, the cutting of trees reduces the amount of "lungs" of our planet. But the periodic removal of bark from the cork oak does him no harm;

In the photo cork trees that live normally and develop bark

1. Exotic appearance. Cork looks apparently quite new and attractive, while having a nice looking warm brown tones typical of classic wood;

Cork flooring is not only practical, but also beautiful

disadvantages

Cons cork floor expressed the following features:

1. High enough price. Necessary trees do not grow in our region, therefore, and the bark with their costs in the post-Soviet space is not cheap. If we add more of its processing, then goes out and does an impressive amount. Although, because of the quality is worth paying?
2. Low strength "tear";

I do not recommend walking on the traffic in shoes with heels, and install it on furniture with sharp legs. Although it is resistant to mechanical shocks, but these things cause such material damage which it is already impossible to eliminate.

1. swelling of danger. Though the material in question, and has high moisture resistance, continuous contact with water may lead to swelling. So try to time to wipe the puddle formed on its surface.

As you can see, cork floor defects are not as numerous as his virtues.

examples

On the shelves of specialty stores can be found the following suggestions:

• «Granorte» Model:

«Granorte» model of its texture is very similar to conventional cork out of a wine bottle

• «Ruscork» Model:

«Ruscork» model has enhancing abrasion resistance coating

conclusion

You are familiar with the ins and outs of cork flooring. Videos in this article contains additional materials, and questions you can ask in the comments.

Stopper appreciate occupants and their appearance, and high performance