Which floor to choose: laminate or cork

Today, manufacturers have filled the market with various materials that are used as flooring. A large choice makes the choice of floor cover somewhat more difficult. Many people ask themselves: the cork floor or laminate - which is better? To make the right choice, you need to carefully consider the merits and demerits of materials. Based on the information received, you can do an analysis and find out what is best to use in a particular room at home.

Cork cover

Cork floor has such advantages:

• ecological compatibility;
• security;
• is pleasant to the touch;
• easy to install;
• possibility to use for finishing not only the floor, but also the walls.

Of course, the cork is environmentally friendly material. The material is made from a suberin. For production use a layer of bark, which is specially grown for this purpose. In the production process, the raw materials are subject to drying, crushing and pressing. Cork cover soft to the touch. Thanks to this, the cork floors in the nursery are the ideal solution. In addition, the material can be used in the bedroom and other areas of the house.

The cork floor is warm. Thanks to this it is very pleasant to walk on it. If we talk about elasticity, then the material does not deform under the weight of dimensional objects. Of course, this happens only with short-term contact. As for the installation of the material, it can be easily done by hand. The plates have a locking mechanism. Fit can be easily adjusted using even ordinary scissors. And this is even though the top layer of lacquer has a high strength.

Choosing the cork floor for different rooms

Of course, like other materials, the cork has some disadvantages. What are the disadvantages of the cork floors:

• The first disadvantage is the susceptibility of the material to mechanical damage. As a result of improper installation or mechanical impact, the plates may break. Hide such a defect is almost impossible. In places of fracture, the material darkens and begins to crumble. The only way out is to replace the entire sheet.
• High moisture absorption. Given such a disadvantage, it is undesirable to plug the cork in a bathroom where there is a high humidity. When wet, the material loses its strength and begins to deteriorate. And this means that cork floors for kitchen and bathroom are not the best option.
• Price. The cost of the cork is at a very high level. This is because the material is made from natural raw materials, which is very difficult to obtain. Also the cost of cork is affected by its class and quality of production.

Now the main advantages and disadvantages of the cork cover are known. So, you can easily solve the problem of how to choose a cork floor for an apartment. It remains only to consider the technical characteristics of the laminate. Comparing all the information, you can find out what is best for finishing this or that room in the house: a cork floor or a laminate.

Kind of plug

In the construction market, there are different types of cork flooring. Each of these species has its own characteristics. So, the cork floor types:

• Liquid coating. The material is applied as a paint and varnish coating. After drying, it acquires the properties of ordinary cork. The color of the floor can be changed with conventional paint.
• Sprayed coating. It is applied by means of a compressor or a pistol. The thickness of the sprayed layer is no more than 6 mm. As the reviews on cork floors in the apartment show, this method of installation is very simple and accessible.
• Adhesive coating. Plates are fixed together with a special glue.
• Locking cover. Mounted on the type of laminate. The fastening is carried out with the help of special locks.
• Technical coverage. It is often used as a substrate for the main coating.

With this information, you can choose a cork floor that perfectly meets all your needs and wishes.

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Laminate

Today, the market offers a wide selection of laminate that can be used for finishing the floor in the house. Various raw materials are used for its production. But, in order to assess its relevance to use for finishing a particular room, you need to carefully consider all the advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages of laminate include:

• Unique shape, which greatly simplifies installation. Mounting the floor of this material is very simple. Each board has the same dimensions. To lay the floor covering, it is necessary to properly mount the first strip of the laminate. When buying, special attention is paid to the quality of the lock system. Some deformations in this area will cause difficulties during installation.
• Water resistance. Laminate is able to withstand moisture. Of course, you should not check this quality in practice. Experts recommend carefully behave with a floor covering. To finish the bathroom and kitchen, you can use a moisture resistant material, which was subjected to special treatment during the production process.
• Heat resistance. Laminate is able to withstand short-term action of high temperatures. So, if a match falls on it or an iron is put on it, then there will be no trace left on it. When using the system "heat floor" the thermal stability of the material is significantly increased.
• Resistance to mechanical damage. In comparison with the cork, the laminate is able to withstand the pressure from the heels. As for severe loads, deformation is possible.
• Antistatic. Due to this property, the floor covering will not attract dust.
• Resistance to fading and contamination. Even under the influence of direct sunlight, the laminate retains its color. The stains are not absorbed, which greatly simplifies the cleaning of the floor.

Thanks to such numerous advantages, the laminate is widely used for finishing the floor in the living room, bedroom and even kitchen. But, like the cork, such a floor covering has some disadvantages. These include:

• the risk of acquiring a counterfeit of a poor quality;
• price.

Today, many manufacturers supply a wide range of laminate to the market. Unfortunately, not all companies produce high-quality material. In addition, there are also manufacturers who produce low-quality laminate for the products of well-known companies. As for the cost of laminate, it depends on many factors.

Conclusion

What to choose: a cork or laminate ?As you can see, the laminate and cork are somewhat similar. In particular, this concerns the aesthetics and ease of installation. But, if the technical characteristics that distinguish the material from the other, especially when it comes to finishing a certain room. So, the laminate can be used for finishing the floor in the bathroom. The cork, when wet, can collapse.

Thanks to the cork coating, you can significantly diversify the interior.

When choosing a floor covering, it is worth considering the features of the room. Thanks to this it will be possible to choose the best option. As for the cost, it is sometimes better to lay out a little more than you expected, and get a quality and durable floor covering. Laminate and cork have a small difference in price. Therefore, when choosing a material, it is first of all necessary to take into account the purpose of the room.

Video for selecting the cork floor for room