How to choose and independently put a cork floor

Cork recently was used as a material for the manufacture of flooring. Consumers prefer this material because of its aesthetics and naturalness.

A cork floor is made from the bark of the cork oak. The bark is cut from the tree, over time it grows again. The plug consists of a large number of isolated chambers filled with air.

Such floor ogneustoychiv, provides heat and noise insulation is susceptible to deformation.

Types of cork floor

Known 2 basic types of cork flooring. They have differences in the method of packing and the level of water resistance.

adhesive flooring - are made in the form of tiles. The entire area, they are glued to the base. This type of floor is durable, resistant to the effects of moisture. The disadvantages are the complicated installation and relatively high cost.
Suberic (floating) laminate - is made in the form of elongated strips with castle form of attachment. Stacking of such a coating is simple and does not require time-consuming. If necessary, this floor can be easily disassembled and reused in another room. Cork laminate has a lower resistance to moisture and shorter period of use. The price is much lower than that of the adhesive floor.

Choosing cork

Most cork flooring sold in our market, made in Portugal. Also present proposals to China, Poland and Spain. You should not be carried out at a low cost, it is necessary to give preference to well-known companies, representing high-quality products. Therefore, manufacturers Portuguese preferable.

Before buying you need to carefully examine the integrity of the packaging, check the stove itself to the presence of burrs and uniformity of the back surface. It is also important to compare the plates of different packages. To do this, you need to attach them to each other and make sure they fit snugly, without gaps.

Self laying floor made of cork - step by step guide

Step 1. Before laying like glue, and a floating cover is necessary to prepare a floor surface, align it. Alignment can be carried out by several methods:

strainer - the most common way. Poured concrete screed, then it is aligned grinder. Top veiled film of polyethylene and put the substrate.
Linoleum. Stacking the coating on linoleum, cork possible while flat floor underneath. There is no need in the substrate.
Plywood. The base of the plywood is attached to the tie and polished. The substrate is not necessary.

Step 2. Adhesive floor mounted on a flat surface. Performed markup room. The plug should be packed from the center of the room to the walls. It is necessary to find the center of the room and mark the parallel lines in the direction of the walls of this point.

Step 3. Fitting plates. Without the application of the adhesive must be placed boards around the room and make sure they lie flat, without bias. Otherwise require additional leveling floor.

Step 4. Next, adhesive is applied to the floor, after 30 minutes, can be stacked plate prelubricated adhesive.

Step 5. Held styling. It is necessary to carry it carefully, verifying the absence of gaps. Stove firmly pressed by hand. Next you need to fix the plate with a rubber hammer or soft roller. Addressing the glue should immediately be removed from the surface of the plate.

Across 48 hours glue dries completely.

Step 6. Grinding and degreasing is carried out after drying the adhesive layer. After polish or wax is applied for protection.

Features of laying a floating cork floor

Such a floor is laid similarly laminate assembly:

Stacking is carried from one wall to the opposite direction. Plates are connected using locks.
After installation, you must treat the finished surface varnish. It is also possible to use special sealants for the treatment of joints between the slabs.