The cork floor is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason - it has a beautiful structure and is easy to use. Undoubted advantages of cork floors include:
- Thermal insulation and sound-absorbing properties;
- Inertness to household chemicals;
- Low combustibility;
- Pleasant to the touch, springy and absolutely non-slippery surface;
- Durability.
There are a number of drawbacks: for example, some types of cork coatings can not be used in wet rooms. However, this problem is easily solved, it is enough to choose the "right" stopper.
Cork floor
How to make cork floors
Cork is a dead layer of the crust of Mediterranean oak, collected by special technology. Natural cork is light, not flammable, does not saturate with moisture, but it is quite expensive, besides it is difficult to find the right size. Therefore, manufacturers produce several types of coatings using natural cork:
A technical plug is a component of rough floors. Used for insulation and as a basis for the finish coat. The technical plug can be roll, granular and in the form of plates.
Floating cork floor - MDF parquet with cork. The installation of this floor takes place according to the lock technology, and the externally floating floor is similar to a laminate. He has a serious drawback: with insufficient seam sealing, any wetting results in a swelling of the MDF-base.
Adhesive cork floor - tiles of various sizes and colors. On the outside, a protective coating can be applied. Lay cork tiles on the glue, while sealing the seams. Adhesive coatings are inert to water, so they can be used in any premises.
Cork floor in the kitchen: advantages and disadvantages
The beauty of the natural texture of cork flooring fits perfectly into the interior of a classic style kitchen. Using tiles of different colors and shades allows you to create patterns and ornaments, which gives the idea of design an additional charm.
Cork floor in the kitchen
Preparing the rough floor
Cork floors can only be laid on a perfectly flat surface, so the preparation of the screed must be thorough. It is necessary to eliminate all irregularities and repair cracks. For better heat and sound insulation, the space between the cement screed and the walls can be covered with a granular cork.
Optimum use for preparation of the technology of self-leveling floors - this will allow not only to smooth the irregularities, but also to align the floor misalignments with the walls. Do not forget to dry the rough floor thoroughly before laying the cork.
After leveling the roughing floor, it is necessary to make a marking - the cork tile adhesive dries quickly enough and it can not be shifted. If the kitchen is not large, it is recommended to start the laying from the center, and tile to lay on a diagonal - so the space of the kitchen will visually expand. In a spacious kitchen, the styling should be started from the wall, which is the most free of furniture.
Laying of the adhesive cork
Before laying, the tiles must be kept at room temperature and humidity for at least 24 hours. If you are planning to make an ornament or a pattern - it will not be superfluous to arrange the tiles in the order of the stickers to check the combination of shades prior to gluing.
Fastening of cork tiles to the floor is done with special glue. If a tile manufacturer recommends a special brand of glue, it is best to follow its recommendations.
Special adhesive is not applied to the tile, but only to the substrate. If a conventional universal adhesive is used, it is applied to both the tile and the roughing floor for the time specified in the glue manual and the tile is firmly pressed against the floor. Rolled with a rubber firm roller from the center to the edges diagonally to improve adhesion.
Cork flooring
Stacking is done by butt, tightly pressing the edges of the tile, leaving no gap. The laying pattern depends on the shape of the tile. A rectangular cork tile is glued, shifting each successive row by 1/3.
Drying and Finishing
Dry the cork at room temperature for the time that the glue manufacturer determines. Usually this time does not exceed 48 hours. Some types of adhesive cork tiles have a waterproof coating and do not need finishing. If there is no such coating - do not regret the time and apply a special lacquer or oil.
Care of the cork in the kitchen
The floors in the kitchen are under heavy load, because the movements on the same place are quite active. Therefore, in order to avoid abrasion and discoloration, it is necessary to update the protective lacquer coating every few years.
The rest of the care for the cork flooring is the same as usual: cleaning, including wet, with the use of household chemicals is allowed. But rub floors with metal brushes can not, they can be damaged. With proper care, cork floors, as well as gullet, will last for a long time and will not lose their original qualities. Be sure to read how to choose a cork floor.
