All owners of residential real estate sooner or later have to deal with the issue of choosing or replacing flooring. A reason for doubt or an argument in favor of a certain type of flooring is a thorough analysis of the technical and operational characteristics of the material. Some people are delighted, for example, from marble, for others it is unpleasant to imagine even for a minute that their little ones after sleep will get up and stomp on the tiles with bare feet, especially when the floor heating system is turned off or not.
Also, one cannot discount such an important factor as fashion, which determines the relevance of certain trends in interior design. Natural materials are currently in trend. The most advantageous option for arranging the floors of the house is wear-resistant high-tech coatings on a natural basis. Cork flooring is one of such popular progressive materials.
Cork, crust or oak?
The building material for cork floors is made from the bark of cork oak, which, by the way, has come to the focus of attention of specialists not by accident. The top layer of wood of this species, which is not subject to destruction for hundreds of years, has a unique structure: the microscopic pores of the bark are clogged with natural gases, which ensures that the material has a lot of quality advantages.
The production technology consists of a multi-stage process for processing natural raw materials: first, the bark is crushed, then the mass is heated to a certain temperature, after which the prepared material is sent to molds for pressing. As a result, manufacturers receive high-tech and environmentally friendly, multi-layer cork panels, ready to install. To extend the service life, the resulting blanks are covered with a protective layer of vinyl or varnish.
Advantages to Consider When Choosing a Cork Floor
Aesthetics of interior design . The harmony and beauty of the interior are integral components of the comfort that all people strive for. To satisfy aesthetic needs, color, style, decorative attractiveness of each element of our environment are important to us. Ornate natural patterns and a fairly wide range of eye-pleasing colors of cork slabs allow you to organically implement any design project, taking into account the personal taste preferences of the inhabitant of the room.
Comfortableness . Since each owner wants to settle in his own house with maximum comfort, it is quite logical that, first of all, he is interested in the operational properties that are inherent in cork material:
thermal insulation;
soundproofing;
moisture resistance;
ease of care;
environmental friendliness.
High shock absorption properties . Cork has a truly unique ability to regain its shape. Any dent, even left by a heavy chest of drawers or sofa, eventually disappears due to the specificity of the porous material to return to its original state.
Due to the shock absorption, another positive quality is found - the orthopedic effect on the human musculoskeletal system while walking. The elastic, slightly springy floor provides a soft contact of the legs with the coating, thereby relaxing the intense impact on the spine.
These practical floors perfectly withstand dry and wet cleaning with household chemicals (without the use of abrasives). It is gratifying to note that this coating is clearly too tough for wood-boring beetles.
Glue or cork parquet - what to choose?
When the final choice in favor of practical cork floors has already been made, the next question may arise regarding the choice of installation method. As a rule, they choose from 2 options: adhesive and floating floors.
Adhesive cork floors are mounted on the prepared surface using a special adhesive. The reliability of this technology makes it possible to use cork even in rooms with high humidity: in the bathroom or in the kitchen. The service life of such floors is at least 10 years, floating floors serve somewhat less. This type assumes the fastening of thicker (up to 12 mm) individual cork slabs with grooves at the joints (like a conventional laminate) without additional fixation to the floor (directly to a concrete screed or substrate).
At the end of our conversation, I want to remind you of a few important points that you should definitely take into account at the stage of gender selection:
The quality and service life is largely determined by the quality of cork materials and the professional level of installation work, including thorough preparation of the surface for cork.
In crowded premises with fairly intensive use, it is advisable to use a coating with a thickness of 3-6 mm, which demonstrates the highest degree of resistance. The optimal cork thickness for the house is 6 mm.
To avoid accidental scratches and ruptures of the floor surface, sharp metal legs of interior items should be insulated with plastic or felt pads.
If your house has pets with sharp teeth and claws, which from time to time they want to sharpen, then, alas, the most reliable and durable cork floors may not withstand aggressive mechanical influences.