Cork or laminate, which is better - the pros and cons of materials

PhD, site expert.

Mankind lives in a world of rapid change that encompasses all aspects of being “Homo sapiens”. It seems that recently a cork floor appeared on sale. Consumers are not used to such exotics, and manufacturers already offer cork laminate. True, it has an indirect relation to the latter, since instead of the laminated protection of the front side of the panel, which gave the name to the flooring and decorative film, it has several layers of varnish or, rarely, transparent vinyl. The new floor was given such a name, most likely due to the similarity of the structure of the boards and the method of connecting the panels to each other.

There is still little information about the new product. Therefore, buyers give their preference to more famous, well-developed types of building materials. Fill the gap and consider the pros and cons of cork laminate, talk about the structure of panels, installation technology and other nuances.

Cork and Laminate Construction

Both of these materials have a multilayer construction, but the layers of cork and laminated coatings themselves are different.

The cork floor consists of the following layers:

• Cork backing,
• High strength fiberboard,
• Compressed cork
• Cork veneer,
• Waterproof layer of protective varnish.

The design of the laminate looks a bit different and contains the following layers:

• Resin impregnated paper
• High strength fiberboard,
• Waterproof film
• A decorative film that can simulate different coatings,
• Acrylic clear paint.
• Sometimes the design of the laminate includes an additional soundproofing layer.

Despite some differences in design, laminated and cork coatings are very close to each other in terms of characteristics and manufacturing principle. Both materials have their own distinctive features, and if necessary, it is better to read about each of them separately. And then we will talk about the features of these materials.

Laminate and cork mounting technology

The arrangement of the presented floor coverings is carried out according to a similar technology, but not without differences:

1. Laying laminate flooring. Before installing the laminate, the old floor should be covered with a substrate that increases the reliability of the coating (read: "Substrate from cork under the laminate - pros and cons, characteristics"). The base with elevation differences or other flaws must first be leveled so that the laminate does not sag. Installation of the laminate is simple: individual plates are joined using special locks.
2. Cork. Cork can be installed not only on a cement screed, but also on top of a regular wooden floor. However, installing OSB boards as a substrate will not be superfluous. The cork is glued to the floor surface or connected using special grooves. The installed cork coating must be varnished.

Comparison of laminate and cork performance

When comparing laminate or cork, which is better, especially in the context of strength and reliability, the last word will remain with the laminate. The reason for this is the top layer of the laminated panels: it consists of fairly durable artificial materials. In addition, the laminate has several wear resistance classes, which makes it possible to choose the material depending on the expected load.

With a cork, things are not so good: in strength, it is inferior to the laminate, so its destruction usually occurs faster. In addition, external influences (furniture pressure or dropped hard objects) may leave marks or damage the cork. In addition to strength, cork is worse than laminate in terms of moisture resistance: the particleboard layer in the cork coating has a lower degree of protection than in the laminated coating.

When choosing a floor covering, cork or laminate, which is better, it is often necessary to make a start from the cost of the material. Cork coating will cost more, but its advantages in the form of environmental friendliness and safety are obvious. The cost of a laminate can vary quite widely - it all depends on the class of panels - but it will still be cheaper than a cork.

Floor Care

This question is also quite important, since caring for cork and laminate has some differences, and they need to be known before the material is selected.

When servicing a laminated coating, the following rules must be observed:

• Prolonged exposure to moisture is unacceptable
• To wash the laminate, you need to use a carefully squeezed rag, and dry cleaning is the best option,
• Hard brushes and harsh chemicals cannot be used when cleaning - they can damage the coating,
• Laminate is easily scratched, so you must not allow damage to it with metal objects.

Compliance with these rules will allow the laminate to last about a quarter of a century without repair and replacement of panels.

To prevent damage to the cork coating and significantly extend its service life, you need to follow these recommendations:

• Liquid spills on the floor should be minimized or eliminated,
• For wet cleaning, only mild detergents (preferably those recommended by the coating manufacturer) can be used,
• It is advisable to slightly moisten the cork floor throughout the heating season so that the material does not dry out (read: “Proper care of the cork floor”),
• To eliminate serious and difficult stains, you can use fine sandpaper, but after that you will have to apply varnish to this area,
• The pressure of the furniture legs on the cover should be eliminated even at the planning stage of the room.

When wondering if cork or laminate is better, everyone will find the answer for himself. Some prefer the laminate for its low cost and durability, while others prefer the cork for its environmental and technical indicators. In any case, the first thing to do is to consider all the options, study the photo and video materials, and only then opt for a specific coating.

What is cork laminate

Cork laminate appeared relatively recently, so it has not yet gained wide popularity. Its feature is that the top layer of the material is formed by a layer of cork, and not by the usual decorative and protective layers. To protect the material from external influences and moisture, the top layer is coated with a special varnish.

All layers of such a laminate:

• The bottom cork layer. Serves for noise and thermal insulation, stabilizes panel designs.
• The main (bearing) layer or fiberboard (HDF). Represents the basis of the panel, contains the locking part.
• Layer technical plugs. It forms an additional stabilizing layer that perceives loads.
• A decorative layer of cork veneer coated with protective varnish.

Such a structure makes the panels rather soft, which at first glance seems impractical, but operation shows that the material is perfectly perceived by touch and creates an atmosphere of unique coziness in the room.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cork laminate has a lot of advantages:

• High decorative qualities.
• Rough surface masks dust.
• The lack of electrostatic charge does not attract dust and small debris.
• The material is very pleasant to the touch, it is soft, creates a feeling of warmth.
• High soundproof properties.
• The surface has elasticity and the ability to return to its shape, which is why dents straighten out after a certain period of time.
• The material is environmentally friendly, does not emit harmful substances.

There are also disadvantages:

• The panels do not withstand point loads, for example, women's heels or furniture legs.
• The durability of such panels is slightly reduced compared to conventional types of laminate.
• The price of cork material is significantly higher than that of traditional samples.

These features largely follow one from another and are determined by the qualities of the main panel material..

What classes exist

Different grades of cork laminate have all the strength classes that exist in today's market.

These include:

• 31. The least durable material, suitable only for an apartment.
• 32. the most common class, is widely used for laying in private houses or apartments. Suitable for use in small offices.
• 33. Strong and steady material, ready for high loads on the canvas.
• 34. This strength class is designed for use in the most difficult conditions. The surface of a laminate of this class can be loaded to the maximum extent.

Specifications

All linear parameters of the material are in the usual framework and do not have any specific indicators.

Consider those that are characteristic only of cork laminate:

• Resistance to wear - about 70 cycles.
• Manufacturer's warranty - on average, 10 years.
• Deviations in the dimensions or geometry of the panels - not more than 0.5 mm.
• The thickness of the protective coating is 0.5 mm.
• Noise absorption indicator (average) - 10 dB.
• Resistance to roller elements of furniture (armchairs, etc.) - 25 cycles.
• Fire resistance complies with quality certificates and relevant standards.

Major manufacturing companies

Well-known cork laminate manufacturers include:

• Quick-Step (Belgium).
• Balterio (Belgium).
• Egger (Germany).
• Pergo (Sweden).
• Witex (Germany).
• Kronotex (Germany), etc.

The number of manufacturers is still quite small, but is constantly growing. With the growing popularity and distribution of material, the number of cork laminate manufacturers will increase..

Substrate Selection

Cork laminate initially has a lower layer of technical cork, theoretically designed to replace a substrate.

However, practice shows that laying material without an underlayer significantly reduces its soundproofing qualities, increases the risk of a quick failure of the lower layer of panels.

Therefore, experts unequivocally recommend the use of a foam polyethylene substrate, which will serve as a vapor barrier and will not allow capillary moisture from the ceiling to be absorbed into the lower layers of the coating.

The presence of a substrate increases the elasticity of the floor covering, which is perceived as softness and elasticity.

Styling technology

Since the design of the cork laminate lock is no different from the generally accepted one, the installation technique remains traditional. The first row of panels is laid along the wall with a small (4-6 mm) gap for the possibility of some movement of the material.

They are possible with thermal expansions or with a set of atmospheric humidity, contributing to the expansion of the base of the laminate. The first row is stacked immediately assembled or alternately, this is determined by the structure of the lock of the end part of the panels.

Then joins the second row, also assembled in whole or in one panel. The installation technique is simple - the panel joins the lock of the previous, already laid panel, at an angle of about 45 ° or less, the locking elements enter into interaction, after which the panel is lowered horizontally.

Reviews

Cork laminate is a relatively rare material, the best way to get any information about it is to get acquainted with the reviews of the owners of floor coverings from it. Here is what these people write:

As you can see, reviews have the most versatile focus, from positive to negative. The material is very specific, it should be treated as a separate type of flooring.

Conclusion

Cork laminate is still a newcomer among flooring, so the rise of its popularity is yet to come. The qualities of the material contribute to its distribution for housing, apartments or private houses, but such a laminate is not suitable for office premises.

Furniture on wheels, women's heels are not the best companions of soft material, so it is best to use it in the appropriate setting - bedroom, living room or in other parts of the apartment. Such material will also be a good choice for a children's room, where it can show itself in the most favorable quality.

Features of the type of laminate

On sale you can find two similar in structure type of laminate flooring, which is misleading to many, including professional builders - they are considered a cork laminate. From this follows a different interpretation of the panel structure, their advantages and disadvantages.

In the first type (see photo), the top is made of natural veneer covered with a laminating film. In addition, in the middle there is a compensating layer of vinyl. This is a classic luxury laminate, in which the bottom layer of the cork acts as a substrate. By the way, it is produced at enterprises producing various floor coverings, baseboards, platbands, etc., that is, not related to raw materials from cork oak.

A typical representative of cork laminate consists (the structure is shown in the photo below):

• from several layers of high-strength varnish or transparent vinyl - the top layer. The main and only function is the protection of cork veneer from mechanical damage.For comparison, we note that in this case, the protective layer does not create a textured surface and does not protect the floor from burning out (if there is no photo printing), which is characteristic of the laminating layer of a classic laminate,
• the second layer is cork veneer. And again we draw attention to the fact that the veneer of natural wood of various species cannot be the second layer of the cork laminate. If there is, this is again a classic,
• the third layer of pressed cork may or may not be present. It all depends on the manufacturer. For example, one of the best Egger cork manufacturers in the ranking doesn’t have it,
• the fourth layer is a carrier plate with a lock connection made of MDF (HDF). In moisture-resistant species, this part of the cork board is made of vinyl with quartz sand, as can be seen in the photo above,
• the bottom is made of cork. And here there is a difference between classic and cork type. Luxury laminate can be laid without a backing, as it has a compensating layer. Cork requires the presence of a substrate.

For information: for some reason, many materials indicate that the carrier layer for such a laminate is made of particleboard (sometimes they say fiberboard - this does not change the essence), which is very misleading to people who know what this material is: locks will be destroyed from the slightest load when walking. This is either ignorance of the subject of discussion, or a technical error, wandering from article to article.

Benefits

The cork laminate has a lot of advantages:

• long service life - manufacturers claim that with increased traffic it is uncharacteristic for apartments and private houses, the floor from the laminate will last at least 10 years. Updating the varnish layer or additional coating of the surface with vinyl will extend the life of another 5-10 years. At the same time, many large sellers of building materials claim that cork flooring will last at least 30 years. Perhaps this is so, but there is no way to check in practice - there is no cork floor even 10 years at the time the material was posted on the site
• good sound absorption. The cork itself perfectly absorbs sounds (sound absorption coefficient 0.85), but only in-room. Against structural noise, it helps a little. However, in combination with a correctly selected substrate, it turns into the quietest floor,
• low thermal conductivity - 0.037-0.043 W / (m * K). Thanks to this, such a floor, firstly, keeps the comfortable temperature in the room well, and secondly, warm to the touch - it does not remove heat from bare feet or a naked body. Therefore, cork flooring is good to lay in the children's room and bedroom,
• simple installation - the home master will easily cope with the installation work without special knowledge and experience,
• elasticity - the surface of the floor recovers its shape after relieving stress,
• easy care - can be washed with cleaners without abrasive components,
• the surface of the lamellas has an antistatic effect, as a result of which dust does not accumulate and it is pleasant to walk,
• high resilience. This property means that when dropped to the floor in most cases, dishes, cell phones and other gadgets do not beat. There are no complex injuries even if an adult accidentally falls onto the cork floor, and the child does not even notice that he has fallen - his nose, knees and elbows will remain intact. In addition, due to elasticity, there is a shock-absorbing effect while walking along the cork, which is important for people with problems of the musculoskeletal system and spine,
• convenient transportation - packaging due to its light weight and convenient size can be transported in a passenger car,
• the material does not decay and does not decompose, and also is not the basis for the propagation of fungus and mold,
• ecologically pure. At all stages of production, starting with the procurement of raw materials (oak bark) and ending with the manufacture of panels, substances harmful to human health are not used. Even natural glue - suberin,
• light weight - density 180-260 kg / m 3, which is important when flooring on a wooden base and on the balcony, where there is a high load on the balcony slab and without floor,
• high moisture resistance. This property is inherent only to those types of laminate where instead of MDF vinyl with quartz sand is used. Waterproof floors can be laid in the bathroom, in the kitchen, on the balcony and in the loggia,
• high decorative qualities compared to cork slabs - wood prints and other natural materials are applied to the panel using photo printing (see Egger collections).

Disadvantages

Unfortunately, a lot of advantages often outweigh the disadvantages:

• prohibitively high price for the middle layer of the population of Russia and the CIS countries,
• low tensile strength at a high point load - the top layer is damaged when walking on "pins" or when furniture is installed without special linings for legs,
• low level of wear resistance - in places of high traffic the varnish quickly wears out and dims,
• burns out in the sun. Only a few enterprises cover the surface of the panels with UV-resistant varnish (recently the trend has been disrupted, and an increasing number of manufacturers are using protection from direct sunlight, which is always indicated on the packaging),
• afraid of moisture if the bearing layer is made of MDF. Network users have repeatedly pointed out such a disadvantage as swelling of joints after wet cleaning,
• incompatibility with the “warm floor” - a powerful sandwich made of insulation (substrate, the bottom layer of the laminate, cork veneer) simply will not let heat up.

Popular manufacturers and prices

On the building materials market, you can find laminate with cork covering several companies:

They all have a different approach to product quality, its design, pricing policy. We give a rating of the 5 best cork laminate companies based on customer reviews.

ABERHOF. The German company “Aberhof” is distinguished by high quality and unique technologies, such as, for example, a special coating for locks, eliminating moisture from entering the joints of panels or adding ceramic particles to varnish, increasing the floor's life against abrasion. A variety of photo printing gives the laminate a cozy, warm look.

The price of cork laminate varies from 2,450 to 3,845 rubles / m 2.

EGGER. Another German company with a good level of quality of its products and a variety of patterns. At the same time, one of the few who orient their collections separately on floors for the private sector (apartments, houses) and commercial premises.

A distinctive feature of the laminate from Egger is that in its manufacture a specially treated bark of cork oak is used. Therefore, the floor has excellent heat and sound insulation properties. Another, at the same time important feature: the moisture resistance of the laminate, in connection with which it can not only be vacuumed, but also washed with a damp cloth. All products of the company are protected from ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, the owners do not need to be afraid of the appearance of brighter zones, burnt out under the sun.

Such a floor is very convenient for children's rooms, since it is completely non-slip, does not cause allergic reactions, and most importantly, when it falls, it is difficult to knock down the knees and elbows to the blood.

High moisture resistance allows you to lay the “Egger” cork in the bathroom, bathroom and even in the baths, more precisely in the dressing rooms. A nice feature is the presence of subsidiaries in Russia, which can significantly reduce prices compared to the cost of floors produced in Germany.

In Russia, brand laminate can be bought for 1,065 rubles / m2, although there are collections for 3,585 rubles / m2.

IBERCORK. The Portuguese producer of cork laminate Ibercork (Ayberkork) controls the production process at all stages, as a result of which a high-quality product goes on sale. This is evidenced by customers in numerous reviews, noting the ideal value for money. Among the advantages:

• durability,
• wear resistance
• large selection of drawings,
• high strength of the top layer,
• easy care.

In addition, the floor has good sound and heat insulation properties. You can buy a laminate for 1 990-3 216 rubles / m 2.

WICANDERS. The Portuguese company Wicanders was established back in 1868. During this time, from a small production facility, the enterprise grew into a huge corporation with branches around the world, including in Russia. The company's factories were among the first to launch cork floors, which are sold in 51 countries.

Wicanders products are characterized by excellent quality and a multi-layered structure of the board, which allows you to get a virtually silent and very warm floor.

The flooring is well suited for the bedroom and children's room. But laying a cork with a lock in the living room, bathroom and kitchen is undesirable - insufficient moisture resistance and a tendency to mechanical damage with an average intensity of walking.

The presence of production in Russia allows you to buy expensive premium products for 1,450-3,650 rubles / m 2.

GRANORTE. Another Portuguese company with high-end products.

Granorte flooring European consumers put in first place in all kinds of polls. And this is not surprising. The floors are the safest during operation: they cannot be slipped on, they do not accumulate static voltage, and, therefore, do not attract dust. In addition, the company is constantly diversifying the design of its products.

Attractive cost - 1 930-3 117 rubles / m 2, put the product on the list of the most popular cork floors.

Styling nuances

Cork laminate is laid using the same technology as a classic laminate. Step-by-step works are described in the articles “How to lay a laminate on a concrete floor?” and "How to lay a laminate on a wooden floor?"

Recall the order of work:

1. the base of the floor is leveled with either a self-leveling mixture or moisture-proof plywood - the maximum permissible differences in height are 2 mm,
2. packs with cork panels are brought into the room for 1 day and unpacked so that the carrier layer of MDF takes a geometric shape under the temperature regime of the room,
3. the procedure for laying panels is determined, which is described in detail in the material "How to lay a laminate - along or across a room?",
4. the place to start work is chosen — tips in the article “Where and how to start laying laminate flooring correctly?”,
5. a substrate is laid, which will be discussed below,
6. between the first row of the laminate and the wall, wedges or strips are laid to create a technological gap of 1.0-1.5 cm,
7. mounted first row. Before this, the lock protrusion is cut off at the board, since the lamellas are always stacked with the cut side to the wall. At the ends, the locks are closed using an insert or a special bracket,
8. the next row is laid with a shift in relation to the first row, according to the method of the so-called "brickwork". To do this, the first panel is cut to 1/3 or ½ length,
9. the panels of the second row are first inserted into the lock along the length, and then are hammered forward with a mallet, until the end lock clicks into place. It is strictly forbidden to hit the board itself. For this, inserts or mounting brackets must be used,
10. starting from the second row, a wedge is placed in front of the first panel so that during the closing of the end lock the panels do not move against the wall,
11. Before laying the last row, it is necessary to calculate the width of the strips so that, on the one hand, the technological gap is no more than the plinth, on the other, to prevent the laminate from joining the wall tightly.

Types of Cork Coatings

The resulting raw materials are used to produce a huge number of various useful things, from shoes to furniture. This material is also used for the production of floor products. In particular, apply:

• Thin veneer sheets - cut bark up to 3 mm thick. The surface is very bright, unique. Thanks to modern processing techniques (staining, tinting, smoking, etc.), designers present to the court buyers with surfaces with unique patterns and textures.
• Agglomerated composite (agglomerate), which is a granular crumb mixed with thermosetting binders. To obtain interesting colors, pigments are often added to raw materials.

The so-called cork flooring is produced from agglomerate - tiles for gluing to the floor. This is a fairly well-known finishing material with good noise-scattering and eco-friendly properties.

Manufacturers offer customers a choice of:

• pure cork coating,
• tiles or strips with a protective coating in the form of oil or varnish,
• products decorated with a decorative layer of veneer in a clean or painted form,
• products with decor printed on the surface in the form of river pebbles, grass meadows, sea sand, etc.
• finishing material with an adhesive bottom layer under the protective paper and many other varieties.

Separately, we note that cork is also used in a completely different class of flooring materials - multilayer laminated coatings.

Cork Laminate Structure

As you know, a classic laminate consists of several layers - a protective overlay, decorative paper, an HDF base and a lower stabilizing layer. Cork laminated parquet consists of:

• A layer of varnish or tinting protective composition. In some collections, this layer is missing in order not to spoil the aesthetic or tactile component of the floor.
• Decorative thin layer of veneer or agglomerate.
• Super dense HDF base plates. A click joint is cut around the perimeter, thanks to which a glueless floor assembly is possible.
• The stabilizing layer is a kraft paper impregnated with melamine resins. In the most expensive collections, it is replaced or supplemented by a layer of technical agglomerate with shock absorbing and sound-absorbing properties.

Differences between cork flooring and cork laminate

Thus, cork laminate is a multilayer finishing coating for the floor, in the production of which veneer or cork agglomerate is used. It differs in properties from the traditional cork finish. The table below shows the differences between them.

Types of Cork Laminate

Today, cork laminate is transformed from unprecedented luxury into a commonplace, and is found in homes and apartments of more families. Interestingly, there are several varieties of this flooring that differ from each other:

So, the classic version of the coating is the most common today - manually veneered from balsa wood, the appearance of which looks like a cork. The thickness of such a veneer is approximately 6 millimeters. What is noteworthy, in its composition there are no artificial additives, so it can be called environmentally friendly.

What are the types of cork laminate

A new-fangled trend came from Switzerland to Russia, consisting in finishing the floor coverings of apartments with cork laminate, with photo printing applied to it. As you can understand, this innovation has made the use of such a laminate really relevant, because now it can be decorated as you like.

It is better to choose a textured image in order to create a solid appearance of the finishing part. After applying the image, a primer takes place, and voila: you live not in a simple apartment, but in a house where the floor is a work of art.

Provided that the cork laminate was made using hydroplates, then it is not afraid of any moisture. It is this type of laminate that is usually used:

• for laying the floor in the bathroom,
• on the kitchen,
• on the ground floor of a house with a basement, etc.

You can choose any cork design, as photo printing gives a wide scope for imagination

The use of cork flooring is also great for small apartments, because due to the unusual structure of the floor, even small housing can acquire real comfort.

Today, the techno-array is also popular among cork floors, which is something averaged between:

The basis of this techno-array is the use of fiber boards of high strength and density, and on the sides, these panels are pasted with cork veneer, on top of which some photo composition is applied. Techno-massif is a new kind of cork flooring, and its service life instead of 10 years is 20.

There are new varieties of cork laminate, whose service life is constantly increasing

A separate type of cork flooring are laminates that have been decorated under the skin, such as snakes or crocodiles. The composition of this flooring includes natural fibers. Not only does it look stylish, its thermal insulation properties also improve.

Cork Laminate Classes

Cork laminate is represented by several classes of wear resistance, there are only three of them. Let's look at each of them in the table below.

Table 2. Classes of cork laminate

Class №31	Class number 32	Class number 33
This class is considered the lowest among all listed. The floors marked with them are used only in those rooms where the permeability is also considered low, that is: in bedrooms guest children's rooms, etc. Manufacturers of cork laminate on such floors usually indicate a warranty period of a maximum of 15 years, but more often 10, depending on the degree of final load.	The floors of the desired class are laid, as a rule, in rooms with a similar degree of load - medium. So, we are talking about: kitchens corridors hallways living rooms, etc. Provided that the 32 class coating is laid in the living room, its service life will be up to 15 years (when laying in rooms with low traffic it is 3-5 years longer). If the cork laminate of class 32 is put into a public premises, then it will last no longer than 5 one-year terms.	This class of wear resistance is the highest, and is considered the most suitable for use in passable residential premises, as well as in public spaces characterized by an average level of load. Provided that you lay the 33rd class cork laminate on the floor home, its service life is guaranteed to be at least 25 years, as for public places, then in conditions of much more active use, the shelf life of the coating will be 15 years. On average, cork laminate lasts from 10 to 20 years, depending on the class Cork Laminate Care Such a coating, like cork laminate, involves a lot more care procedures than the traditional variety of this floor covering, which are needed to extend its life. Regular care of cork laminate involves cleaning it of dirt, which should be carried out daily. So, for example, it would be advisable: daily sweeping the floor and wiping it with a wet mop, or vacuum the laminate to remove dust from the trash. The cork perfectly tolerates standard mop cleaning Such regular care is necessary so that the dirt does not accumulate, and you do not have to clean the coating harder, accidentally damaging it. It’s better to vacuum the floor several times a week than to wipe it for hours once a month, it will be more intact. Note: if you don’t have a vacuum cleaner, use a broom with soft rods or artificial bristles to sweep, as the floor is easy to scratch. However, even if you start using a vacuum cleaner, once a week still clean the coating with the wet method, but only after sweeping. A microfiber cloth or sponge mop is great as a washcloth. To achieve the best result, you need to add to the water: a few drops of a pH-neutral mop, or soap or a special tool for cleaning cork floors. As an affordable alternative, you can use white food vinegar in the following ratio: 60 milliliters of caustic liquid per 4 liters of water. So that the laminate does not fail, it must be rubbed with a protective polish about once every 6-8 months What is strictly prohibited: 1. Do not wet the rag so that the cork floor does not absorb moisture and does not swell. If you wet the floor too much, collect the liquid with an absorbent cloth. 2. Do not add too much detergent, as it may leave streaks. 3. Under the ban, use for cleaning cork floor products: ammonia whitening containing abrasive particles It is forbidden to clean the cork laminate with abrasive devices and tools 4. Brushes with coarse bristles, vacuum nozzles equipped with wheels, steam generators and other units that can damage the floor are not suitable for cleaning the coating. In addition to regular cleaning of the laminate, once a month you need to arrange general cleaning using the same detergents that we indicated above, diluted with water in a higher concentration. And once every 6 months or a little less often it is necessary to polish the floor or apply a protective layer on it. Polishing for cork laminate is sold in all construction stores. It allows you to: protect the floor from accidentally spilled moisture, prevent dirt from entering the coating structure, mask visible defects, seal the worn coating protect the floor from ultraviolet radiation. It is important to apply a polish to the cork laminate following the simple rules: only on a dry surface previously cleaned of dust and other contaminants, shaking the mass before use, rub the polish into the coating in a circular motion using a cotton cloth, give time to dry after application (approximately 30-60 minutes), if necessary, polish again. Every five years, under the condition of intensive use, and after 7 with an average load of the coating, it is necessary to update the laminate using special means, such as: polyurethane sealant, cork floor oil wax for cork, etc. Apply the funds according to the instructions, and then let it dry for 2-3 days. Cork Wax Rules for laying cork laminate The way of laying a cork laminate differs slightly from the method for a conventional laminate, and these differences are rather pleasant and make life easier. The connection of the plates made using the cork of the laminate occurs by the same floating method without the use of glue. Segments of the future sex are transformed into a single whole due to the ends located on their ends: The cork laminate is laid by the castle method, and despite the absence of attachment to the subfloor, it lies very tightly and firmly It is due to the presence of these two elements that the method of laying the laminate is called “locking”, since without fixing at the base, each of the laminate plates is fixed relatively reliably to each other. This way of laying has many advantages: it runs fast can be used in any room does not require specific building skills, allows the replacement of damaged plates, while not necessitating the opening of all floor panels or even several around a broken plate, the structure of the resulting coating is very dense. The cork laminate laying process Step number 1 - adaptation of the flooring to the climate inside the apartment or other premises Cork laminate is laid not only in living rooms, but also in offices and other common areas, where the load on the flooring is slightly higher. Nevertheless, in addition to such a factor as the intensity of wear, it must be borne in mind that within these premises parameters such as: Before you start laying the laminate, it is necessary that he is "used" to the microclimate of the repaired room In order to prevent the floor covering plates from expanding and narrowing, deforming each other, and laying on the rough floor once and for all, it is necessary to adapt the cork laminate to the above-mentioned indoor climate parameters by doing the following: introducing flooring material into the room, leave it unpacked for a period of 48 hours. In the specified amount of time, all natural metamorphoses will occur, such as the expansion of wood under the influence of moisture and heat, or its drying and reduction in dry air, so the laminate will take its final size. Step # 2 - leveling the base Despite the fact that the laminate, laid in a floating manner, does not require a perfectly even subfloor, and moreover, it can hide many small irregularities, nevertheless, for its even laying, at least the absence of serious errors is required. Before laying the cork laminate, you need to level the floor with a concrete screed or other mixtures leveling yourself So, according to the requirements of building codes, the preparation of the rough floor for laying any laminate should provide a height difference not exceeding 2 millimeters by 2 meters. However, the presented indicator was calculated for outdated generations of the considered flooring, today some manufacturing companies require a much less stringent ratio of 3 millimeters per 1 meter. As for local irregularities, the size of each of them in the rough field should not exceed three millimeters, then you can safely lay the laminate. Thus, after dismantling the old flooring, which you are now planning to replace with a cork laminate, it is necessary to level the subfloor with: cement screeds, mixtures leveling on their own. After alignment, the flooring of the draft layer should harden and become smooth. After it is worth rubbing it, cleaning it from excess debris, cleaning out irregularities and any cracks. After the condition of the subfloor reaches the “almost perfect” mark, you can proceed with the installation of the substrate for the cork laminate. Cement screed - the most popular and economical option for leveling the subfloor How to carry out all the work, we wrote in the article "How to make a screed". Detailed instructions, material calculators. Step number 3 - mounting the substrate The cork laminate substrate itself is not a mandatory element, however, it is advisable to lay it in those spaces in which water will potentially settle on the floor, for example: on the ground floor of a private building equipped with a basement, in the bathroom, on the kitchen, in premises of a technical orientation, etc. We will immediately mention an important point: moisture is the killer of the laminate of interest to us, since it leads to a very quick and obvious deformation of the coating, which can hardly be quickly stopped. This deformation manifests itself usually in the appearance of gap spaces between the laminate plates. Before laying the cork laminate, it is necessary to lay a substrate between the subfloor, either vapor barrier, or noise or heat insulation, if the parameters of the repaired building require it The substrate is needed in order to create a vapor barrier layer for the laminate, thereby protecting it from destruction and extending its service life. Foamed polyethylene is widely used as such a substrate. Its flooring is as follows: the material is applied directly to the subfloor, surely there is an overlap for the walls, equal to about 3-4 centimeters. The vapor barrier is superimposed with an overlap; all joints formed are fastened with adhesive tape. At this stage, in general, you can finish, unless you want to achieve additional effects from the substrate, such as: additional thermal insulation improved sound insulation, etc. The flooring of the substrate must be carried out according to the rules with a clear measurement of the inlet Provided that you still have noisy neighbors, or in the winter the floors in your apartment are unusually cold, then you can add to the vapor barrier layer: cork layer polypropylene backing. However, the materials listed above can not only create an atmosphere of silence and warmth in your home, but also even out the unevennesses remaining on the rough floor, which will greatly facilitate your further work on laying the laminate. Step No. 4 - laying the laminate with the "floating" method Now you can begin to lay the cork laminate on the previously prepared coating. Installation in this case will be carried out similarly to how a laminate from other types of wood is laid. During laying, the laminate should be periodically knocked out using a special bar and a regular hammer or mallet You need to start with laying laminate plates, produced in a row. You need to start from the far corner of the room and move towards the neighbor. As for the seams between the rows, in order to obtain a chess pattern that looks most organically in the case of a laminate, it is necessary to shift each subsequent row by half or at least a third. Panel mounting is as follows: spikes of the next segment of the flooring are threaded into the grooves of the laminate plate already laid on the floor, then gently push the board, while pushing the spikes further into the grooves, and laying it in a row. Laminate installation of the laminate is carried out using the "tongue-and-groove" method If you did everything right, the boards will snap into place. Now, a wooden laying block is placed on the end of the wall on the draft floor of the panel, on which you need to hit with a hammer several times. So you: seal the joints between the parts of the flooring, Do not damage the laminate. However, instead of the bar, you can use a mallet - a hammer with a wooden or rubber base, which even with direct interaction with the laminate will not leave any dents, cracks or chips on it. Remembering to seal the joints with the blows of a hammer or a mallet, continue to spread the laminate in rows, gradually covering the space of the entire room. When laying the coating, it is necessary to leave a gap between it and the wall in order to give the laminate a place for expansion It is very important to remember that during the laying of the cork laminate, between the coating, as well as walls, pipes, thresholds and other obstacles of various types, gaps of several centimeters should remain, since the laminate is a coating that gradually expands in any case over time. Provided that the size of the gaps left is too small, or there will be none at all, the laminate will rest against walls or other obstacles and begin to press on them, as a result of which the floor covering will deform, and everything will need to be started from the very beginning. Step number 5 - laying the baseboard In the previous step, we recommended that you leave gaps between the laminate and the walls, and now we need to learn how to mask these ugly distances so that they are not visible. Skirting can be closed not only the gap between the wall and the floor, but also the wires Such familiar material as a plinth - a curly “border” for flooring, made of a wide variety of materials, will come to our aid. Since we are considering laying cork laminate, it is better to choose skirting boards that are made of this unusual wood species to complement the overall surroundings of the room with such an elegant touch. However, if you do not have the opportunity to purchase an expensive cork baseboard, you can change it to: wooden product plastic option from MDF, etc. To fix the cork baseboard to the walls, it is necessary to use special mounting glue, other products may require the use of fixing devices, such as: Whatever you choose a skirting board, you need to fix it to the walls so that between the flooring and this interior detail there are about 2 millimeters. Cork and any other baseboard must be laid so that a few millimeters remain between it and the floor To summarize Cork laminate is a solution for those people who value comfort and coziness, but cannot afford to purchase a clean cork coating. However, you need to understand that the cost of a laminate is also not small, but quite tolerable if you really want to become the owner of a warm, soft, therapeutic therapeutic floor. Before you buy a specific coating, get advice from the seller, and he will help you choose the most suitable type of cork laminate. Which substrate to choose The presence of a lower layer of cork agglomerate in the cork laminate does not remove the problem of laying the damper layer between the base of the floor and the floor panels. But there is an important feature: the bottom layer of the laminate in itself is an elastic shock absorber. If you add a medium-thickness substrate to it, then the amplitude of the lamellas will be too large, which will destroy the locks. Therefore, to the question: what kind of substrate is needed for a cork laminate, the answer is simple - 2 mm thick. Only in exceptional cases can material be used with a thickness of 3 mm. It is necessary to choose from materials that have been used for at least 30 years so as not to disassemble the floor covering to replace the substrate. Details about the types of substrate, their properties and price can be found in the article "Which substrate to choose for the laminate." Cork Laminate Care Rules With proper care and regular updating of the varnish coat, cork laminate can last quite a while. Compliance with the rules of care comes down to a few simple rules. Do not walk on the floor in rubber shoes and thin heels. Dry cleaning is preferably carried out daily, wet weekly. Do not use hard brushes or detergents with chemically active substances. Difficult stains can be removed with fine sandpaper, followed by applying varnish to this place. Cork boards covered with vinyl must be rubbed regularly with mastic. If all the rules are followed, then the cork laminate will create coziness and comfort in the house for a long time. Interesting Articles Mosaic tiles: types, features, styling May 16,2024 Built-in refrigerators No Frost May 16,2024 A variety of types of chairs, their choice, taking into account the purpose and design May 16,2024