Technology for laying cork on the floor. Laying cork flooring: how and where you can

The growing popularity of cork floors is explained quite simply. Good sound and heat insulating qualities, impact resistance, and quick DIY installation make the coating very attractive in the eyes of homeowners.

But it should also be taken into account that the installation of an adhesive cork floor is more complicated than a conventional one, which is installed using the floating method ( lock system"tenon and groove").

Adhesive cork floor coverings are plates with a cross section from 4 to 8 mm and dimensions of 30x60, 15x45 or 15x60 cm. They are made from a mixture of granulated cork oak bark and thermosetting resins.

Often to emphasize beauty and create beautiful panels Manufacturers produce multi-layer products, which are based on a slab of fine-grained cork or PVC base, with cork veneer glued on top, coated with durable varnish (polyurethane or alkyd-urethane). Various decors - from natural wood to metal, stone. Veneer can repeat or imitate the texture of natural materials.

Before gluing cork floors, you need to stock up the right tool and choose the optimal glue for this job. Tools you will need:

1. Tape measure, square and pencil for marking.
2. A small rubber roller for subsequent rolling of floor elements.
3. Rubber comb spatula for spreading glue over the base.
4. Rubber mallet.
5. Drill for drilling holes for water pipes or heating pipes, columns and other immovable structures.
6. Jigsaw with blade for wooden parts(small teeth) for cutting the tiles of the final and wall rows or a hacksaw for wood.
7. Sponge or rag to remove glue residue from the surface cork covering.

When choosing an adhesive, you first need to focus on the quality of the cork tiles and the type of base. It would be a good idea to get advice at the place where you purchased the coverage. As a rule, manufacturers recommend that points of sale sell a certain type or brand of adhesive products that are ideal for cork. The same instructions are given in the instructions on the package insert or information brochures from the manufacturer.

Let's consider the most popular adhesive compositions from the point of view of companies that sell cork coverings:

1. Cascoflex. The adhesive has reactive components and does not contain a volatile solvent, therefore it is considered safe for people with diseases of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. The drying time is long - at least 2 days, so correction or adjustment of the tiles is allowed.
2. Decol Vern. Universal two-component neoprene adhesive composition based on solvent. Suitable for any type of cork tile, due to the hardener it quickly polymerizes, so correction is possible only in the first 10-20 minutes after applying the composition to the base and reverse side cork floor.
3. PVA. Waterproof polyvinyl acetate composition, which is recommended for installation of non-compacted tiles with a protective polyvinyl chloride coating. Direct contact with the cork can cause the floor to swell and create cracks.
4. HomaCol. Quick-setting water-dispersion adhesive, well suited for gluing cork to concrete and wooden base, quite safe, non-toxic.
5. Thomsit UK 400. Universal adhesive composition, easy to use. Requires a perfectly smooth and dry base, applied to both surfaces to be bonded.

Proper gluing of cork tiles requires compliance temperature regime– from +18 to +24 °C, as well as a certain humidity – from 30 to 60%. Under these same conditions, acclimatization of the finishing material occurs.

Laying technology

The basis for laying cork flooring can be concrete screed or wood covering. The main requirement is a smooth, dry base without defects (pits, chips, potholes), oil and other stains.

If necessary, the concrete floor must be leveled using cement-sand screed(at large differences or damage to the base) or dry ready-made mixtures on a gypsum and gypsum-cement base (floor levelers and self-leveling subfloors).

The preparation period can last for a month, since this is exactly the period required for the screed to gain the required strength and dry completely. After the expiration date, it is recommended to treat the base with a primer deep penetration for strengthening and dust removal.

Wooden floors require no less attention. The floor needs to be sanded or sanded with coarse sandpaper using parquet sanding machines, the “humps” must be removed, and various defects. Weak strips should be re-glued or tightened to the base with self-tapping screws.

If desired, you can lay plywood or OSB, secure it with hardware in increments of 30-50 cm crosswise, and sand the surface with a surface grinder. Additionally, to protect against mold or bugs in the future, you can prime the floor with antiseptic compounds.

A day before installation, it is recommended to bring the adhesive cork flooring into the room and leave it unpacked for acclimatization. The floor covering is removed from packaging immediately before installation.

All tiles must be inspected for defects or different colors; it is advisable to make a preliminary layout on the floor. This will show both the design and ways to minimize waste. After preparatory stage the base is marked.

Installation starts from the center of the room. To do this, cords or fishing line are pulled diagonally from the corners and secured to rods or nails. The center is taken to be the place where they intersect. In addition, you will need guides (profiles) - two perpendiculars relative to the walls of the room.

You can begin a trial installation of beacon tiles. The process is carried out without applying glue. At this stage, the dimensions of the wall tiles that need to be cut are specified. Their width should be at least half of the solid plank.

For convenience, laying the cork floor with glue is done in two steps: first one half of the room, then the other. The cut tiles are laid in a final row along the outer wall.

It should be taken into account that when using two-component or water-dispersion adhesive compositions, the surfaces are bonded quite quickly, so adjustments must be made as soon as possible.

The actual laying of the adhesive cork floor begins with gluing 6-8 tiles in two directions at right angles. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the tight fit of the elements - gaps between them are unacceptable.

The glue is evenly applied both to the base and to the back side tiles Less often - only on the basis. Area covered adhesive composition area of ​​the main coating should be larger size laid tiles.

After allowing the adhesive mixture to dry a little, the tiles are firmly applied to the base and tapped with a rubber mallet to improve the fit. The surface of the tile along the edges is wiped with a damp sponge to remove any glue that has come out. Each subsequent row is pasted offset from the previous one, that is, in a checkerboard pattern. The last to be glued are the cut tiles.

Depending on the type of adhesive cork floor (varnished or uncoated), after drying it is coated with alkyd-urethane or polyurethane varnish. This significantly increases the wear resistance of the coating. Acrylic compounds are not recommended for use, as they wear out quickly.

What to do if the cork floor comes off after installation

Unlike floating interlocking floors, adhesive cork floors come away from the base much less frequently. The fact is that between the tiles mounted using the tongue-and-groove method and the base there remains air gap, under which moisture may get in. Plus, lock joints are not always perfectly tight.

At poor quality installation dampness can penetrate into the adhesive and under the glued coating. In this case, there is a high risk of swelling of the cork floor and the appearance of mold and mildew. In this case, it is necessary to dismantle the affected area and treat it with special means.

You cannot glue old tiles; you will have to purchase new ones.

Also cork panels may come off due to the “warm floor” heating system. The recommended level is no more than +25 °C. Failure to comply with this condition leads to the glue drying out, the appearance of cracks between the tiles, and finally, to swelling and damage to the integrity of the cork sheet.

Correcting the situation is quite simple. You don’t even have to resort to the help of specialists. You need to remove the peeling panel, dry it, clean the base and glue the tile back. If the moment has already been missed and a fungus has grown under the plug, then the affected panel needs to be replaced.

Video about cork floor installation technology and the main mistakes:

Search interesting solutions for apartment renovation? How would you like to install a cork floor? Don’t know what it is, what the benefits are for you and how to do it? Everything is very simple. Let's look at what cork flooring is and how to lay it correctly.

The material for making cork is the bark of the cork oak tree. The bark is removed from trees that are 25-30 years old, but it is not used in construction. Then, within 6-9 years, the bark is restored, it is removed again (if the technology is followed, no damage is caused to the tree). And this material is already used for the manufacture of various products.

According to technology, cork fabric can be divided into types:

• veneer is the most expensive type of cork;
• agglomerate - the most cheap option(made by pressing at high temperature crumbs with the addition of various resins);
• combined - both pieces of veneer and crumbs are used for production.

Finished panels can be processed various compositions, which affect the properties of cork and give it greater strength and moisture resistance.

Pros and cons of the material

Benefits of cork floors:

• excellent heat and sound insulation;
• cork - the material is elastic and resilient, does not creak, does not slip, it is pleasant to walk on it;
• cork does not rot and is fireproof;
• the material is hypoallergenic, does not attract dust and does not accumulate static electricity;
• cork floors can withstand high pressure, including point ones.

Flaws:

• like anyone natural material, the cost of cork panels is higher than the usual laminate or parquet boards;
• the base for the cork covering must be perfectly level;
• if there are cats or dogs in the house, then claw marks may remain on the cork flooring;
• over time protective layer is erased and paths remain in places of heavy traffic.

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Types and options of cork flooring

1. Floating type (you can find the name cork parquet). Available in the form of panels with locks and consists of a layer of cork glued to an MDF panel.
2. The adhesive type is produced in the form of square or rectangular shape. Sizes may vary. A protective layer can be applied on top.
3. Technological cork is sold in the form of rolls or plates and is used as a substrate.

For final finishing, the first 2 types are widely used, it all depends on your choice. It should be taken into account that if you plan to lay cork in a bathroom or toilet, then you need to give preference to the adhesive type. This is due to the fact that it is treated with a special compound that prevents the floor from swelling.

Floating cork flooring is best used in a room with a low level of humidity: in a bedroom, nursery or hallway.

To lay a cork floor with your own hands, you will need:

1. Pencil.
2. Roulette.
3. Square for precise cutting of panels at right angles.
4. Long ruler.
5. Chop cord.
6. Construction knife. It can be used to easily cut adhesive-type cork panels.
7. Spatula or roller for applying adhesive to floors and cork boards.
8. Electric drill. Useful if you need to drill holes, for example, for heating pipes.
9. Fine-toothed hacksaw or jigsaw. These tools are useful for cutting floating panels.
10. Rubber hammer for fitting cork slabs into place.

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Cork flooring technology

Surface preparation

Before laying the cork covering, the surface must be leveled, if necessary. It must be dry, clean and primed.

Old flooring You don’t have to remove it, but lay the cork covering on top.

Laying cork flooring with glue:

1. Before laying the 1st row of cork tiles, you need to use a construction cord to mark the main line along which its assembly will begin. This can be diagonal from opposite corners of the room or laid in a straight line along the walls.
2. Draw a pencil line using a ruler along the chop cord.
3. When working with glue, you must use a respirator, for example RPG-67. Cork tile adhesive is flammable and has a pungent odor. After work, the room must be thoroughly ventilated.
4. Apply glue evenly to the base using a spatula or roller along the marked line.
5. You also need to apply glue to the panel and let it dry for 10-15 minutes.
6. Then attach the panel to the base and tap the entire surface with a rubber hammer.
7. In some places it will be necessary to adjust the cork panels. To do this, marks are made with a pencil, using a square or ruler, markings are made and construction knife the excess part is cut off.
8. After laying the tiles on the floor, it is necessary to cover it with 2-3 layers of varnish. A two-component polyurethane varnish is perfect for these purposes.
9. The glue dries within 24 hours. It is advisable not to walk on the laid panels during this time to avoid their displacement.

Today's flooring market is quite diverse. We are interested in cork flooring. They come with a lock (or “floating”) and adhesive. Or rather, the nuances of laying cork floors.

In this article we will dwell in more detail on the process of laying cork flooring with glue.

As in any matter, you need to carefully prepare before installing the adhesive plug.

We will also show a video of installation and photographs of what will happen at the end of the work.

Preparing the floor for installation

Firstly, the peculiarity of laying cork with glue is that the cork sheets are laid directly on a concrete base or on plywood. Smooth concrete base - perfect option for laying the adhesive plug. Modern Construction Materials allow you to get a smooth surface without defects such as cracks, bulges and dents, the presence of which is absolutely unacceptable if you want to have a beautiful, pleasing to the eye floor.

Important! At the stage of preparing the base for the adhesive plug, do not skimp on a good leveling mixture such as Vetonit Plus (“Optiroc”), Uzin-NC 145 (“Uzin”), Emfisol P2 (“EMFI”), etc. After all, the better prepared base, the easier the installation process will be.

If the floor is wooden, it is recommended to lay sheets of thick, high-quality plywood on it and secure them well with screws. The joints of the sheets must be puttied and thoroughly sanded. The base must be dry. Before gluing natural cork coverings, you must make sure that the humidity concrete base does not exceed 2.5-3.0%. Humidity control is carried out using special devices such as CM Tester, Hidromette E80 or GANN RTU 600. If the base humidity exceeds valid values, the use of special formulations Barreira 1 or Barreira 2 is recommended.

The base must be clean. The surface of the base should be free of paint residues, oils, wax, old glue and other substances that reduce the adhesion of the glue. Dust can form a separating layer between the adhesive layer and the base, which significantly reduces the strength of the adhesive joint. For this reason, the floor surface must be thoroughly vacuumed before installation.

The air temperature in the room should not be lower than 18º C, humidity - 40-65%.

Also, do not forget to choose the right glue for cork floors, and familiarize yourself with the types of cork floors

Preparing the cork for installation

So, you have a perfectly flat, strong, dry and clean base. (the surface is considered flat if the gap between the control strip and the surface being tested does not exceed 2 mm over a length of 1 m, and no more than 4 mm over a length of 2 m. To minimize the presence of dust on the surface, we recommend priming it with a deep penetration primer.

Another important point which cannot be ignored: the cork material must rest in a room ready for installation for at least two days, undergo so-called acclimatization to avoid deformation of the material after installation.

Glue plug installation tool

While the cork is curing, prepare the necessary equipment:

• ruler (preferably metal);
• roulette;
• paint pencil;
• technical knife;
• brush with natural bristles (100mm - optimal width), in this case it is advisable to trim the brush, leaving about two centimeters of pile.
• rubber hammer;
• glue;
• microfiber roller (for water-based varnishes);
• container for varnish.

The cork is glued with a special glue for cork coverings, which comes in two types: glue on water based and solvent containing adhesive. But we must remember that all water-based glue has significant drawback- fear of moisture. In case of possible flooding, there is a risk of cork coverings peeling off. From this point of view, adhesives containing solvents are preferable.

In turn, solvents can be limited or synthesized. Organic solvent glue is more environmentally friendly. We can recommend glue such as Cork House or Bunitex.

Important! All brands of glue based on any solvent are flammable and toxic to one degree or another). Therefore, it is necessary to carry out work with respiratory protection (respirators) and open areas of the body (overalls) and when constant influx fresh air.

Features of laying the adhesive plug

The peculiarity of laying the adhesive plug is that the laying begins not from the edge of the room, but from the center. Therefore, it is important to make the markings correctly and accurately, which is one of the key points. The final appearance of the cork covering after installation depends on the correct marking. To make the markings, you need to carefully measure and draw a straight line parallel to the wall in the center of the room and another parallel to the first at a distance of the width of two tiles. Or draw a straight line diagonally across the room if you have diagonal installation.

Do not stack cork sheets all in a row. , and each plate has its own unique pattern. Therefore, you have the opportunity to realize your artistic taste and, having examined each plate, lay them out and select the design on the cork the way you like. After this preparatory moment, you can proceed directly to installation.

Laying cork flooring We start from the center of the room. It is important to glue the first tile perfectly along the line. After all, even the most minimal deviation from a straight line when laying the first tile towards the end of the room can give a significant error, which will affect appearance the entire floor.

When using contact adhesive, it is necessary to apply the adhesive on both surfaces: on the base and on the tile itself, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.

To get tight joints, the plates are glued with a slight overlap on the previous one, while holding the edge of the plate so that it does not stick prematurely. The free edge of the plate is pressed, after which the entire plate is pushed into place, and the resulting microwave, as it were, is driven towards the joint, then the joint will turn out to be very tight. those. The plates are stacked "pull". The joints must be tapped with a rubber hammer for a tighter fit.

Difficult installation moments

Difficult moments: pipes and jambs. Near the pipes central heating the cork is placed using a paper template, which is placed on a piece of tile of the required width; the place where the pipe will be is carefully drilled or cut out (the plasticity of the tile allows this to be done quite simply and easily). If there are already jambs, they will need to be filed down. To do this, place a cork sheet next to the jamb with the back side up, and pressing a hacksaw tightly against it, file the jamb so that the cork sheet can fit under it.

Cork sheets should be laid staggered so that the joints are invisible. We must remember that cork sheets can be different sizes with or without chamfer. When laying cork with a chamfer, you need to ensure that the joints alternate rhythmically, then the floor will have a more beautiful finished look.

Varnishing a cork floor

After the cork is laid, it is necessary to coat it with varnish. There are cork coatings with prevarnish (a layer of varnish already applied). This cork can be varnished in two layers.

If there is no traffic jam varnish coating, it must be primed with a primer from the same manufacturer as the varnish that covers the floor. We recommend IRSA primer and varnish (Germany). Some craftsmen suggest treating floors with varnish diluted with water as a primer, but we believe this is absolutely incorrect and unacceptable. Use a primer and varnish intended for these purposes, then your floors will be guaranteed to have the wear resistance class declared by the manufacturer.

Important! Before applying varnish, the floors must be thoroughly vacuumed, because... Every tiny speck of dust will be visible and impossible to remove.

How much does it cost to order cork flooring?

Since the process of laying adhesive plugs is very difficult and requires the installer to have certain skills, we recommend contacting certified teams specializing in this area finishing works. The cost of the work varies depending on the installation method (straight or diagonal), the width of the cork lamellas being laid (the smaller, the higher the complexity of installation) and the thickness of the cork material. If it is 4 or 6 mm cork, the cost of installation will be from 300 rubles/m², 8 mm cork will cost you from 400 rubles/m², and if you decide to decorate your home with artistic cork parquet, the price tag for installation may start from 600 rub/m².

View the full list

Are you looking for interesting solutions for apartment renovation? How would you like to install a cork floor? Don’t know what it is, what the benefits are for you and how to do it? Everything is very simple. Let's look at what cork flooring is and how to lay it correctly.

Cork floor installation diagram.

The material for making cork is the bark of the cork oak tree. The bark is removed from trees that are 25-30 years old, but it is not used in construction. Then, within 6-9 years, the bark is restored, it is removed again (if the technology is followed, no damage is caused to the tree). And this material is already used for the manufacture of various products.

According to technology, cork fabric can be divided into types:

• veneer is the most expensive type of cork;
• agglomerate - the cheapest option (made by pressing crumbs at high temperatures with the addition of various resins);
• combined - both pieces of veneer and crumbs are used for production.

Finished panels can be treated with various compounds that affect the properties of cork and give it greater strength and moisture resistance.

Pros and cons of the material

Benefits of cork floors:

Cork floor characteristics table.

• excellent heat and sound insulation;
• cork - the material is elastic and resilient, does not creak, does not slip, it is pleasant to walk on it;
• cork does not rot and is fireproof;
• the material is hypoallergenic, does not attract dust and does not accumulate static electricity;
• Cork floors can withstand high pressure, including point pressure.

Flaws:

• like any natural material, the cost of cork panels is higher than the usual laminate or parquet board;
• the base for the cork covering must be perfectly level;
• if there are cats or dogs in the house, then claw marks may remain on the cork flooring;
• Over time, the protective layer wears off and tracks remain in areas of heavy traffic.

Types and options of cork flooring

1. Floating type (you can find the name cork parquet). Available in the form of panels with locks and consists of a layer of cork glued to an MDF panel.
2. The adhesive type is produced in the form of square or rectangular tiles. Sizes may vary. A protective layer can be applied on top.
3. Technological cork is sold in the form of rolls or plates and is used as a substrate.

For final finishing, the first 2 types are widely used, it all depends on your choice. It should be taken into account that if you plan to lay cork in a bathroom or toilet, then you need to give preference to the adhesive type. This is due to the fact that it is treated with a special compound that prevents the floor from swelling.

Two ways to lay cork flooring.

Floating cork flooring is best used in a room with a low level of humidity: in a bedroom, nursery or hallway.

To lay a cork floor with your own hands, you will need:

1. Pencil.
2. Roulette.
3. Square for precise cutting of panels at right angles.
4. Long ruler.
5. Chop cord.
6. Construction knife. It can be used to easily cut adhesive-type cork panels.
7. Spatula or roller for applying adhesive to floors and cork boards.
8. Electric drill. Useful if you need to drill holes, for example, for heating pipes.
9. Fine-toothed hacksaw or jigsaw. These tools are useful for cutting floating panels.
10. Rubber hammer for fitting cork slabs into place.

Cork flooring technology

Surface preparation

Before laying the cork covering, the surface must be leveled, if necessary. It must be dry, clean and primed.

You don’t have to remove the old flooring, but lay cork on top.

Laying cork flooring with glue:

Cork floor installation diagram.

1. Before laying the 1st row of cork tiles, you need to use a construction cord to mark the main line along which its assembly will begin. This can be diagonal from opposite corners of the room or laid in a straight line along the walls.
2. Draw a pencil line using a ruler along the chop cord.
3. When working with glue, you must use a respirator, for example RPG-67. Cork tile adhesive is flammable and has a pungent odor. After work, the room must be thoroughly ventilated.
4. Apply glue evenly to the base using a spatula or roller along the marked line.
5. You also need to apply glue to the panel and let it dry for 10-15 minutes.
6. Then attach the panel to the base and tap the entire surface with a rubber hammer.
7. In some places it will be necessary to adjust the cork panels. To do this, marks are made with a pencil, markings are made using a square or ruler, and the excess part is cut off with a construction knife.
8. After laying the tiles on the floor, it is necessary to cover it with 2-3 layers of varnish. A two-component polyurethane varnish is perfect for these purposes.
9. The glue dries within 24 hours. It is advisable not to walk on the laid panels during this time to avoid their displacement.

Installing a floating cork floor

Before laying cork panels, it is necessary to lay a substrate on the base.

The substrate for these purposes is unusual. It is also made of cork. If the surface is fairly flat, you can take a 2 mm backing, for small unevenness - 4 mm.

Assembling interlocking panels is not much different from laying laminate flooring. The 1st row must be laid from the wall along the light falling from the window. This way the joints will be less noticeable. The smaller castle would face the wall. It must be remembered that a thermal gap of 5-10 mm must be left between the wall and the panel. Spacer wedges of suitable width are ideal for this purpose.

Design of a “floating” cork covering.

The panels are connected using locks. After snapping each panel into place, they are lightly tapped with a rubber hammer to ensure a secure connection without gaps.

After laying all the panels, the plinth is attached, which will hide the gap between the wall and the laid panels. You can choose any baseboard, but cork will look great.

So, the time required to lay floating cork panels will be much less. A protective layer has already been applied to them, so no additional processing is required.

When laying, you do not need to work in a respirator, and then ventilate the room and wait for the glue to dry. But floating panels have their drawbacks. The main one is that joints are afraid of moisture and dirt can accumulate in them. Therefore, they require more careful maintenance than adhesive-type cork boards. Tip: Do not plan to install cork flooring over underfloor heating. You will not achieve the desired effect, but the cork itself is a warm material.

Let's summarize: laying a cork floor with your own hands is very simple, you just need to follow the recommendations outlined. Adhesive flooring is more expensive to install, but it is easier to use. And with a floating cork floor, installation work is cheap, but during operation it requires more attention and care.

How to lay cork flooring? Laying interlocking cork flooring is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. A video on installing floating cork floors and recommendations from experts will help you get the job done.

Floating cork floor. What is this?

Interlocking cork floors are often referred to as “floating.” The panels are connected to each other in a manner reminiscent of laying laminate flooring. A tongue-and-groove system is used.

They are not tightly attached to the base. If necessary, the coating can be disassembled. The joints are glued special glue for cork that is not afraid of moisture.

To arrange the castle floor, cork panels are used, consisting of several layers. Veneer is glued on top valuable species wood or cork. The unique design of each panel makes the interior unique.

How to properly install interlocking (floating) cork flooring

Useful tips for installing cork floors yourself:

• Before you begin installing your cork floor, purchase tools and materials. Don't forget about plastic film and a cork backing for the insulating layer;
• After purchase, the coating must be placed in the room where installation will take place for a day or two to acclimatize it;
• Do not perform work if the room is cold: below +17C - +18C;
• Prepare the base. If the old one is linoleum or carpet, it is important to check that it is perfectly level. Deviations from the norm are unacceptable - there will be distortions of the cork slabs;
• The concrete surface must be dry, clean and always level. Consequences of level violation - poor-quality joining, distortions, etc.;
• To cut slabs, use a fine-toothed hacksaw or jigsaw. A square is useful for marking perpendicular angles.

Video on how to lay cork flooring.

Laying technology

• Work begins with installation polyethylene film and substrates, if the base is a cement screed;
• If the base is carpet or PVC coating (linoleum), it is enough to clean it;
• The first panels are attached in the front right corner, always perpendicular to the window. The joints are so invisible;
• In the first row, the end parts of the panels are connected. To do this, the end of each panel following the one already laid is applied at an angle of 30 degrees to the previous one;
• The panel is carefully lowered to the floor and the lock secures the connection. Lightly tap the short end with a rubber mallet. right side through a small piece of panel inserted into the lock located on the short side;
• Be sure to leave a gap of 5-10 mm for expansion;
• The second row begins to be laid by cutting off the panel located last in the first row. Size – at least 20 cm;
• Experts recommend laying cork panels staggered so that the beginning of every second row is a trim of the panel, and not the whole product;
• If there are heating pipes in the way, you need to cut a gap in the coating to expand the material. The size is the same as near the walls;
• A profile called a sill will help secure the cork panels in place. doorways. It is attached directly to the floor at the joint between the panels;
• The pegs or spacer wedges are removed immediately after the installation of the floating cork floor is completed;
• The plinth is attached only to the wall, leaving a gap that will allow the covering to move.

Video instructions for laying cork on the floor.

Underlay for cork flooring

When laying interlocking cork flooring, an underlay is used. It is made from crushed and compressed bark of a special cork oak tree.

Substrate– an important layer that is needed for heat, sound and waterproofing. Natural, environmentally friendly, non-flammable, durable cork backing is several times superior in its characteristics to other insulating materials.

Laying the substrate

• A day before the start of work, technical cork in rolls is brought into the room where work on arranging the interlocking cork floor will be carried out;
• First of all, lay PVC film to protect the surface from moisture;
• Approach to walls – at least 5cm;
• Lay the pieces of film overlapping, the margin reaches 20 cm. The parts are fastened together with special tape;
• A rolled cork covering is placed on top of the film layer;
• The distance between the wall and the substrate, as well as between adjacent pieces of technical cork, is 15 mm.

Prices for interlocking cork flooring

The cost of cork flooring varies depending on the reputation of the manufacturer, brand, collection, availability moisture-resistant coating, material thickness.

How much does a castle floor from well-known companies cost?

Average price for 1 square meter :

• — 1033 rub;
• CORKART - 2083 rubles;
• Ipocork - 1103 rubles;
• Go4cork - 1321 rubles;
• Granorte — 1027 rub.
• KWG 349 – 1027 rub.

Installation prices

If you are not confident in your abilities or do not have the the right amount free time for self-installation cork floors castle type, contact specialists. Brigade experienced craftsmen will do everything quickly and efficiently preparatory work, installation of cork flooring and will give recommendations for its operation.

A comprehensive team that installs a floating cork floor on a turnkey basis charges for its services, on average, 130 rubles. for 1 sq. meter. IN different regions prices may vary slightly depending on the demand for the service.

Be sure to enter into an agreement that will insure you against unscrupulous performers.

How to care for cork floors, how to wash them

Caring for natural cork floors quite simple:

• Wipe the floors with a damp cloth;
• Vacuum them;
• Use detergents, but without aggressive components, such as solvents or solid particles;
• Companies producing cork floors offer special means for the care of their products. Among them: Wicanders Power emulsion (removes dirt and grease), V-Care (adds shine and protects the surface), KorkCare (creates a protective layer for shine and repels dirt);
• To protect the room from street dust and dirt, place a mat at the door. Base with inside should not be rubber or latex;
• Place special felt pads or cork circles on the legs of your furniture to prevent objects from scratching the floor or leaving dents. Rubber is not suitable!
• If your cork floor is covered with vinyl, once every three years in residential areas and annually in areas common use rub it with special mastic.