DIY cork flooring. Installation of cork flooring. Types of cork flooring

How to lay cork flooring? Laying interlocking cork flooring is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. A video on laying “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.

For arranging the castle floor they use cork panels, consisting of several layers. Veneer made of valuable wood or cork is glued on top. The unique design of each panel makes the interior unique.

How to properly lay 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 the plastic film and 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 material 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 hacksaw with fine teeth or a 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), just 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 a 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, the presence of a moisture-resistant coating, and the thickness of the material.

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 required amount of free time to self-installation cork floors castle type, contact specialists. Brigade experienced craftsmen will quickly and efficiently carry out all the preparatory work, install the cork floor and 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 protective layer for shine and dirt repellent);
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 public use rub it with special mastic.

Each manufacturer of cork coverings strives to simplify installation using modern technologies and developments. In addition, the products come with detailed instructions However, during installation, non-standard situations inevitably arise that only a professional can handle.

Cork flooring, especially the adhesive type, requires ideal substrate preparation. The subfloor must be level, dry, durable, stable and clean. Any imperfections will immediately be reflected in the final floor covering. That's why Preparation for installation is a key stage of installation cork covering .

Cork laying services

We offer a full range of services for the installation of decorative and technical cork coverings:

Cork laminate.
Adhesive floor plug.
Cork wall panels.
Cork wallpaper.
Floor cork plinth.
Cork backing for laminate or parquet boards.
Preparing the base, dismantling old coatings.

The cost of laying cork floors and walls

Prices for plug installation services are determined after the surveyor arrives. The final cost is influenced by the quality of the base floor, the area of the room, and the type of cork being installed. The table shows current prices for Moscow and the Moscow region without taking into account the cost of traffic jams.

Service name	Unit measurements	Price, rubles
Laying decorative cork on a wall
Laying decorative cork on the ceiling
Diagonal installation of cork on the wall
Easy installation of floor adhesive plug (4 mm, pre-varnished in 2 layers) on the prepared base
Diagonal laying of floor cork with glue (4 mm with 2 layers of prevarnish) on a prepared base
Installation of adhesive cork flooring (6 mm with 2 layers of prevarnish) on a prepared base
Diagonal laying of floor adhesive cork (6 mm with 2 layers of prevarnish) on the prepared base
Laying floor adhesive plinth (without varnishing)	m.p.
Laying floor adhesive plinth (varnished)	m.p.
Laying technical cork on walls
Laying technical cork on the ceiling
One-sided cork cutting (approach close to fixed parts)	m.p.
Double-sided cork cutting (joint of two cork materials)	m.p.
Applying one coat of varnish to the floor covering
Final preparation of the base before laying floor coverings (sanding, treatment with strength putties, primer)
Installation of a lock plug on the floor
Installation of interlocking cork floors diagonally
Pouring self-leveling floors to a height of up to 10 mm
Pouring self-leveling floors to a height of up to 20 mm
Pouring self-leveling floors to a height of more than 20 mm
Production of a prefabricated floor base from two layers of GVLV according to the leveling andsound-heat-insulating layer of dry backfill using technologyTigiKnauf(with a backfill height of no more than 60 mm)
Priming the surface before laying cork wall coverings
Visit of a specialist in Moscow (for measurements)
The technician will travel outside the Moscow Ring Road (for measurements)		1000
Crew work day outside the Moscow Ring Road		1000
Minimum order value (day of work of the team)		3000

Work order

Bid. You can place an order for plug installation by phone, online on the website or in one of our showrooms.
Visit of a specialist for measurements. After agreeing on the details, our specialist arrives at the approved time, takes measurements and takes notes on the object.
Financial miscalculation. Based on the information received, a financial estimate is drawn up and deadlines for completing the work are set.
Preparatory work . Work begins with preparing the base and dismantling the old coating, if necessary.
Cork laying. A cork floor is laid on the prepared base. Depending on the volume and location of the object, the work takes 1-2 days.
Delivery of the object. After installation is completed, cleaning and removal is carried out. construction waste- if necessary.

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In addition to insulating the balcony, to turn it, for example, into a study or any other useful area, you will need to select and lay the flooring. In addition to the already traditional and moisture-resistant laminate, you can also use cork floors. What types of this flooring are there? Is it possible to use cork material for a balcony or loggia? How to lay cork flooring?

If you do not plan to use a balcony or loggia as a separate room, but as a continuation of an existing room, then you can use cork without restrictions. Any cork flooring options: laminate, tiles, MDF panels and cork boards can be used as flooring. The situation is completely different if the balcony, after insulation and finishing works will remain a separate isolated room. In this case, you will need to take into account several important nuances:

High humidity. Although cork itself copes well with moisture, the locking fasteners fail over time under its influence. In addition, even if the joints are sealed with sealant, the locks will continue to let moisture through. Adhesive boards do not have this disadvantage.
Plane requirements. In this regard, slabs with a lock are in a more advantageous position. They easily hide small unevenness due to the backing, so they are recommended for use in rooms where the floors have small deviations from the plane. Adhesive panels are more demanding in this regard, so before installing them it is necessary to thoroughly level the base to “zero”.
End result. Laying the adhesive material will require certain skills, as well as accuracy. Making joints invisible is quite problematic. The interlocking boards fit together like a laminated board. Even a non-specialist can handle their installation.

Important: If the balcony will be used as a separate room, it is better to choose a cork covering with an adhesive installation method. Material with a locking connection is suitable for the option in which a balcony (loggia) is used to expand the room.

Types of cork covering

Cork flooring is available in a wide range. Basically, all products are divided according to the type of installation of the product, so most often you can find information about glue and locking plug. But we can also separately highlight the following solutions:

Cork laminate is a type of floating flooring

Cork laminate. Completely identical to laminated boards. Refers to locking materials. Its installation is easy and does not require special skills.
Cork tiles. One of the most popular adhesive types this floor covering. Laying a cork floor with your own hands in this case requires special construction skills and accuracy.
MDF panels with cork layer. In this material, cork is glued as the top facing layer. As a rule, such material also has a locking system.
Cork board. It is made by gluing together several layers of material. Installs like laminate. It is one of the types of floating flooring. One of the most expensive materials.

Note: Some cork materials can be installed yourself. It is better to entrust work with others to professionals.

Preliminary work

Although interlocking and adhesive flooring have different performance requirements installation work, There is common feature, which distinguishes each of these materials. This is a fear of dampness. Accidental moisture cannot harm this coating. But constant dampness leads to deformation and swelling of the cork. It is for this reason that preparatory stages It is necessary not only to level the floors, but also to give them waterproofing properties. How to do this?

Concrete floors cleared of debris. If the floor slab of a balcony or loggia is in perfect condition, then special solutions can be used to increase the waterproofing properties. Typically used for this priming deep penetration . After application, it creates a film that prevents moisture from penetrating into the room. For screeding for the same purpose, you can use regular thick oilcloth.
Wooden floors. Leveled using lags. At the same time, work on insulation and waterproofing of floors can be carried out. Again, for this you can use regular oilcloth or. It is laid with foil up. You can lay polystyrene or mineral wool. The top is leveled using plywood or OSB.

Cork floor installation

Methods for how to install cork floors may vary depending on the material chosen. The interlocking panels are mounted similarly to laminated boards. Their installation begins from the corner and when laying it is required to observe general recommendations related to floor coverings floating type.

Attention: Cork flooring with locks can be used for a balcony or loggia only if there is good thermal and waterproofing, and when heating is used. Manufacturers of such coatings recommend using it for rooms with increased dampness only in exceptional cases!

Adhesive cork flooring is installed as follows:

Four tiles are laid on a level surface in the middle of the room without applying glue. The diagonal is checked and marks are made on the surface.
The glue is applied simultaneously to the floor and to the material itself with a spatula, after which you need to let it dry (approximately 20-30 minutes). It is necessary to use special glue!
The tiles are laid from the center towards the walls. You can press the tiles together with your hands or using a rule. Leave a 3-5mm gap at the walls.
The glue that comes out of the seams is immediately wiped off.
You can additionally tap the joints with a rubber hammer.

After installation, the cork flooring requires mandatory treatment. To do this, after the adhesive composition has dried (the setting time is written on the container), it is necessary to apply a protective layer. This is done as follows:

The floor is being cleaned. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any possible dust.
A layer of varnish is applied with a roller. It must be rolled out well over the surface. To perform these works, it is better to use a high-quality wide velor roller.
The second layer of varnish covers all imperfections and omissions. After applying it, you need to wait a while completely dry LMB.
Using a spatula and fine abrasive paper, remove all irregularities and small sagging.
Apply the finishing layer.

By applying varnish three times, a reliable protective layer is created, which allows you to protect the coating from moisture and mechanical damage.

Should I do the work myself?

Obviously, work with adhesive-type cork should be carried out by professionals, or by people familiar with the principle of laying this material, described in our article, and capable of subsequently applying a protective layer of varnish. It is much easier to install the locking material, but its installation is only possible in rooms with reliable hydro- and thermal insulation, so it is better not to use it for balconies or loggias.

Cork floor installation video

In this section we bring to your attention a video on the topic of our article “Technology for laying cork flooring: how to lay it on the balcony.” You will be able to watch the process of laying the adhesive cork covering.

Or in any other useful area, you will need to select and lay the flooring. In addition to the already traditional ceramic tiles and moisture-resistant laminate, you can also use cork floors. What types of this flooring are there? Is it possible to use cork material for a balcony or loggia? How to lay cork flooring?

If you do not plan to use a balcony or loggia as a separate room, but as a continuation of an existing room, then you can use cork without restrictions. Any cork flooring options: laminate, tiles, MDF panels and cork boards can be used as flooring. The situation is completely different if the balcony, after insulation and finishing work, remains a separate isolated room. In this case, you will need to take into account several important nuances:

High humidity. Although cork itself copes well with moisture, the locking fasteners fail over time under its influence. In addition, even if the joints are sealed with sealant, the locks will continue to let moisture through. Adhesive boards do not have this disadvantage.
Plane requirements. In this regard, slabs with a lock are in a more advantageous position. They easily hide small unevenness due to the backing, so they are recommended for use in rooms where the floors have small deviations from the plane. Adhesive panels are more demanding in this regard, so before installing them it is necessary to thoroughly level the base to “zero”.
End result. Laying the adhesive material will require certain skills, as well as accuracy. Making joints invisible is quite problematic. The interlocking boards fit together like a laminated board. Even a non-specialist can handle their installation.

Important: If the balcony will be used as a separate room, it is better to choose a cork covering with an adhesive installation method. Material with a locking connection is suitable for the option in which a balcony (loggia) is used to expand the room.

Types of cork covering

Cork laminate. Completely identical to laminated boards. Refers to locking materials. Its installation is easy and does not require special skills.
Cork tiles. One of the most popular adhesive types of this flooring. Laying a cork floor with your own hands in this case requires special construction skills and accuracy.
MDF panels with cork layer. In this material, cork is glued as the top facing layer. As a rule, such material also has a locking system.
Cork board. It is made by gluing together several layers of material. Installs like laminate. It is one of the types of floating flooring. One of the most expensive materials.

Note: Some cork materials can be installed yourself. It is better to entrust work with others to professionals.

Preliminary work

Although interlocking and adhesive flooring have different installation requirements, there is a common feature that distinguishes each of these materials. This is a fear of dampness. Accidental moisture cannot harm this coating. But constant dampness leads to deformation and swelling of the cork. It is for this reason that at the preparatory stages it is necessary not only to level the floors, but also to give them waterproofing properties. How to do this?

Concrete floors cleared of debris. If the floor slab of a balcony or loggia is in perfect condition, then special solutions can be used to increase the waterproofing properties. Typically used for this deep penetration soil. After application, it creates a film that prevents moisture from penetrating into the room. For screeding for the same purpose, you can use regular thick oilcloth.
Wooden floors. Leveled using lags. At the same time, work on insulation and waterproofing of floors can be carried out. Again, for this you can use regular oilcloth or penofol. It is laid with foil up. You can lay polystyrene or mineral wool on top. The top is leveled using plywood or OSB.

Cork can be used for more than just floors. Read about decorating walls with cork panels in our separate article.
Details of waterproofing work on balconies and loggias are described here. Preparation rules, selection of materials and work technology.
Read about the types of metal balcony railings on this page

Cork floor installation

Methods for how to install cork floors may vary depending on the material chosen. Interlocking panels are installed in a similar way to laminated boards. Their installation begins from the corner and when laying it is necessary to follow the general recommendations relating to floating floor coverings.

Attention: Cork flooring with locks can be used for a balcony or loggia only if there is good thermal and waterproofing, and when heating is used. Manufacturers of such coatings recommend using it for rooms with high dampness only in exceptional cases!

Adhesive cork flooring is installed as follows:

Four tiles are laid on a level surface in the middle of the room without applying glue. The diagonal is checked and marks are made on the surface.
The glue is applied simultaneously to the floor and to the material itself with a spatula, after which you need to let it dry (approximately 20-30 minutes). It is necessary to use special glue!
The tiles are laid from the center towards the walls. You can press the tiles together with your hands or using a rule. Leave a 3-5mm gap at the walls.
The glue that comes out of the seams is immediately wiped off.
You can additionally tap the joints with a rubber hammer.

The floor is being cleaned. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any possible dust.
A layer of varnish is applied with a roller. It must be rolled out well over the surface. To perform these works, it is better to use a high-quality wide velor roller.
The second layer of varnish covers all imperfections and omissions. After applying it, you must wait until the paintwork has completely dried.
Using a spatula and fine abrasive paper, remove all irregularities and small sagging.
Apply the finishing layer.

By applying varnish three times, a reliable protective layer is created, which allows you to protect the coating from moisture and mechanical damage.

Should I do the work myself?

Cork floor installation video

Cork flooring, from the first days of use, became popular and earned wide recognition among consumers. The relatively affordable cost and the ability to lay such flooring yourself increase consumer demand for cork. Manufacturers offer a wide variety of products and quality at affordable prices for analogues and substitutes for natural veneer.

It must be borne in mind that there are some subtleties of laying such a coating on different stages implementation of this decision. You should study the issue in detail before going to construction base or in special store for purchasing material. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the positive and negative sides of cork flooring, otherwise there is a risk of not only throwing money away, but also wasting time on wasted work.

Types of cork flooring

The most popular types of materials are:

cork veneer flooring;
cork MDF boards;
cork laminate;
slabs of pressed cork chips.

Coated with wear-resistant varnish, it is the most expensive. It’s not easy to confuse it with school cork board. Natural veneer is an environmentally friendly material that combines both the strongest advantages and disadvantages of cork. It is produced in large sheets of up to 6 square meters. m., 4–6 mm thick, and also in the form of tiles and rolls.

As a rule, its backside is protected with a vinyl film, which facilitates the process of gluing to a cement-concrete surface. The texture of natural cork is complex irregular shapes in yellow-brown tones.

. This material occupies an average price position in its line. This is a two-layer cork laminate, the bottom layer of which consists of a full-fledged MDF board, and the top layer is made of 2-4 mm veneer, coated with a protective varnish. In terms of useful properties, MDF cork panels are similar to solid veneer, and are not too demanding on the quality of the surface on which they need to be laid.

Produced in traditional sizes and thicknesses for this coating.

. This cheap material for covering the floor. In stores it can be easily identified by its fine-grained texture, which looks like a cheap wine cork. However, the quality of cork board is almost as good as solid natural veneer. Tiles made from pressed cork chips - good quality budget option cork floor. Standard sizes cork tiles:

300*300 mm;
600*600 mm;
600*900 mm.

Pros and cons of cork flooring

The floor, made of cork material, does not slip or spring. It perfectly withstands significant loads directed at it. This flooring has good heat and sound insulation. One of the main advantages of this floor is that it is absolutely safe for human health and environment. Throughout the history of cork flooring, there has not been a single case of harm to human health.

With all the advantages and positive properties of cork, unfortunately, it also has disadvantages. This is expensive material.

In addition, one cannot help but mention the relatively complex and painstaking procedure of its installation. Cork has a fragile structure and does not tolerate careless handling. Without sufficient knowledge and certain skills, it is not recommended to start covering the floor with cork flooring yourself.

This material is highly sensitive to temperature changes and mechanical damage from the claws of pets. Its internal composition and appearance. It swells with water and quickly absorbs any odors and then retains them for a long time.

Where is it not recommended to lay cork flooring, and in what rooms can it be installed?

In accordance with the above points, we can conclude that cork flooring is not suitable for rooms with temperature changes and high humidity. Any short-term temperature changes cause the cork to crumble and become unusable.

Therefore, cork flooring is not suitable for the kitchen, hallway or balcony. If desired, you can lay cork laminate there, but this may also be an impractical solution. Premises where laying cork flooring is strictly not recommended:

bathroom;
bathroom.

Very high humidity and sudden changes in temperature negatively affect the cork, since moisture can penetrate into the material through microcracks, after which it swells and peels off. This process is invisible in poorly visible places, for example, under baseboards.

Rooms ideal for cork flooring:

Room for children.
Bedroom.
Office room.
Living room.

Room for children. Any type of this covering is ideal in a children's room, as children will be warm to stand on and walk on the cork floor barefoot at any time of the year. In addition, if the child falls on the floor, he will not be injured. Walking barefoot on it has beneficial properties on the baby’s psyche and, it feels, brings him closer to nature.

Bedroom. Laying cork flooring in the bedroom is good for the same reasons as in the case of a children's room.

Office room. To the above reasons we can add the excellent sound insulation properties of the material.

Living room. In the living room, cork laminate is best suited, since in this room natural veneer will quickly lose its proper appearance.

Cork floor underlay

When laying a castle floor, you need to use an underlay. As a rule, the backing material is made from compressed fine-grained chips from cork oak bark.

The substrate is an important coating layer. It is needed for sound, heat and waterproofing. Non-flammable, wear-resistant, natural and environmentally friendly cork substrate has several times better properties than other insulating materials.

Technical cork is produced in rolls. Leaders in the production of cork flooring, as a rule, offer substrates with different thicknesses, but for a floating type of floor, 2 mm is sufficient.

The main function that the substrate should perform is to protect the cork covering from excessive loads that can cause deformation of the material. It also protects against condensation and dampens noise from footsteps on the floor.

Laying the underlay for the castle floor

To successfully install cork underlayment, you need to perform the following steps:

at least one day before the start of work, rolls of technical cork must be brought into the room where it will be laid;
to protect the surface from dampness, you first need to lay PVC film with an approach to the walls of no less than 5 cm;
if a single piece of film is not enough, the remaining pieces are overlapped with a margin of up to 200 mm;
parts of the film must be glued with tape;
on the film, rolls of technical cork must be unrolled over the entire area;
the gap from the wall to the substrate, as well as at its joints, should be 1.5 cm.

It should be remembered that the quality of the subsequently installed cork covering and its service life will directly depend on how correctly the substrate was laid.

Cork flooring technology

To lay a cork floor, the following tools and materials are required:

rubber mallet;
jigsaw or circular saw with a fine-toothed cut, as from any hand saw the cork material will crumble around the edges;
high precision level;
metal ruler;
ordinary measuring tape;
a special marker or pencil for painting;
if there is an adhesive floor, you will need a metal roller;
spatula;
paint brush 100 mm with natural bristles;
varnish composition;
special glue;
several empty containers for varnish and glue;
rags.