The use of natural cork for finishing residential premises goes back hundreds of years. The first mentions of such coatings date back to the 15th century. The source of this natural material is cork oak, the bark of which is used to produce various materials. The main distribution areas of cork oak are Mediterranean countries. The main supplier of this natural material, Portugal is considered to supply about 50% of cork material to the world market. In this article we will talk about how to lay cork flooring and look at some of the nuances of the work.
This material, due to the complete absence of proteins in its composition, is not susceptible to microorganisms; simply put, it does not rot, unlike natural wood. In addition, cork has many characteristics that allow it to be used as floor coverings and interior decoration premises.
Cork panels for flooring appeared relatively recently. Such coatings are produced in two versions. The first manufacturing option completely coincides with the production of laminated floor panels, or rather, the installation technology coincides. Cork panels are installed according to the system tongue and groove and are not attached to the subfloor. In the second option, cork slabs are attached to the base of the floor using glue.
Laying technology
Laying cork flooring is not particularly difficult. Regardless of the installation option, the subfloor must be properly prepared. Preparation of the base consists of a leveling process; differences should not exceed more than 10 - 15 mm, otherwise the cork coating may break at the joints.
One more a necessary condition For installation of cork flooring, a certain moisture content of the base is required. If the base moisture is high, the cork floor may swell. Installation of cork flooring is completely identical to installation of laminated floor panels. When installing the covering, it is necessary to leave a gap between the walls and the cork covering. This gap should be within 0.8 -1.5 cm. A smaller gap will lead to swelling of the floor covering, with thermal expansion of the material; a larger gap will lead to the formation of a gap between the covering and the baseboard.
There is one more nuance: manufacturers of cork panels, and laminated ones as well, use their own method of attaching the panels to each other. That is, if you try to join panels from two different manufacturers, you will not succeed. Therefore, when purchasing panels there is no need to confuse different manufacturers.
The installation system of glued cork flooring is a little more complicated than the installation of a floating floor. Laying such a coating is akin to laying tiles on the floor. However, if the tiled floor tiles can be leveled during the setting of the solution, then cork tiles it will not be possible to align. The glue that is intended for installation sets quite quickly. Therefore, before installation, careful marking is necessary. It is best to draw marking lines with a pencil and adhere to these lines during the work. It is better to start from the center of the room.
Recently, this type of flooring has gained quite a lot of popularity. This is due, first of all, to the excellent technical characteristics material and its natural origin.
To understand why a cork floor deforms and becomes unusable, you need to know its properties:
- The material from which it is made.
- Preparation method.
- Advantages and disadvantages.
- Places of use.
- A way to prevent errors is proper care and caring attitude.
A valuable raw material for the production of cork flooring is porous oak bark. Not all wood species are suitable. Suitable raw materials are oaks that are over a quarter of a century old (more than 25 years), but bark taken from centuries-old trees is considered to be of excellent quality.
During production, it is crushed and put under pressure. A special technology is used, during which the mass is filled with air - “breathes”. The natural components of tree bark are strong in themselves.
For reinforced material, wood dust and resin are repeatedly mixed. The final covering is usually made of cork. Veneer and polyvinyl chloride can also be used. It is the upper part that is responsible for the life of the floors.
Cork flooring has advantages and disadvantages
It is lightweight, retains heat, is soundproof, and durable; smooth surface soft. Repels liquids, harmful substances, dust. There is no electrification.
Characterized by resistance to temperature changes and deformation. You can walk barefoot: warm, soft, not slippery. Safe for children and adults because it is hypoallergenic; absorbs dangerous radiation.
The disadvantages of such coatings are the following factors: softness, which causes the furniture to press through the surface; flammable composition (glue, paint, varnish), high cost; almost does not resist moisture. During improper care, excess water, or accidental flooding, swelling and deformation occur. Cork flooring cannot be restored. In addition, traces of sharp pins and scratches remain on the parquet (laminate).
It often happens that cracks appear. The floor begins to deform under the influence high humidity, temperature changes. Condensation of water vapor is destructive. Leaking water damages property. Microbes multiply under the cork.
Sometimes residents try to solve the problem with a good waterproof varnish. However, it is better to know where you can lay cork flooring without any problems.
The bathroom and kitchen are not suitable for him. That's where it happens most problem areas.
Before you start renovating the lower part of the room, you need to consider all the factors.
Great importance also has care. Flooring made from natural material should be handled with care: walk carefully in appropriate shoes, maintain the microclimate in the rooms, and regulate humidity at different times of the year.
Do not protect the surface with rubber products that leave marks. Abrasive detergents It is advisable not to use during cleaning. It is important to remember: the rag is damp, but not wet!
Knowing the reasons for damage expensive coverage By following these tips, you can avoid damage to the floor and extend its service life.
Wooden coverings, and parquet too, look interesting and impressive. They are chosen for many positive features– naturalness, environmental friendliness, attractive appearance, the ability for the coating to “breathe”. However, you have to pay for a luxurious appearance, because the coating does not last forever and problems are not excluded. One of the common problems is parquet flooring. The question arises - what to do: install a new one or repair the old one?
The process of repairing parquet flooring that was damaged after the wood flooring was flooded with water
What to do immediately after a flood?
After pouring the parquet, it is worth taking a number of actions promptly. Among them are the following:
- Eliminating the source of water - a broken pipe, a broken faucet, etc. It is worth turning off the water and calling a plumber if necessary.
- Next, remove the water from the floor. You should get rid of all the water, open the windows to ventilate and dry the apartment.
- Now you can solve the problem yourself or call specialists.
Attention! If the parquet floor is flooded, you should quickly remove the water. If this is not done, the wood will begin to absorb water and the parquet will swell. Literally before our eyes, the parquet blocks increase in size and a so-called boat will appear.
Parquet that suffered from high humidity, which led to deformation of the dies You should not save in such a situation, as this leads to negative consequences: from the unsightly appearance of parquet to fungus. This also negatively affects the health of household members.
What are the consequences of a flooded floor?
If you let the parquet dry out, this will lead to consequences. The parquet will warp, waves and curves will appear. Mold and mildew will appear under the parquet flooring. If nothing is done, the edges of the dies darken and stains appear on them that cannot be removed by ordinary sanding.
In addition, the consequences depend on the type of wood from which the parquet is made. They react differently to high humidity. Beech is susceptible to moisture - it strongly absorbs moisture. Oak is considered stable, but even it becomes deformed when dried. Once drying is complete, the waves will be reduced but not completely eliminated.
Waves on the surface of the coating after flooding with water The consequences of parquet flooring being flooded with water depend on how the flooring was laid, its quality and the quality of the materials used, and some other factors. Water is absorbed into both the parquet and the substrate. If the parquet is laid not on a substrate, but on joists, water accumulates under them. This will lead to it reaching the neighbors below.
The next consequence is the appearance of mold, which gradually develops into fungus. Mold and mildew are considered strong allergens due to the release of spores. Therefore, they affect the upper respiratory tract and lungs, causing allergic reactions and asthma. Mold is difficult to eliminate because it penetrates both the wall and the wood.
Basic methods of parquet restoration
There are many methods for restoring parquet. The specific one is selected based on the area of the affected area and its condition. In some cases, it is necessary to dismantle a section of the area, while in others, improvement is enough ventilation system parquet
Swelling of parquet caused by exposure to excess moisture Parquet flooring will need to be dismantled in cases where it cannot be repaired. This happens when there is severe flooding. If this does not happen, you can replace individual sections. First, the parquet is given time to dry completely. It depends on several factors - temperature and humidity in the room, floor design. Drying time varies from a couple of weeks to several months. Only after the wood coating has completely dried, restoration begins.
If under floor surface mold or mildew has formed, I treat it. To do this, use a bleach solution or special chemical compositions. If you cannot get rid of mold or mildew, you will have to dismantle the affected areas.
Using a sander to smooth the surface After drying and preliminary preparation completed, proceed directly to repair, squeak elimination and restoration wooden surface. To do this, reuse dies that are not damaged by water. Those dies that cannot be used are replaced with new ones. The final step is restoration, which involves scraping, grinding, and opening with protective oil. As an alternative, you can use mastic. If everything is done correctly, the coating will last for many more decades.
Bloating and problem solving
Swelling and squeaking of a wooden surface is a serious problem that needs to be solved. The first step is to release tension. To do this, dismantle areas that are damaged by moisture. Next, let it dry. Only after this the repairs continue. Preferably make or expand expansion joints, even if they are not the cause of the damage. Planks with cracks should be replaced with new ones. They should not be repaired.
The planks that were selected for drying are placed in place and they are examined to see how much they are deformed. If there are small cracks, you should not worry. They can be easily fixed with parquet putty. Broken fasteners are not repaired, but replaced with new ones. After the repair is completed, the surface is sanded and covered with a layer of oil or mastic.
Sometimes there are no “original” dies in stock or it is not possible to select similar ones in color even after coloring. In this case, it is recommended to move the planks from inconspicuous places to the central part of the covering. Can be removed from corners or places under furniture. In their place they put new ones, which are somehow different. In this case, it will be possible to maintain the aesthetics of the coating without complete replacement.
Coating that has been damaged by water and requires restoration One of the stages is leveling the surface. They approach it responsibly. Worth using grinder, with the help of which it is possible to bring the surface to one level. After this, all that remains is to coat the parquet with varnish. It is worth preparing for the fact that you need to do the procedure several times.
What to do if the parquet creaks?
Sometimes, after drying, a characteristic creak of parquet appears. Creaking should be eliminated to ensure comfortable use of the parquet. To do this, determine the location and nature of the damage to a specific area of the parquet. Most often, parquet planks are overdried and dry out, which is why squeaking occurs.
Attention! To understand the nature of the problem, use a building level, which is placed in the place of the creaking and see the presence of an air bubble. During measurements, you should not touch the building level. It is advisable to move further away, since the person’s weight affects the level, and quality work There is no way to eliminate parquet squeaks.
After the location and cause of the creaking have been established, restoration begins. To do this, drill a hole with a diameter of 2.5-3 mm in the “walking” parquet strip. Through it, glue is pumped under the surface of the wood. You should choose the glue that is suitable for working with wood. After this, the holes are closed with a wooden plug, the surface is cleaned and sanded. However, this is not the end of eliminating the squeak.
The next step in getting rid of squeaking is to lay or tighten the plank to the base using fasteners, which are screws. They are carefully sunk, and the caps are masked with mastic. These are important steps to eliminate squeaking.
In some cases, boards rub against a fastener, screw or nail, and a squeak appears. Then the creaking is eliminated without opening work. An additional fastener is mounted nearby, securely fixing the board. This will eliminate squeaking. In most cases, it is possible to restore the surface, even if it has become blackened and unpleasant creaking.
Flooring, which is restored after exposure to moisture Attention! If for some reason you are unable to fix the squeaking board with your own hands, you should seek help from specialists. It's worth choosing exclusively experienced craftsmen who know the intricacies of solving the problem. They will correct the appearance of blackness, mold or squeaking.
Restoring parquet after flooding with water is a long process. It is based on drying, eliminating squeaks, mold and mildew. You should immediately prepare for the fact that the parquet may darken or become completely black. In most cases, you can correct the situation yourself by drying and decorating the laid parquet. Everything needs to be done quickly so that the blackened parquet does not have time to become unusable. If you miss the moment, you will need to lay new parquet.
