To comfortably decorate the floors use special coatings of natural materials. One of them is cork. It is extracted from the bark of an evergreen plant, characterized by a large branching of the trunk and a wide crown. The removed bark grows again, which makes the production of cork harmless and constant process. Coatings obtained from this material are very light, soft, with good cushioning properties. Bonding pulp repels water, and synthetic additives increase fire resistance. In the construction market, a number of firms producing cork floors and coatings have proved themselves well, having become acquainted with which, one can make their conscious choice.
Contents:
- The best producers of premium cork flooring
- The best producers of cork floors in economy class
The best producers of premium cork flooring
This part of the world market was filled with companies from Germany, Portugal and Switzerland. This is where cork oaks grow, which selectors plant more and more to cover the growing needs of construction companies and private citizens. Such products are characterized by a greater thickness of coatings, excellent water repellent and fireproof properties. Here are the best firms producing quality, but also expensive products.
Corkstyle - master of diversity
The company belongs to the Swiss brand with a personal studio and constantly working on providing new variants of drawing of floor coverings. There are both classic types of images of the natural crust, as well as photo prints that cause the cutting of a tree of massive rocks or the appearance of a board with paint smears. In the assortment there are both types with glutinous planting, and solid panels of cork with a locking latch. The company buys a stopper in Portugal and Sardinia. For the basis, materials are purchased from Kronospan, and coating varnishes are supplied by Loba. The most expensive models of floors have manual processing.
Pros:
- very high quality components from world manufacturers;
- thick cork;
- a wide variety of drawings developed by its own studio;
- variants of fastenings of coverings;
- ongoing research to improve technology;
- rigid quality control;
- reinforced locks in rigid cork panels;
- world recognition.
Cons:
- high price;
- requires a lot of varnish to protect the pattern from abrasion.
Wicanders - the most experienced manufacturer of
The history of this brand began in 1868 in Stockholm with the processing of bark on a small farm. Now it is the world name of the leading Portuguese company. She has thousands of employees, and the plants are located in Russia, Finland and Germany. The company's collection includes many floor coverings with classic, vintage and decorative styles. Often, variations in the pattern are achieved by modifying the type and amount of lacquer. In the range of products, there are many types of cork rigidity, where everyone can choose the required parameters for individual rooms.
Pros:
- high noise insulation;
- large range of rigidity;
- all impregnations and a cork base made from natural ingredients only;
- mounting on glue or locks;
- hypoallergenic composition;
- when the dishes fall on the floor it does not break;
- perfectly preserves heat.
Cons:
- can swell at the joints in the event of moisture ingress;The
- should lie in the apartment for a couple of days before installation in order to take a constant size at a specific temperature;
- is easily damaged by hard objects.
Egger - German practicality
This company is a family business from Germany. Now more than 8000 people work on its production facilities. New plants are built in Russia and Turkey. For 50 years of its history, the company maintains its style - high quality products without harm to nature. Resource-saving programs are created in a closed circle of production and production. Cork floors are developed both for private dwellings, and in commercial applications for the arrangement of offices, design studios and elite cafes. The assortment is represented by several production lines with cozy and ultra-modern features.
Pros:
- coatings are easy to stack;
- completely natural materials;
- wide range of colors and patterns on the plug;
- high moisture resistance;
- no slip, which is convenient for children's safety;
- can be wet or dry vacuumed.
Cons:
- remains traces of furniture;
- is easy to cut by dragging a heavy object;
- pets can scratch.
The best producers of cork floors of economy class
This production is made from oak bark, but cheaper binders can be used in its production. The coating layer is standard or smaller. Companies that produce such floors are in Russia and the near abroad, which reduces the cost of delivery. Here are the most popular representatives of economy class cork floors.
Maestro Club - collaborates with European suppliers
This Russian product has four lines of collections under the names Rondo with an additional number designator and Fado. The products are characterized by soft coatings with a thickness of 4 mm for glue fixation and thick panels for locking with slats of 10.5 mm. Among the main tasks of the company is the creation of floors with high repellency of dust and antistatic properties. Some series provide a guarantee of up to 20 years thanks to a strong lacquer coating. Raw materials for the manufacture of cork floors are purchased from foreign manufacturers.
Pros:
- resistance to ultraviolet;
- elastic materials;
- wide application;
- affordable;
- can be laid over warm floors;
- no volatile substances in production;
- 16 color shades;
- heat-saving properties.
Cons:
- swells the joints from the water;
- small chipped;
- connection points are visible to the naked eye.
Floor Step - a new direction for
Despite the Portuguese origin, this company has very affordable prices for cork, due to the relatively recent activity in this direction, which began in 2012.All products are produced on the newest equipment. The main sales markets are concentrated in Europe and Asia. Floors are made from pressed bark without the addition of chemical connecting components. In the assortment of the company, there are 10 color variants, which are obtained by silk screen printing or by applying an environmentally safe paint.
Pros:
- wet cleaning possible;
- good sound insulation;
- soft walking surface barefoot;
- does not rot;
- hypoallergenic composition;
- insects do not breed in the material;
- competitive prices.
Cons:
- only 10 kinds of color;
- only lockable mounting options.