Liquid cork: features and scope of the material

Forms of joints between laminate and tiles

The connection of floor coverings can be different in configuration and length. Depending on its shape, there are three main types of joints.

Straight line

The easiest joint to arrange. It can be issued as a threshold or you can do without it. If the seam is located in the space under the interior door, the sill is considered mandatory.

Photo: Instagram remont.detected

Curved joint

Difficult to manufacture option. The main challenge lies in the precise trimming of the material, which requires a professional tool. The seam can be made without a sill or with it, but if mistakes were made during the work or defects appeared when trimming materials, only the threshold can mask them.

Broken line

A spectacular connection that involves laying uncut tiles butt-to-toe with laminate flooring. The main problem is the exact fit of the parts. In this case, the gutter is extremely undesirable, since it greatly spoils the appearance of the floor.

Liquid cork - what is it?

The building material, called liquid cork for the facade, forms a long-lasting coating as a result. Manufacturers declare 10-15 years. Less often they talk about 30 years. In fact, we can say about a cork that it will last much longer. The limitation is that acrylic lasts only 10-15 years.

The composition of the products includes cork bark with a fraction of 0.5 to 1 mm (more than 90%), acrylic and various polymers. Manufacturers keep the specific recipe secret. This helps to protect the market from low-quality counterfeits.

The main characteristics of a liquid coating are:

1. Decorative character. Externally, the surface looks like a fur coat with a light grain.
2. High adhesion to almost all materials without the need for careful preparation of the substrate.
3. Elasticity. Liquid cork retains its original shape when the structure shrinks. Seasonal changes in temperature and humidity do not have a destructive effect.
4. Water vapor permeability. This indicator is provided by the peculiarity of the cork itself. Thanks to this, the base can "breathe" and get rid of the liquid contained inside.
5. Moisture resistance. The dried solution can let steam out, but the ingress of water inside is excluded.

Packing option

As for the equipment, it can be divided into three groups:

1. The household kit includes a compressor and a gun for filling deep gaps with putty.
2. Professionals prefer to purchase a special universal installation, which is relevant when processing the facades of small buildings.
3. The industrial model (MP-120) allows you to cover large areas of walls and roofing parts of buildings.

If self-application is provided, then it makes sense to purchase a compressor if the area is relatively large. Often they prefer hiring a construction team, because their work can be cheaper than buying a tool at a cost.

Advantages and disadvantages of cork joints between tile and laminate

At first glance, the decision is ambiguous. Cork grouting between the tile and the laminate does not provide any special advantages, and the plastic consistency only complicates the work with the sealant.

Non-obvious benefits of liquid cork

If the new material was worse than the sealant, then its production would not exceed the volume of cork tapes previously used to seal the joints on the laminate.

The main advantages of the material:

• Full resemblance to natural cork, the sealed joint looks as beautiful as when using a tape gasket;
• After laying the material in the joint between the sealant and the edge of the laminate, there are no gaps left for dust and dirt;
• Soft texture and high plasticity. The sealant and natural cork turn out to be too hard and not too plastic to compensate for the expansion of the lamella by more than 0.5-1.0 mm.

For small rooms, there is still enough silicone, but if the room has one of the sizes of more than 5 m, the expansion of the material reaches 2.5-4 mm, which is clearly beyond the limits of the silicone mass.

The cork has high vapor permeability

Important! After hardening, the liquid cork takes on the appearance of natural wood, and its characteristics resemble very soft spongy rubber. Disadvantages of cork silicone

Disadvantages of cork silicone

The new material also has enough negative qualities:

• The width of the joint between the edge of the lamella and the tile cannot be less than 5-6 mm, the maximum size is 15 mm. It is very difficult to crush a liquid cork into a narrower gap; at a wide junction, the material loses its decorative qualities;
• The process of filling the seam with a cork between the laminate panel and the tile is very long and rather laborious.

Large cork chips with silicone very poorly "fit" into the joint, you have to make significant efforts, waste time in order to press the "uncomfortable" mass into a narrow gap. In addition, the mixture adheres well to the laminated surface.

Technology of filling the joints between laminate and tiles using liquid cork

To complete the work, you need to prepare a clerical knife, butter and a tube filled with the mixture. The sharp corners of the tiles are grinded down, and then both coatings are wiped off with oil using cotton pads or swabs. The mixture in liquid form is placed in a prepared tube, and then it is gradually squeezed out into the joints between the board and the tile. The liquid cork is applied with a margin, since it shrinks, but so that the material does not fall on the surface, it is very difficult to clean it. If the surface of both materials is at the same level, then the docking can be done without any special complications. At different heights of surfaces, they are guided by the material that is located above, and the cork coating is leveled over it.

After the liquid cork hardens, the excess areas must be cut off with a clerical knife, this work is done carefully so as not to damage the floor surface. Usually this is done after a day, and the defects are removed immediately, before the glue dries. If the floors are oiled, this is easy. Then they make grinding and scraping, but the last stage will not be easy to complete. A liquid stopper is not used as a protection for the extreme sections of the material, otherwise it will firmly fix to the base, and it will be impossible to detach it. The mixture should not be applied and leveled above the prescribed level, as it will not fit tightly, and cracks may appear. In order to perform sanding and eliminate excess, the material must not gain full strength, that is, these works are performed 24 hours after application. By applying a liquid cork to the joint between the laminate and the tile, an almost flat surface is obtained, without the use of sills. In the kitchen, some areas are laid with tiles, for example, near the stove, sink, washing machine, since this material is easy to clean and resistant to moisture. And on the rest of the surface, the laminate is laid, all the connecting seams between the material are filled with a liquid cork.

Laminate is not so resistant to moisture as to be installed in humid rooms, it can deform and lose its original appearance. For this reason, in the bathroom, the surface is made more practical, that is, tiles are laid, and laminate can be used in other rooms. Since it is not advisable to install the tiles in ordinary rooms, it is a cold coating.Thanks to this separation, a gap appears between rooms and materials, which is closed in various ways, one of them is the use of liquid cork, it is a practical and durable material.

Installation features

Strict requirements are imposed on the transition between laminate and tile. Strict adherence to the installation technology and accuracy in execution will help to achieve a positive result. The main requirement for the mating surfaces is the absence of flaws on the edges of the tiles and laminate.

In addition to tiles, laminate and expansion joints, it is necessary to purchase wood glue and sealant, which will be needed to hide small bending defects at the junction. The color of the veneered end of the expansion joint is selected in accordance with the general color scheme of the floor covering.

Installation of a solid cork expansion joint is carried out when one type of coating has already been laid. The first step is to trim the height of the cork tape. This should be done with a sharp knife, having previously outlined the cut point on the strip. It is better to glue the expansion joint on wood glue, after cleaning and degreasing the installation site. The expansion joint installation algorithm is as follows:

• thorough preparation of the joint by cleaning from mechanical debris, dedusting and priming;
• applying a thin strip of glue near the edge of the lamellas;
• laying the expansion joint tape on the applied glue and fixing the end edge;
• applying sealant between the edges of the laminate and the expansion joint;
• removing excess sealant with a wet cloth and then wiping the joint dry.

Further installation of the tiles is carried out from the formed joint. This will ensure a tighter fit between the cork and the ceramic. After the installation is completed and the sealant and glue have completely dried, the cork seam, which does not have a veneered end edge, is sanded and varnished.

The installation of the liquid cork expansion joint should be started by applying masking tape to all the edges of the already laid surfaces. The joint is cleaned of mechanical debris and dust free. Work should be carried out at an air temperature of at least 5 degrees. Installation of a liquid cork copmensator consists of the following steps:

• pour the composition from the tube into a wide container;
• fill the seam with a spatula or air gun;
• cut off excess sealant with a spatula;
• wait until the surface is completely dry, which depends on the thickness of the connector, the width of the joint and the temperature and is 24-48 hours;
• remove the masking tape and wipe off the rest of the sealant from the floor.

A cork expansion joint between the tile and the laminate will allow you to achieve a perfect connection of two surfaces and make the floor look spectacular and neat.

The whole process of installing a cork expansion joint can be seen in the following video.

Features and Benefits

Having decided to close the passage without a sill, you will face a problem - the movement of two facing materials. This is especially true for laminate flooring. That is why most people opt for sills with gaps and seam seats.

Modern manufacturers offer a large selection of profiles that differ in the material of manufacture, price and properties. The cork expansion joint is the best choice among the sillless technologies. It is distinguished by its affordable cost, ease of installation and high quality.

Cork expansion joints are widely used to decorate the joint of laminate with other materials, for example, with floor tiles. The device is a strip of cork that is attached to the joint. After that, it is sanded together with the parquet and covered with a protective varnish. Dirt and dust accumulate in large quantities on unprotected cork. Also, over time, it often begins to deteriorate and crumble. Therefore, experts recommend not to ignore the moment of varnishing.

On the market, expansion joints are presented in different colors. This allows you to choose the best option that fits perfectly into the interior of a particular room or other room.

The compensator is produced in the form of sheets. The buyer cuts the strip of the required width on his own. All you need is a ruler, a pencil and a sharp knife.

Unlike rubber parts and silicone, the expansion joint is guaranteed not to harden during the entire period of operation. Another distinguishing characteristic of such a connector is its elasticity. Since the laminated board shrinks and expands during use, the expansion joint must also be elastic.

The indisputable advantage of using a cork between the tile and the laminate is the ability to easily give it any shade using tinting. The environmental friendliness of the material is also an important point. Thanks to this, the cork can be safely used in residential premises.

It is not difficult to install the cork expansion joint on your own. If you choose the right dimensions, the installation will take a minimum of time. With the same ease, even a beginner will be able to dismantle a part without making a lot of effort to work.

The compensator parameters can be different:

• standard length - 900 mm, the maximum length of products under the order is 3000 mm;
• width - 7 mm and 10 mm;
• the minimum height is 15 mm, the maximum is 22 mm.

A material that has a standard length is appropriate if the joint is located under the door. In this case, this size will be sufficient. In other situations, you will either have to connect several expansion joints to each other, or make an individual order.

How can you connect the transition

For a neat design of the gap between functional areas, four materials are most often used.

Grout

An easy way to seal curvy, shallow seams. Sills like these are hard to find, and other fillings won't look so organic. Often in modern interiors there is an interesting way of finishing the floor: polygonal ceramic parts "drive in" a little on the area with a different coating. This separates the hallway area from the rest of the house and the kitchen area from the living room. In this case, the transition is also done with grouting. Do this in the following order:

• Carry out preparatory work.
• Apply silicone compound to the edges of the second material.
• Fill the seam halfway with it.
• Wait for it to dry.
• Dilute the grout, spread on top and level with a trowel.
• Wipe the finished dry layer with a damp cloth and cover with clear varnish to extend the service life.

Photo: Instagram @ remont100lvl

Photo: Instagram @ remont100lvl

Silicone and acrylic sealant

It is even easier to join two sections with an elastic sealant than grouting. The advantage of the method is that you do not need to additionally process the boards to protect them from moisture. But there is one thing - you need to take into account that after drying, the filler will turn light brown. The acrylic filler can be painted to a suitable shade after it has dried. Both expansion joints are suitable for renovation work in new buildings, as they are able to adapt to the shrinkage of the building.

Sequence of work:

• Stick masking tape on both sides of the seam so as not to waste time later on scrubbing it.
• Make a hole in the tube with the silicone mass so that it can be squeezed out, or insert it into a special gun.
• Fill the gap so that the sealant protrudes slightly above the floor surface.
• Remove excess composition with a spatula. If there is no spatula, you can wait until the mass is dry and cut off the excess.

Keep in mind that it takes one or two days for the sealant to completely dry. Silicone expansion joints are recommended for use in rooms where the floor covering has been fixed with glue or fasteners.

Photo: Instagram @ 42m2.ofhappiness

Photo: Instagram @ 42m2.ofhappiness

Photo: Instagram @ 42m2.ofhappiness

Photo: Instagram @prinesite_pechenki

Liquid cork

Liquid cork for laminate and tile joints is a moisture-resistant mixture of adhesive base and cork chips. It has an unusual texture and looks good in seams no more than 7 mm. On wide passages, it will look alien. This is an easy connection method for any shape.

The hole, which is filled with the mass, is pre-cleaned of dust and degreased.

Rules for working with the mixture:

• The coating levels must match. If there is a slight difference, the glue is aligned to the higher edge.
• Do not let the cork fall on the floor, as it is difficult to wipe off, and after drying it is almost impossible. You can pre-coat the floor with oil or apply masking tape to it.
• The material must be sanded a day after pouring, until it has hardened.

The layer turns out to be very durable and it is almost impossible to remove it.

Photo: Instagram @centraparketarf

Photo: Instagram @parquet_design

Cork expansion joint

One of the most popular ways to decorate the boundaries between two floor coverings. The filler is a soft, pressed strip or whole sheets with the same characteristics. The expansion joint has several advantages:

• Possibility to choose a suitable color.
• Ability to withstand building shrinkage and dimensional fluctuations of laminated strips.
• Suitable for wide seams.
• Looks great in the interior.

For this material, it is also desirable that both areas are at the same level. Otherwise, the result will not look aesthetically pleasing.

The sequence of work with the placeholder:

• Fit the rail to the desired size or cut the part out of the sheet.
• Apply glue to the full width of the laminate or tile, and a thin layer of sealant to the bottom.
• Glue the expansion joint and cover it with antiseptic and clear varnish on top.
• The strip can be tinted, but it must be borne in mind that it absorbs paint well and the color is saturated.

Photo

Photo

Description of cork sealants

These sealing products are based on fine cork chips, which account for about 90-95 percent of the total volume. In addition, the substance contains specialized polymeric substances, water, fillers and binders that make cork sealants of the required density and texture. Depending on the quality of the cork, the quality of the compound to be sealed will be worse or better. The best raw materials are obtained from the oak bark of the cork tree species. Sealants based on such oak bark have a significantly higher cost than substitutes from any other wood species.

When cork sealants cure, they acquire the following characteristics:

• small mass;
• excellent elasticity and sufficient elasticity;
• low heat conductivity;
• ecological cleanliness and safety;
• resistance to chemicals and physical and mechanical stress.

Depending on the type of binders available in the sealant, it will have certain characteristics. Usually, polyacrylate glue is used as binding components, which is a water-soluble mixture that does not emit harmful or toxic substances during hardening. Polyacrylates increase the adhesion (adhesion) of cork sealant to various types of materials, such as, for example, tiles, laminate, parquet and others. Polyacrylates perfectly combine with cork and eliminate certain disadvantages of these seams and surfaces, for example, poor resistance to ultraviolet rays, acidic environment, low hygroscopicity.

Basic rules for joining different floor coverings

To fill the connection between the laminate and the tile, it is not necessary to use a sill, you can do the work in another way, using a liquid cork. When laying coverings, the following rules must be observed:

1. An important point is the order of installation of various types of flooring. First, the tiles should be laid, and the laminate is fitted under it.
2. When cutting tiles, there should be no chips or cracks, so the work is done carefully.
3. When laying the laminate, it is necessary that the cut line is strictly flat.
4. At the joints, the substrate for the laminate is cut off, and the boards must be attached to the concrete base with glue.
5. After the correct joining of materials, the joints between them are sealed using a liquid plug.

Due to the observance of these rules, an even, neat seam is obtained between two different floor coverings. Liquid cork for smooth bonding between laminate and tile. Instead of sills for connecting the laminate and tiles, a liquid cork is used. The connection between these materials is filled with such a product, which consists of moisture resistant glue and fine cork chips.

Joining materials with a liquid plug has its advantages

1. Seams between tile and laminate can be either straight or curved.
2. Installation of such material does not require additional fixation, that is, self-tapping screws.
3. The cork material combined with moisture resistant adhesive has a high moisture resistance function.
4. For laying such material, no special experience and special knowledge are required.

Installation of a plug expansion joint

Correct installation is ensured by correctly sized expansion joints. In specialized hardware stores, you can easily choose a threshold of any size. Most often, the length of such a product is 900 - 1000 mm. When installed, it is divided into segments of the desired length. The width is selected depending on the width of the joint, and the height - on the thickness of the coating. The most common expansion joints are with dimensions:

• height - 5, 10 mm;
• width - 10, 12, 15, 18, 20 mm;
• length - 900, 920, 960 mm.

Installation of a cork expansion joint is easy enough.

Another advantage of such a product is its color, which is initially suitable for almost any wood covering. However, if the threshold differs in color from parquet or laminate, this can be easily corrected with a small amount of varnish. The need for painting may arise when installing the expansion joint to the floor covering in light colors.

When arranging floors, many craftsmen make thresholds on their own, cutting a cork sheet into the sizes they need. Such sheets are produced specifically for these purposes and, most often, have the following sizes:

• length - 915mm;
• width - 610 mm;
• thickness - 10 mm.

Many manufacturers produce sheets of various sizes. Unchanged, most often only the thickness remains - for most products it is equal to one centimeter.

Appointment

Cork is an original and elastic raw material. Thanks to him, important tasks in the construction field are easily solved, and the products are widely used for the following works:

• providing the roof with a protective coating;
• finishing of facades;
• finishing of partitions and ceilings;
• minimization of noise and vibration;
• thermal insulation;
• anti-corrosion coating of metal structures;
• protection against the accumulation of excess moisture;
• noise insulation of cars, cabins, cars;
• decorative use in the interior;
• protection of low-temperature and high-temperature product pipelines;
• fire protection of various designs;
• insulation of loggias and balconies.

The properties of cork make it possible to use the products for sealing joints between different surfaces and construction materials, for example, between flooring and a wall, for decorating joints between tiles and PVC panels, wooden surfaces and laminate. In the course of these works, the seams will be reliably sealed even with large temperature differences, as a result of which deformation of the main composition of the product occurs. This feature is achieved due to the elasticity of the cork.

In addition, this material is successfully used as insulation for door and window openings. The application of a liquid cork to the joints of slopes and frames, as well as the seams of the door frame, will eliminate the possibility of drafts in the room.

Liquid cork is a versatile material that finds use as a base material for wall decoration including indoor and outdoor use.

As a result of its application, a coating is formed with the following properties and features:

• attractive exterior;
• simple technology of application to the surface;
• water repellency;
• good vapor permeability;
• heat and sound insulation.

The combination of the above properties makes it possible to solve a number of basic problems. First of all, the material eliminates the need to find workers to complete the wall decoration. The processing of the facade or walls in the rooms can be performed by specialists without serious construction qualifications, which makes it possible to do everything with their own hands.

In addition, the surface covered with liquid cork looks luxurious and expensive, which eliminates the need to purchase expensive finishing materials.

Reliable waterproofing provides high-quality protection from rain moisture, which significantly extends the overall operational life of the house. The excellent sound insulation provided by the material solves the problem with street noise, so the maximum proximity to the roadway inside the house will not be felt. The plug perfectly dampens noise and vibration.

The sprayed liquid cork allows water vapor to penetrate through the surfaces, which has a beneficial effect on the microclimate inside the house.

In case of high-quality laying of parquet on the floor, one of the main points is the sealing of the joints that appear between the board and the walls. This task is hampered by the fact that the surfaces have different mechanical properties. Natural wood differs from plaster or tile in that it can change its geometry from temperature changes and the effect of moisture on raw materials. Even after a short period of time after laying, the parquet may swell or begin to creak due to neoplasms in the form of gaps. In such cases, it is the liquid coating that will be able to solve such a difficult, at first glance, problem.

This is explained by the elasticity and elasticity of the cork, which gives the board some freedom. Thanks to this, the material expands, but without compromising the plane of its laying.

The product perfectly fills the cracks in the parquet due to its elasticity, providing the same pressure on all elements. That is why the formation of gaps is excluded. At the same time, the material retains excellent strength, which does not limit the possibilities of using the coating for its intended purpose. Cork is widely used in parquet repairs as a material for filling gaps.

Liquid cork has a variety of uses. Almost in any place where sound insulation, tightness and thermal insulation are needed, the material will come in handy. Moreover, almost all work with products can be easily done with your own hands, which will save on payment for hired labor and eliminate the need to purchase expensive materials.

Benefits of the tool

Sealants based on cork chips (liquid cork) are highly demanded in construction and repair. They boast a number of advantages, and the main one of which is safety for humans, the ability to use indoors, including in children's institutions, hospitals. The basis of any sealant is a biodegradable natural material, all additional components are also environmentally friendly. The products are diluted with water, they do not contain organic solvents.

Other benefits of cork sealant:

• excellent thermal insulation properties;
• ensuring tightness of joints;
• improving the soundproofing of the premises;
• strength, long service life (up to 10 years);
• resistance to humidity, temperature extremes;
• the ability to apply on deformable substrates due to elasticity;
• suitability for different types of materials, excellent adhesion to them;
• no shrinkage over time, retaining its shape and original appearance.

Cork sealant has good thermal insulation and does not shrink