Many people have stopped using wallpaper, parquet and other well-known materials for interior decoration. They want their apartment to be unique and look different from everyone else. Therefore, cork for walls has become very popular. This is an absolutely environmentally friendly and safe material with good heat and sound insulation. Thanks to a special impregnating material, wall cork does not absorb moisture and unpleasant odors.
Key Features
Wall cork has a number of advantages. First of all, it is versatility. The material is used for wall decoration not only in residential buildings, but also in industrial, cultural and mass institutions. To use it in your room, you need to have design skills. That is, the material must correctly fit into the interior of the room.
The next quality is porosity and density. Therebycork absorbs special substances that protect it from moisture and unpleasant odors. It is environmentally friendly, so you can stay indoors for a long time. Cork is a fragile material. To increase its wear resistance, the product is coated with ceramic chips. Such material is used in production shops.
Types and their features
Wall cork is used for various types of coatings, but the main place is the walls. The choice of product depends on personal preferences. There are such types of wall coverings:
- cork wallpaper;
- cork panels;
- board or tile;
- liquid cork;
- technical.
Next, we will look at each of these options in more detail.
Cork wallpaper
This is the most affordable and cheapest option that is easy to mount on the wall. The technology is no different from sticking paper wallpaper. By design, this is a decorative cork for walls, which is applied to a paper base, which ensures quick and easy gluing. They also produce self-adhesive wallpapers. To attach them to the wall, you need to remove the protective film from the back and attach to the wall. These types are used to solve complex design solutions.
Besides, they have their drawbacks. Cork wallpapers are too thin, so they cannot serve as soundproofing material. They are also not recommended for use in rooms with high humidity.
Cork wall panels
This material is more durable and dense, it is also not exposed to moisture. Such panels will serve for a long time if they are additionally impregnated with a special solution.
Cork tile or wallboard
This is the most durable type of material that does not absorb moisture. Such a product can be used in rooms with high humidity, for example, in a bathroom or pool. These plates are still laid on the floor, while it will be safe to move on them.
Liquid stopper
This type of material is used for finishing exterior walls. This product consists of cork chips and acrylic binder, which contains various types of resins. The finished wall is not exposed to moisture. This composition is applied to the surface by spraying. The process is used to erect building facades and roofs. In addition, liquid cork is a good thermal insulation material.
What colors are there?
From the beginning of its existence, cork for walls did not please users with a range of colors. Such materials were produced of the same type, since there was no particular demand for them. Over time, when they became more in demand, there was a need to release other colors. This made it possible to solve any design problems. Cork on the wall in the interior is indispensable for many buildings and premises. And the reviews of experts confirm this.
Cork wall decoration
This process begins with the preparation of the necessary materials and tools. Wall cork, the price of which is withinfrom 1000 to 2000 rubles, produced in size 300x300 or 300x600 mm. Before starting work, they purchase rollers, a mounting knife, scissors, a ruler and a spatula.
Cork tile or board is attached to the wall using a special compound. Glue for cork on the walls should be on an acrylic or contact basis. It must be applied not only to the surface of the product, but also to the wall. The cork slab can change its size, so before starting work it must be placed in the room for a day. Thus, the material will adapt to temperature and humidity. This procedure will help to avoid future deformation on the walls.
Surface treatment
After the selection of materials, it is necessary to prepare the walls. Humidity in the room should be 65%. This can be achieved with a special humidifier. You should also pay attention to temperature. It should not fall below 18ºС.
So, let's start processing the walls. Their surface must be leveled and coated with a primer. It is not recommended to use plaster based on gypsum, as well as one that is incompatible with tile adhesive. Next is the center of the wall, through which the vertical and horizontal lines are drawn. As a result, the wall is divided into two parts. This procedure is performed using a plumb line and an iron ruler.
Tile fixing
A layer of glue is applied to the product and applied to the wall. First, the lower part is glued, and then everything else. The material should fit snugly to the coating and not have any irregularities. Whereintake into account the origin of the tile. Some models can be destroyed, so it is not recommended to take them by the corners.
Next, the entire row of tiles is glued. It is better to do this using the “run-up” method - this way vertical lines will not be visible. The next row is stacked with a shift relative to the first. If the tile has been laid unevenly, it can be moved as the adhesive does not dry quickly. Using a special roller, iron the corners of each tile so that they fit snugly against the wall. Many craftsmen performed masonry using this technique. There is nothing difficult in this. You just need to stick to the laid first tile.
Edge sticker
This procedure is an important element when decorating walls with cork. To do this, one plate is placed on top of another so that one of its edges touches the corner of the wall. This is the amount of cork you will need. Next, using a mounting knife, cut out the required size, apply a layer of glue and apply the product to the wall.
It happens that sockets or pipes get in the way. In this case, special templates are used. They are applied to a cork sheet and cut out. Thick paper or plywood is used as templates.
How to care for tiles?
If the work is being done for the first time, then you need to be prepared for the appearance of small gaps between the tiles. This is due to the fact that sheets can change their sizes, that is, expand and contract. This problem is easy to fix. To do this, cutcork strip. The sheet, near which the gap is formed, is carefully lifted around the corners. Using a brush, glue is applied to the gap. Then apply the corners of the whole tile. So that they do not move away, they should be pressed with a special roller. Excess glue is removed with a mounting knife.
To increase the service life of cork slabs, as well as increase their wear resistance, it is necessary to treat the material with a special solution. As a rule, products are coated with oil or wax. This method has been known for quite some time.
Today on the market you can buy a liquid in which these two elements are connected. Impregnated tiles can be used in areas with high humidity, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Many masters advise varnishing the material. For this, a special composition based on acrylic is sold. It should be noted that cork tiles do not tolerate direct sunlight. When exposed to them, it burns through and changes color. To do this, curtains are hung on the windows.
Reviews
Many people who have made wall decoration with cork slabs are satisfied with them. They give the room a pleasant appearance and protect the walls from moisture. At its low cost, cork board is a reliable material. Wall decoration work can be done independently. All you need to do is just follow the instructions.
At the end of the work, there may be gaps between the tiles, which arise due tosheet size changes. However, this problem can be quickly fixed with your own hands. If necessary, a special team of craftsmen is called.
So, we found out what cork wall decoration is, and also considered how to care for this coating. The choice is yours!
