Cork wallpapers: pros and cons

Due to the fact that current trends involve the decoration of rooms with natural materials, cork wallpaper is rapidly gaining popularity. They can be found in almost all interiors of residential and public buildings.

Cork wallpaper is a sheet or roll material made from cork oak bark grown in Italy, Portugal, Spain and on the African coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The leader in the production of wallpaper is deservedly considered the Portuguese companies with extensive experience and produce high-quality products, recognizable and in demand in the global market for wall coverings.

The production technology consists in the sequential grinding, pressing and heating of raw materials, as a result of which the resin is released and the plug mass is glued.Then, the resulting veneer is applied to a non-woven surface or paper, a pattern is formed, the surface is colored, saturated with wax and coated with a lacquer composition.

Cork wallpapers are available in three versions, differing in size, scope and structure of the canvas.

Roll execution is the most common type and enjoys increased popularity and high demand.

Available in two-and three-layer design. In the second case, a thin foil sheet between them was added to the already existing layers of veneer and base. Due to the presence of pores and voids in the upper layer, it is possible to achieve a beautiful shine and play of light, and the foil can have a golden, copper and silver hue. The width of the roll wallpaper is 50 and 75 cm, length 5.5 and 10 meters, and the thickness, depending on the model, ranges from 2 to 4 millimeters.

Liquid wallpaper from a cork they resemble liquid plaster and make it possible to perfectly level the surface. Installation is characterized by the absence of joints. Their structure includes cork crumb and acrylic glue.The material is universal and can be used in any premises.

The third type of wallpaper - cork slabsconsisting of two layers. The bottom one is made of pressed cork, and the top one is represented by a thin veneer impregnated with a wax composition, which significantly improves the water-repellent properties of the panels and allows the material to be used in rooms with high humidity. The plates are available in three sizes: 30x30, 60x60 and 30x60 centimeters with a coating thickness of 3 millimeters.

The most common colors of cork wallpaper are gray and brown tones, as well as ocher. The surface is both homogeneous and containing blotches. The color range of products is very wide and includes the whole palette - from light sand shades to dark brown tones. The most popular are natural natural colors that blend harmoniously with any interior and create a favorable atmosphere in the room.

Paper and non-woven base wallpaper rolls are also available in a wide range of colors.Thanks to this, a huge number of unusual colors are produced, allowing you to choose a coating for every taste.

The advantages of cork coating include the following material properties:

• The natural origin of raw materials provides complete environmental safety. High hygiene of the coating lies in the ability to absorb and neutralize computer radiation, which makes it in demand for finishing offices and study rooms;
• Fine decorative features Wallpaper allow you to use them as an independent design element. They will perfectly fit into any interior and will be harmoniously combined with furniture, natural and artificial stone, wooden floor, tiles and doors;

• Durability and high wear resistance caused by cork coating structure and the use of additional protective agents - varnish and wax. Processing and impregnation significantly increases the service life of products and allows you to keep the original appearance for a long time. Cork surface is resistant to mechanical stress and abrasion.Manufacturers guarantee flawless coating service life for 10 years;
• Fire resistance products it is ensured by the incombustibility of the material and its ability to withstand high temperatures, without being subjected to deformation and not emitting acrid smoke. This allows the use of cork wallpaper in public spaces with large crowds. Products do not fade in the sun and do not crumble;

• Sound and thermal insulation properties Wallpaper is achieved thanks to the porous and soft cork structure, which is an indisputable advantage over other wall coverings. Due to excellent sound absorption, cork wallpapers are often used to equip music studios and entertainment centers located in residential buildings. Products are not prone to the accumulation of static electricity and hypoallergenic.

By cons cork wallpaper The high cost of products, the complexity of installation, the need to purchase special glue and the impossibility of the point repair of rolled coatings can be attributed.

Also, there is a large number of scraps when sticking, which is formed due to the small size of the rolls. Because of this, it is necessary either to join the webs more often, or not to glue the short strip and to start using the next roll.

Puttying the walls before the sticker should be carried out with high-quality materials, otherwise under the weight of cork canvases there is a risk of peeling the wallpaper along with the putty.

Taking into account the operational qualities of the coating and the recommendations of the manufacturer, cork wallpaper can be finished in any premises:

• In the children's rooms the use of such wallpaper will be a good solution. Safety, hypoallergenicity and the special warm structure of the material will create a healthy microclimate indoors and provide good sound insulation;

• In hallways and bathrooms you need to use moisture-proof models that are not deformed or peeled off under the influence of moisture.Their surface is easy to clean and is resistant to moderate mechanical stress. Often used the combination of cork wallpaper with other materials, for example, with artificial stone or decorative brick;

• Material ability it is good to withstand high temperatures and does not absorb the smell allows you to use it for finishing the kitchen and dining room, which serves as an excellent alternative to tile. For these rooms, you must choose a moisture-proof model;

• Exploitation in living rooms, bedrooms and offices does not imply specialized qualities of the material, therefore, when buying a coating in these premises, one can be guided only by the decorative characteristics of the products.

Wallpapers do not require expensive maintenance and painstaking care. It is enough to periodically treat them with a damp cloth or sponge. Pre-treating the surface with varnish does not allow the coating to save dust and get dirty quickly.

Prints on hands and various stains are poorly visible on the traffic jam, but if they still appear, it is necessary to remove contamination with sandpaper.Abundant moisture and the use of bleaching agents and chemical compounds during surface treatment is unacceptable.

The first step in the selection should be to determine the desired form of release. It should be borne in mind that cheaper roll models are less convenient to install and give more waste when they are applied, which one person cannot do. It is much easier to cope with sheet models, and the presence of plates of different sizes makes it possible to minimize the number of scraps.

The second step will be to determine the necessary additional qualities, such as moisture resistance and refractoriness. They are provided by coating impregnation with special compounds. Information about this is indicated in the accompanying documentation, which should be in all products, along with a certificate and instruction. Next, choose the colors and comfortable price.

The final step will be the choice of glue. It should be borne in mind that for paper-based wallpaper you can buy glue for heavy paper coatings, and for products with a non-woven base suitable glue for heavy vinyl or contact acrylic. If the choice fell on the plates that have no basis, then you need to take glue for cork products.

Cork wall decoration of the walls gives the room a special color and unique atmosphere of natural motifs. Acting as an independent decorating element, the material is able to decorate any room, as well as indicate the good taste and wealth of the owners of the house.

The combination of decorative plaster and cork surface looks harmoniously. The walls are made in the same style with the floor covering, which brings completeness to the image of the room and underlines the geometry of the space.

Cork wallpaper applications allow you to use the most ambitious decoration solutions. The contrast of colors and simplicity of the lines continue the thematic orientation of the room and have a comfortable rest.

Artificial stone and balsa wood are an excellent choice for modern interior decoration.Combined surfaces look great in hallways, loggias and public spaces.

The contrast of the color of the wall and the surrounding interior emphasizes the naturalness and nobility of the material, and also gives the room a sophisticated look.

Cork flooring, made in tone with the floor and successfully shading light surfaces will be a good solution for the decoration of large premises, both residential and public.

About how to choose and pokleit cork wallpaper in the room - the following video.