Cork Expansion Joint Between Tile And Laminate: Liquid Cork For Joints, Use Of Cork Sealant And Connector

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Cork Expansion Joint Between Tile And Laminate: Liquid Cork For Joints, Use Of Cork Sealant And Connector
Cork Expansion Joint Between Tile And Laminate: Liquid Cork For Joints, Use Of Cork Sealant And Connector

Video: Cork Expansion Joint Between Tile And Laminate: Liquid Cork For Joints, Use Of Cork Sealant And Connector

Video: Cork Expansion Joint Between Tile And Laminate: Liquid Cork For Joints, Use Of Cork Sealant And Connector
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Fitting a cork expansion joint between tiles and laminate flooring is a popular method for creating joints between materials. The combination of floor coverings helps to realize bold design ideas and increases the life of the floor in the most intensive areas. The compensator allows the joining of tiles to the laminate without the use of sills, which makes it possible to obtain an even and uniform surface.

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Benefits of a cork expansion joint

Cork expansion joints are sheets of pressed cork that are easily cut with a sharp knife. The popularity and high consumer demand of the material is due to a number of positive properties.

  • Complete environmental safety of the compensator. The material is made from natural components, therefore it can be used in all types of residential and public spaces.
  • Wide range of colors. The cork lends itself well to coloring in any color. With the help of special light-resistant colors, it is possible to obtain surfaces of various colors and intensity.
  • Easy assembly and disassembly of the material. Anyone can cope with the installation of a compensator, even without experience in laying floors. This significantly saves time and money when carrying out repairs.
  • Excellent indicators of firmness and elasticity. Compared to rubber and silicone expansion joints, the plug does not harden. A unique property of cork is its ability to always take its original form. This allows it to compensate for the regular expansion-contraction cycles of the laminate and maintain its performance throughout the life of the flooring.
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  • High quality material. Over time, the cork pre-treated with varnish does not crumble or crack, which allows you not to fear for the integrity of the floor for many years.
  • The low cost allows you to purchase a cork expansion joint at a price that is comfortable for the buyer.
  • Natural antiseptic properties of cork, thanks to which the material is not subject to rotting and the appearance of mold and mildew. The cork is of no interest to insects and rodents.
  • The cork expansion joint is UV resistant and not prone to static electricity build-up.
  • When burning, the material does not emit phenol, chlorine, cyanides and other similar toxic substances. After processing with a special composition, the compensator corresponds to the safety class G1 (non-flammable substances).
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The cork expansion joint is available in liquid and solid form.

The solid form of release is represented by sheet material having a length of 90 cm to 3 m, a width of up to 10 cm and a thickness of 15 to 22 mm. The material can be painted in any color and covered with 7-10 layers of polyurethane varnish. The cork is indispensable for making joints between tiles and laminates. The material is cut in the form of narrow sills, which are installed in the joint between the floor coverings.

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For the production of a hard look, the bark of cork oak is used, pressed in special heat chambers without the use of glue and other chemical components. The liquid form is a mixture of elastic cork mass, adhesive and solvent. It is produced in sealed containers with a capacity of 500 ml.

The air-filled cells of the cork granulant endow the material with high heat and sound insulating properties, thereby providing protection from external sounds with a power of up to 27 dB. The liquid expansion joint is highly resistant to high and low temperatures, does not shrink and does not delaminate when exposed to weight and mechanical loads.

The density of the cork sealant is 0.34 g / cm3 and the final hardening time is 6 to 12 hours. The material is applied with a spatula or air gun.

The humidity limit for the finished surfaces is 3%.

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The disadvantage of this type of expansion joints is the need for quick installation, due to the very high setting speed of the 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 mating surfaces is the absence of flaws at the edges of the tiles and laminate..

If the tile is laid with the cut side to the joint, then its edges must be carefully sanded, and the edge of the laminate is treated with a special compound that protects the material from moisture.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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The installation of the liquid cork expansion joint should be started by applying masking tape to all 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.

It is very easy to install the liquid plug. The only drawback of the installation is the need for an accurate and even distribution of the composition at the application stage, since it will no longer be possible to correct the defects in the application and align the seam after the material has dried.

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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 effective and neat.

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

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