7 best manufacturers of cork floors

More and more Russians prefer to use natural materials for apartments and houses. One of the best flooring in terms of environmental and safety is cork. Interestingly, the bark taken from the cork tree grows quickly, so nature is not harmed. The advantages of cork flooring experts also consider the ease, elasticity, good water repellency. Due to the introduction of special additives, manufacturers can increase the resistance to burning, make the coating antistatic properties. Today in the domestic market you can find cork panels from different manufacturers. Which one of them to give preference? Our experts will help answer this question.

How to choose a manufacturer of cork floors

1. The best products in the Russian market from Europe have proven themselves. This is explained by the use of high-tech equipment and the availability of high-quality raw materials in countries such as Portugal, Germany and Switzerland.
2. To reduce the final cost of cork floors, some European manufacturers place production sites in Russia. Due to the rigid control system at all stages of production, it is possible to maintain the optimal combination of price and quality.
3. Recently, Chinese companies are actively involved in the competition. They draw attention to their products with low prices. But the quality is not always all smooth, because for the manufacture of cunning Asians use waste cork production. The connection of small components is made with the help of toxic adhesives and varnishes.
4. However, the choice of cork floor depends not only on the manufacturer. Experts recommend to determine the type of panel. There are plates of extruded material, which are mounted with glue. An alternative to adhesive structures will be the castle floor. It is also called floating. The joining of multi-layered panels is carried out with the help of a lock (thorn-groove system). Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages.

Our review includes 7 best manufacturers of cork floors. Winners were determined based on feedback from domestic consumers.

Advantages and disadvantages of adhesive and locking cork floors

Type of cork floor	Virtues	disadvantages
Adhesive	+ can be combined with other types of floor + maintainability + easy update with new varnish + resistance to moisture and temperature extremes	- thorough preparation of the base - additional costs for adhesive composition and protective varnish - difficult installation
Castle	+ factory varnish coating + minimal base preparation + No additional materials required. + fast installation by own strength	- suitable for dry rooms - prolonged contact with water is not allowed - difficulties with replacing worn panels

Rating of manufacturers of cork floors

Nomination	a place	Name of product	rating
Rating of manufacturers of cork floors	1	Corkstyle	4.9
	2	Wicanders	4.8
	3	Corkart	4.8
	4	Egger	4.7
	5	Mjo	4.7
	6	MAESTRO	4.6
	7	Floor step	4.5

Corkstyle

Rating: 4.9

A wide range of cork floors is offered to the domestic buyer by the Swiss company Corkstyle. The catalog has more than a hundred options. There are materials with a classic design, as well as the original floors with photo printing. Experts explain the high popularity of the products with time-tested quality, the use of environmentally friendly materials and modern technologies. Thus, the cork itself is supplied from Sardinia and Portugal, the base is manufactured by the well-known company Kronospan, and the protective coating is provided by varnishes of the Loba brand.

By design, the company offers solid panels, equipped with a lock, or floor, mounted with glue. The first place in the rating of the brand was provided by such qualities as excellent quality, a rich choice of drawings, different mounting options, continuous improvement of technology.

Wicanders

Rating: 4.8

The oldest manufacturer of cork flooring is Wicanders. It was established in 1868 and was a small Swedish farm. Today, the largest manufacturers of plants are in different countries, including in Russia. The company managed to achieve uniqueness of its products due to its multi-layer structure. The main layer is made of natural cork, due to this it is possible to increase the comfort of the floor covering and reduce heat loss. In addition, multi-layered panels absorb sound, ensuring silence in the house.

The manufacturer's collection includes products with a classic and decorative style. Experts gave the company a second place rating for poor resistance to moisture and mechanical stress.

Corkart

Rating: 4.8

The Portuguese company Corkart began its history in 1997, when Jose Correia Neves established his family business. The company is located in the very center of cork plantations near the capital. The manufacturer pays great attention to product quality. Innovative technologies are applied for this, the staff qualification is constantly being improved, and an effective control system has been established. The production uses only the best raw materials from Portuguese plantations.

The brand managed to win the hearts of Russian users due to unique designs and the best characteristics. It is in the shops Corkart appear new products that have no analogues in the world. Only the quality of the lacquer coating users have claims that affected the final place in the ranking.

Egger

Rating: 4.7

The German company Egger was originally a family business. After 50 years of work, the number of employees exceeded 8,000. New production sites were built in Turkey and Russia. Until now, the company follows the chosen philosophy, which involves the production of quality products, without harming nature. The manufacturer succeeds in achieving its goals by introducing resource-saving technologies. In the assortment there are cork flooring, both for private houses, and for studios and restaurants. Experts note several cozy and modern series that are in demand in Russia. The company failed to get into the top three of the rating because of the softness of the coating; traces of furniture and animals remain on it.

Mjo

Rating: 4.7

Cork flooring under the MJO brand is produced in Portugal.The company's history begins in 1954, in such a short time it has become the world leader in the field of cork processing. The advantages of the material experts include natural beauty, environmental friendliness and durability. The products do not cause allergies, and thanks to the antistatic surface treatment the floor is easily cleaned of dirt. There are several interesting collections in the catalog. The Classic line is represented by panels with cozy colors. For modern interiors, the XL series is better suited, where the drawings are notable for their clarity and contrast. Children's rooms are able to decorate the flooring from the Kids collection. And lovers of unity with nature will love the Econom line.

MAESTRO

Rating: 4.6

The Russian manufacturer of cork floors MAESTRO competes on an equal footing with world leaders. The company offers domestic consumers a quality product at an affordable price. In the catalog you can find locking panels with a thickness of 10.5 mm and soft strips (4 mm) for glue mounting. The distinctive features of MAESTRO floors are natural appearance, natural cork texture. The material has such useful properties as resistance to mechanical stress, heat and sound insulation, environmental friendliness.

Much attention is paid to the manufacturer antistatic treatment. Therefore, the coating repels dust, which simplifies cleaning. Somewhat inferior to the leaders of the ranking in water resistance and workmanship.

Floor step

Rating: 4.5

Products of the Portuguese manufacturer Floor Step is notable for its availability. To reduce the cost of manufacturing the company was able to at the expense of the latest high-performance equipment. Buying raw materials near the production site, it is possible to reduce transportation costs. In our rating, Floor Step is the youngest and most promising company. She began to take the first steps in the field of cork treatment in 2012. The quality of flooring was appreciated not only by European and Russian customers, but also by consumers in Asia.

By production of panels chemicals are not used, therefore the cork floor will be absolutely safe both for adults, and for children.

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Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.