5 Things To Know About Cork Flooring

Cork is one of the hottest trends in flooring. Interior designers love it for its unique looks and unmatched sustainability.


1) Cork flooring is know for it's anti-bacterial properties. It resists mold, mildew and termites unlike traditional hardwood floors.

2) Contrary to most beliefs, Cork flooring does not absorb water. A good rule of thumb is to install cork flooring anywhere you would install traditional hardwood floors. But avoid installing it in areas where there will be excess water.

3) Cork flooring works well in any room in the house. It's comfort underfoot makes it great for kitchens and rooms where a lot of standing is required.

4) Along with cork's color variations it's also becoming available in a number or plank widths and tiles.Perfect to create any design in your home.

5) Unlike hardwood floors, cork is made by harvesting bark from an oak tree leaving the lumber intact. The back grows back over time, and can be harvested repeatedly with little impact to the tree or the environment.

The Benefits of Cork Flooring

Let's take a quick look at some of the benefits you receive with cork:

Comfort & Softness
The air trapped inside the cellular structure of cork provides a natural shock absorbing feel to the floor. It's great for applications where you are standing a lot such as in a Kitchen providing relief for your feet, back and legs.

Beauty
Cork has a natural beauty rivaled by few other natural materials. It comes in many colors and different manufacturers provide various tile shapes and patterns as well.

Noise Reduction
The same cellular structure that makes the floor comfortable also reduces noise and vibration. Unlike hard materials like tile, wood or vinyl, cork is quiet and reduces impact noise such as something dropping on the floor or the sound of walking by people or pets.

Healthy and Safe
Cork has natural properties that are anti-allergenic and resistant to insects. A naturally occurring waxy substance in cork called suberin repels insects, mites and mold and protects cork from from rotting when wet for a long time. In addition, suberin is naturally fire resistant and cork doesn't release any toxic off-gassing when it burns. These natural properties plus the coatings used to seal cork flooring make it healthy and safe for adults, pets and baby.

Durability and Ease of Maintenance
Durability is a strong trait of cork and cork floors have been used in public buildings such as churches and libraries since 1898, long before residential applications.

Article found: About.com
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