‘Cork Flooring’
Flooring Search
Eco-Friendly Source of Cork Flooring
Cork flooring is one of the most beautiful wood flooring products on the market to date. It can rival any type of wood flooring in both beauty and durability. However, the big difference between cork flooring and traditional wood flooring is that cork floors is eco-friendly and a natural renewable resource. So, not only can you get the beauty of a wood floor you can also help save the environment and start going green in your household.
You’re now probably wondering, “Well, what makes cork floors eco-friendly?” the answer is the material it’s made from; cork. Cork comes from the cork oak tree (quercus suber). Now, the method used to harvest and produce cork is what makes it eco-friendly. The cork oak tree can be harvest over and over without damaging or killing the tree. The bark itself renews itself every 7 to 9 years and can be harvested. The average lifespan of a cork oak tree is about 250 years. So, with the quick rate of renewal we can stop harvesting trees and use cork as a flooring solution. Read the rest of this entry »
The Green Benifits of Cork Flooring
It’s hard to improve on Mother Nature, but cork suppliers are doing just that with new products that offer even greater green benefits for the home today as well as commercial applications. Put simply, cork is nature’s gift to the flooring industry. Long used in commercial applications for its durability, cork is becoming a hot choice for residential use due to its unique health and energy-saving benefits. And, with more people becoming aware of it, more product options are being offered by cork flooring suppliers to meet the growing demand.
The Benefits of Cork Flooring
Cork flooring is hypoallergenic.
Cork floors and tiles provide excellent thermal and acoustic insulation.
Cork’s resiliency cushions shock on knees, feet and backs.
Cork flooring creates a serene and quite environment.
Cork floating floors can be installed by any homeowner quickly and easily. Cork planks come in 1 x 3 feet dimensions, so installing a floating floor is quick work and does not require any glue, so you can walk on your cork flooring immediately after installation. All cork floors come with a built-in underlayment to help lower room noise and feature three coats of durable factory finish. Read the rest of this entry »
Cork Flooring – The “Green” Flooring
With the ever increasing focus on being “Green” more and more people are looking towards natural, renewable materials for their flooring options. One of the most popular choices is cork flooring, which is incredibly eco-friendly and one of the most easily renewable resources in the world. It also has a host of wonderful qualities which make it an ideal flooring choice in many situations. Read the rest of this entry »
Cork Flooring
Cork flooring is enjoying a strong resurgence as more people begin to appreciate the distinctive l
ook, feel and the durability of the material. Natural cork products are made from the renewable bark of the cork oak tree. These trees grow primarily in Portugal, Spain, and Tunisia. The cork is harvested approximately every nine years and amazingly, the cork bark grows back with no real harm to the tree. Cork flooring is made by grinding up the bark into small pieces then forming them into large blocks after a non-toxic* resin binder is applied.The blocks are sliced into sheets that are either 5mm or 8 mm thick.
The color of cork varies from a tan to a dark walnut depending on how long it was baked during manufacturing. Most cork manufacturers recommend using polyurethane adhesive but some recommend using DriTac, a water based, low-VOC latex adhesive, which should work just fine for any cork flooring. After installation, the floor tiles are coated 
with either a polyurethane finish or a natural wax treatment. A water based, low VOC polyurethane can be used for coating as well and is a better environmental choice.
Cork flooring provides acoustical and thermal insulation, it is cushiony, resistant to moisture damage and decay, easy to clean, definitely has some eye appeal, and it’s anti-allergenic and anti-static.
It does have a couple of drawbacks. As with any wood product, water can damage it, so it should not be installed in basements which may be subject to seepage or floodin
g.It is soft, so furniture pads are recommended to prevent denting. Cork is imported, so the energy used during transportation and shipping costs are a consideration. Cork is somewhat expensive, although a it does not appear to be more expensive than linoleum tiles.