Cork Flooring – Benefits Galore!

Cork flooring is endowed with a whole host of benefits. A lot of manufacturers pride themselves on the wonderful feel and comfort of cork flooring. But what makes this specific type of flooring so special? Well, probably the most popular reasons are that it is comfortable and soundproof. Besides, cork floors are allergen free, which is really helpful, considering that a lot of people in America and around the world today have allergies, and everyone is looking for a way to have a more allergy free lifestyle.

Plus, cork has a naturally occurring wax that repels most insects keeping your home virtually bug-free. This special kind of wax called suberin can keep away most molds and mites that could otherwise harm your home and your flooring, if it was any other kind of wood. Cork is 100% toxic gas free, meaning that if it burns it does not release any toxic fumes, making it a healthy choice for you and your family.

Color and Patterns

Cork flooring comes in a variety of textures that can be defined be its rich and colorful pattern. Some cork floors are mixed with other products to add texture and depth, such as rubber or recycled materials. The color of cork flooring is usually the same as what you would normally think of it, that tan color filled will small holes. But, some can come in beautiful darker red colors and light cream colors; it is all a matter of choosing what looks best in your home and what reflects your personal style. No matter what you choose, cork flooring or not, it should always be what you want, because choosing something you do not truly like can result in more trouble than it is worth.

How to Install Cork Flooring

Cork flooring can be installed in two ways, both are efficient ways of getting the job done, and both look equally beautiful. However, one is easier and quicker to put down. The glue-down installation process is relatively cheaper in materials but much higher in the cost of installation. This type of installation can be harder to use because it must be placed on a clean and even surface. Besides, it is harder to repair when damage occurs. The second type of installation process is the floating floor process. This is the most popular form of installation among home owners. It comes with specially made edges that lock in place, this type of floor can be put down on virtually any surface without worry of uneven ground.

It is much easier to repair because it just snaps out of place. The only thing you have to pay attention to when installing cork floors in this method is you must remove all carpeting, and it must be a hard dry surface that you intend to install over. Cork flooring is a great option for that perfect wood floor look, it gives a special feeling to the room; the darker colors can add a warm and inviting feel to the room, while the lighter colors can give it that pop it needs to brighten things up and add an interesting flair that attracts the eye, giving you the room you have always wanted.

When getting a new floor for your house, you must be considering a variety of factors to make the most of your investment. And on that count, cork floors score pretty high. In this article we will discuss some of the special features of cork that makes it a truly unique floor. And you can use it both for your house and for your office.

Appearance

With a wide variety of patterns and colors available, cork looks great on the floor. And the variety allows you to have floors that suit your style and taste.

Durability

The life of a cork floor can last up to centuries. And there is proof of that. Both the Library of Congress and the First Congregational Church of Canada have cork floors that are well over a hundred years old. So when you install a cork floor, you are assured a lifetime of peace regarding flooring issues. Such durability of cork can be attributed to its cellular composition. Even in case of friction, cork is much less affected than other hardwood floors or tiles or even laminates.

Liquid Resistant

Cork flooring contains an intrinsic waxy substance, Suberin. What it does is it makes cork impermeable to liquids and gases. So there are very minor chances of cork actually rotting. In fact cork is considered o be one of the best seals available and is still used today to seal wine bottles, a practice that has been going on for centuries.

Resilience

Due to its cellulite structure cork also has tremendous resilience built into it. So when pressure is put on a cork floor it will bend but as soon as the pressure is released the cork floor snaps back to its normal position. This is because on application of pressure the cells are compressed while on release they regain heir shape. So walking on a cork floor with a high heel shoe on is not an issue.

Insect Resistant

The composition of the cork ensures that insects, even termites, cannot cause any harm to the floor. The floor acts as a kind of natural barrier for them. Even microbes cannot set up colonies in the cork floors. Thus it is kind of germ free too.

Value

Cork flooring also wins in value when compared to other floors. Priced affordably, cork can come at almost half the cost of some other kinds of flooring available. And then it has all the features which make it truly one of the best flooring options.

Cork flooring has been a popular flooring over the centuries and the trend for it has come back time and again. The impression that it has made on the mind of people is an ever lasting one.

Cork Flooring and its History

If we look back at history, we will see that cork has been applied for centuries in a variety of uses. It has been used as bottle stoppers, especially in the wine industry. It has also been used by fishermen as fishing net floats. Compared to that the use of cork for flooring purposes has been pretty recent. It was during the last years of the nineteenth century that cork was used for flooring mainly because of its resilient qualities. And it remained a very popular form of flooring being used in several public buildings, including Chicago’s First Congregational Church, the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, and Lafayette College in Easton, PA. Cork flooring was made popular in housing designs by the world renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

With the introduction of easy to maintain floorings during the 1950s, the interest in cork flooring waned. Materials like linoleum and vinyl had a wide range of colors and patterns, and it allowed people to create bright and colorful rooms. But cork having made such an impression already in the public’s mind, it was again back in vogue during the 1970s.

Cork Flooring Today

Today, cork is back again and the reasons are environmental as much as nostalgia. The concerns for limiting the damage to the environment and preserving the natural resources are priorities for many today. Using cork flooring for their homes is definitely a better option than to go for hardwood flooring. Cork is made from the bark of cork oak tree which is renewable. Since it’s renewable, hence it’s not causing any harm to the tree and there is virtually a limitless supply of the material. There are trees over two centuries old that still produce the bark which can be used to make cork. So it can be classified as a ‘green’ product.

Beyond being environmentally friendly, cork has other attributes which makes it a very good option for flooring. It is non-toxic, resists mold, mildew and insects and is anti-microbial. As flooring it is hypo-allergic, flame retardant and does not produce static electricity. Care and maintenance of cork floors is also much easier today. This can mainly be attributed to the newer techniques of manufacturing.
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About Cork Flooring

Cork flooring is becoming more and more popular all the time due to its many virtues including the fact that it is relatively inexpensive and comfortable to walk on, because of its natural cushioning effect, and because of the fact that it insulates well, keeping it warm in the winter months. Cork flooring provides a certain amount of sound-proofing, compared to other floors that make loud noises when walked on. Most of the cork today is produced in Spain, where massive amounts of cork oaks are grown. Cork is environmentally friendly and a good choice for more modern flooring. Cork is used in a variety of different things, not just floors. In fact, you are probably familiar with some of the objects made of cork; you might even have some of them in your home, such as wine corks or bulletin boards.

Where it Comes From

Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak, which is grown in places like Spain and Portugal. The bark is removed from the cork oak approximately every nineteen years. But, it is only removed when the tree reaches the age of twenty-five or older. It is removed by hand and then boiled. After that it is baked and made into a variety of things including cork flooring. Well, cork flooring is sealed, and then it is ready to be sold. It comes in many colors, and designers often use different colors in one floor to add depth, by placing many squares together to form the floor. A lot of people consider cork flooring to be the next big thing in floors. It is environmentally friendly, soft on the feet, stylish, and cheaper than most other wood floors.

Cork flooring is durable and long lasting, and much less likely to crack or scratch like classic wood floors. It is good because of its spring like texture that makes it less likely to break fragile things when dropped onto the floor. Cork can be recycled and used for other items, or even to make cork floors out of the recycled cork. Cork floors can last many years, which makes it great for businesses and places where a lot of people visit. Cork will look new for many years without repair. Another positive aspect of cork flooring is that it is chic ‘n’ stylish, and adds the perfect flair to your home or office. It comes in simple tongue and groove installation, which makes it easy to just snap into place.

Price Range

Cork floors can range in price from two dollars a S/F to seven dollars a S/F and up, the price is relatively low for such a high quality floor. Like most floors, it can be bought online or at many major flooring companies. Most online floor companies provide you with a wide range to browse through and sometimes they can give you free shipping. Though, if you want to get a hands-on look at the floor, it is best to go to your local flooring center and pick out the exact floor you want by hand. You can even custom order to pick the perfect floor to match your needs. Cork floors are a good choice because of their durability and all their many other positive qualities that make cork the perfect choice for your home or business.

If durability tops the chart in your list of requirements for the floor you want, then cork flooring might just be the thing you are looking for. To give you just two examples, both the Library of Congress and Chicago’s First Congregational Church have cork floorings. While the former was built in 1800, the Chicago Congregational Church has had cork flooring since 1890. That should be proof enough of cork flooring’s durability.

One can say that there is a whole army of maintenance people in both the institutions to look after the floor. But the fact is, for a regular family home, you can maintain a cork floor with just routine maintenance that would not be too troublesome. All you will need to do is regular light cleaning and apply a little bit of common sense.

In the following section of the article we have provided some solutions to generic problems regarding the maintenance of cork floors. However, if something special crops up, it is always advisable to consult the manufacturer of that particular floor.

General Maintenance

You would want your cork floor to look new even after years of use. To a great degree this can be achieved if you follow the following basic rules:

• Always provide padding to the legs of your furniture, so that they do not leave any scratch marks when moved. Felt pads can be used for this purpose. Also, it helps to lift the furniture while moving, instead of dragging it down the floor.
• Place non-abrasive mats in front of doors and near sinks. Dirt, grit and water are the worst enemies of cork flooring.
• If you have potted plants in your rooms, then make sure that there is a drip pan under the pot to collect the water. Water should never be allowed to seep out.
• For the cork flooring to retain its color, it should not be exposed to the UV rays of the sun. Use curtains or blinds to prevent excessive light getting through the windows.

Cleaning

The good thing about cleaning cork flooring is that you will require neither special equipment nor any sort of harsh chemicals.

• Remember not to allow spills to stand. Wipe them off immediately.
• Regularly sweep and vacuum to remove the dirt and grit.
• Use cleaners that are specially formulated for cork floors.

If you follow the suggestions in this article along with the instructions provided to you by the manufacturer, you will get a durable and beautiful flooring that stays with you for decades. And it would be real value for your money.

Cork and Its Many Purposes

Cork, made from the cork oak tree, is present in many households and used for many purposes. Because cork is a light material, it can be used for many objects such as boats because it floats well on the water. Cork is probably best known for its wine corks used as stoppers on wine bottles. It can be used for musical instruments, fishing rods, and even cement! But the one cork utility that makes it a class apart is that it can be used for flooring as well. Cork flooring is widely spread across the world and used by designers everywhere, because of its relatively low price and stylish look.

History of Cork

Cork flooring can be one of the best home improvement choices you make when designing your home. But before we get to this wonderful flooring we should first learn about the history of the cork itself. This will help you understand and fully appreciate the wonderful flooring made out of this miraculous material known as cork. Do you know that cork was originally designed to keep oxygen out of wine bottles, keeping it from getting old and molding? Well, the ancient Greeks here amongst the first ones to use cork for their wine stoppers. And ever since then, cork has been used in everything, all over the world.

Cork Flooring and You

Most of the time cork flooring is a reasonably priced floor, but for some people the costs of installation can make the overall cost rise. But keep in mind that cork flooring is well worth whatever price you have to pay for it. Maintenance for cork floors are quite simple, cork floors only require a weekly mopping with minimal amounts of water and it is as simple as that! Do not forget that cork is easily repaired if something goes wrong, although that is highly unlikely as these floors are made of a very strong wood.

As with almost any kind of flooring you should be careful to avoid harsh chemicals that might damage the floor. Cork flooring is made with layers of cork for extra support and comfort on your feet. Cork floors are made with 5 layers, the cork underlayment which is the bottom layer that helps to insulate the flooring. The stabilizing core is the next layer that adds interlocking sides to the panel. Next is the cork core which is one of the most important layers, because it provides a cushion when walked on. The top layer is the top layer that provides the style aspects of it. Special parts of the cork oak bark are chosen to make certain stylish patterns with the top layer. And last but not least is the finishing layer of varnish to finish everything off and leave a beautiful shine.

Cork is an important part of our world and is used in an environmentally friendly way to help preserve the cork oak trees while at the same time making this beautiful cork flooring for everyone to enjoy.

Cork flooring is becoming increasingly popular, but many have known of its virtues and that is why it has been used in many public buildings including the Library of Congress located in Washington D.C. which has one of the largest book collections in the world. Cork is also the flooring choice in many older libraries and churches that have a lot of visitors. Builders wanted something that would not ware easily with all the traffic. Cork does not rot do to moisture or gasses of any kind, which makes it a good choice if you are looking for something that will last a long time without getting damaged. This flooring, as you may or may not know, has a great sound proof quality to it. And for this reason, it is quite popular to put cork under other floors such as tile or hardwood to prevent the sound of footsteps, which is ideal in libraries.

Cork flooring has been around a while, and some buildings have had cork floors for centuries that have not been changed all that much over the years. Cork floors have increased in popularity over the past few years, because so many people have realized the importance of saving the environment, and cork flooring is very eco-friendly. It does not harm the environment in any way and comes from a renewable resource. Cork floors even make an appearance in the first church of Chicago, where it has stood the test of time with grace and beauty. There is just no stopping this stuff!

Cork has been growing in popularity, and before you know it, within almost a blink of an eye cork is showing up in all households, libraries, and government buildings all over the world. Even some famous designers used cork for their designs as well as the architect Frank Lloyd Wright who used cork in many of his own designs, and appreciated the durable nature of cork and how environmentally friendly it was. No matter how you look at it, cork has been there through it all, and is reckoned as one of the most durable floors in the world.

Care and Maintenance

Cork flooring is quite possibly the most low maintenance floor you can buy today, it requires very little to keep it beautiful which is another reason why so many choose this floor for their home or office.

Here are some simple tips to follow when caring for your new cork flooring.

• You should protect your floor from sun damage by using curtains or blinds in areas where the sun might touch the floor directly.

• Another good idea for keeping your floor beautiful is placing mats in front of sinks and places where it might come in contact with water.

• You should be careful when moving furniture, because it is possible to leave scuff marks.

• If you do spill something on the floor it is suggested to wipe up immediately because the cork can absorb the liquid leaving stains.

• Most of the time cork only requires a light sweeping or vacuuming each week, but you can use floor cleaners as long as they are safe for pre-finished flooring.

• You should always check the manufacturer tips on cleaning and maintenance before cleaning your floors with any chemicals.