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Cork Flooring Solutions

Cork Flooring Solutions as a Durable and
Environmentally Friendly Alternative

It seems as if wood flooring is growing in popularity, as people discover just how beautiful and inexpensive durable wood flooring can be. Most people tend to consider hardwood floors when they think of flooring, especially woods like oak that is popular for its beauty and durability. Some will even opt for a more exotic wood floors, such as bamboo. We actually do not recommend that one at all. Cork Flooring Solutions

However, cork flooring is a great alternative to the other styles of flooring that are available. This type of material has been used in flooring products for a long time. There are a lot of great reasons to consider cork-flooring, including its durability and environmentally-friendly method of production. If you are searching for the perfect style of flooring to install in your home, consider the many advantages of cork-flooring.

Durability of Cork Flooring solutions

If you are expecting cork-flooring to be soft as a corkboard, prepare to be very surprised! Cork is actually one of the toughest materials around.

Its design is scuff resistant and unlike most hardwood floors, resists penetration from moisture - the same reason that this material is so popular for plugging a bottle of wine!

There are cork flooring installations that have lasted for more than 100 years, and it's even one of the materials of choice that is used in the Library of Congress.

The very composition of cork also makes it very elastic, so it's hard to damage the floor from normal use.

Aesthetics of Cork Flooring solutions

Cork-flooring tends to have that unmistakable speckled look to it, which can be a refreshing departure from the simple wood grain looks of other floors. There are a number of different patterns and colors to choose from, so you have a chance to find cork-flooring to suit whatever your decoration scheme is.

Because of its elastic nature, cork is a comfortable material to walk on, and very easy on the feet. Its impermeable properties seem to apply to sound as well, which makes it an effective acoustic insulator. This is a huge advantage to someone who is living in a noisy apartment building or condominium complex, as well as those who would like more peace and quiet between bedrooms.

Cork Flooring Maintenance

Cork flooring is relatively low maintenance when installed correctly, requiring only regular sweeping or vacuuming to remove small grit and dirt particles and damp mopping every so often. However, spills must be wiped up immediately to prevent staining.

The most difficult part of maintaining cork flooring is occasionally resealing it. The initial finishing process involves sealing the cork to create an invisible barrier over its surface, which offers some protection against water stains and damage. However, sealers are not perfect, and if a room is flooded, cork flooring can warp and discolor. High humidity can also cause the cork to curl or plump, which may cause tiles to pop out or planks to buckle. (from TheSpruce.com)

Cork Flooring Repair

One of the best things about a cork floor is that you can refinish its surface periodically, just as you can with hardwood, to give it a fresh new look. This involves sanding the solid cork tiles or planks down past the point of any imperfections, and then staining and or re-applying the finish sealer to the surface. This can be done several times, depending on the thickness of the material. Refinishing is not possible, however, on engineered cork flooring, as the surface cork layer is too thin. (from TheSpruce.com)

About Cork Flooring Solutions

Cork flooring is a natural and renewable material derived from the bark of the cork oak tree. It is known for its durability, comfort, and insulation properties. Cork flooring comes in two types: glue-down tiles and click-together planks. Waterproof cork planks have also been introduced, making cork flooring suitable for various areas in the house, including bathrooms and laundry rooms. Cork flooring is available in a variety of designs, colors, and finishes, mimicking wood and stone.

Sources of Cork Flooring

Though cork flooring is a product that comes from cork trees, it's not actually made from the wood of the tree. Instead, the material is gathered through stripping away the bark on the outside of the trunk. This means that rather than cutting down a tree just once for material, cork farms can strip the bark away again and again; there are still trees used in bark harvests that are around 200 years old!