Natural Cork Flooring 

The idea of cork flooring is new to many people, and brings to mind bulletin boards. Actually natural cork flooring comes in a wide range of visual appearance that bears little resemblance to a bulletin board.

Natural Cork flooring is a 'green product'

Cork flooring has actually been around for a long time, and is used in many public buildings, dating back as far as 1900. It is not uncommon to see it used in municipal buildings, churches, and libraries.

Natural Cork flooring is another 'green product', as it is harvested. This means that there is no damage to the tree which will be harvested approximately every ten years. Cork is made from the bark of the tree which will go on and grow another covering of bark.

In addition to that, cork flooring products are actually made from cork that is recycled from other manufacturing processes, giving it a second life, and eliminating wastefulness of resources and making it an environmentally friendly product.

Benefits of natural Cork flooring

Cork flooring has many benefits. First of all, it is a very durable product. Cork flooring can also be repaired, if damaged.

Cork flooring reduces the transmission of sound, making it a good application for playrooms, recording rooms, and any area where reducing the transmission of sound is desirable.

Another benefit of cork flooring is that it is warmer to the feet, and reduces heat loss in a room. It is also easier on the feet when standing for periods of time, as it has give.

Cork is also fire resistant. And, as previously mentioned, cork floors are environmentally friendly since cork is a harvested product, and flooring is made from recycled cork.

Cork flooring is offered in a diverse range of colors.

Cork flooring applications

Consumer will find cork for flooring in both tiles and in floating floors.

Cork tile flooring is usually installed using adhesive. It is possible to create many patterns by using different shades or colors and laying them out strategically to create different patterns.

The cork floating floor installation is where the planks snap together much like laminate floors, and are an easy installation.

Cork flooring tips:

Cork is not a good choice for moist areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. When mopping cork, use damp mop only, and follow manufacturer directions for cleaning products.

Allow cork to adjust to the home environment, out of packaging, for the suggested period before installation. Different products have different recommendations.

Cork flooring can be applied over most level floors except carpeting. Make sure surface is level, smooth, and free of dirt, waxes, polish, and previously used adhesives. If holes have to be filled, allow plenty of time for fill material to dry.

As with all flooring material, read through the manufacturer instructions and follow them to get the most from your cork flooring. Read care instructions.