Natural Cork Floors
When we think of cork we generally think of wine stoppers however cork is also a wonderful flooring material. There are many reasons you may want to choose cork, it is not only great for heat and sound insulation but is also extremely environmentally friendly.
Insulation
If you want to keep your home warm in winter and cool in the summer then cork flooring is the perfect choice and performs heat insulation far better than laminate or wood floors. This of course will have the added benefit of reduced energy bills.
Also because cork is a soft material it prevents noise being carried by people walking over it. This is especially useful if you live in an apartment and don’t want your neighbours to hear you walking about at 3am!
Environmentally Friendly
Cork comes from the outer bark of the cork oak tree which grows in the Mediterranean. The bark is mainly used for wine stoppers however because so many wine producers are opting for plastic corks or even screw-tops, this has caused economic problems in the cork producing areas. Cork oak forests are a wonderful habitat for many species of animals and birds including Barbary deer, Iberian lynx, black vulture and the imperial Iberian eagle. Also, because only the outer layer of bark is used, the tree does not have to be felled. So if people stopped buying cork products what would happen to the cork oak forests? It is estimated that three quarters of forest could be lost within the next 10 years which is why the WWF are currently campaigning for a reversal of this trend.
Health Benefits
If someone in your household suffers from allergies then installing cork flooring into your home is ideal as it is hypoallergenic and antistatic. This is because cork does not absorb dust, does not shed microfibres or contain polyvinyl chlorides.
Durable
If you are unsure of buying cork flooring because you are worried about having to replace it often due to wear and tear then think again. When buying a cork floor look to see what protective coating the manufacturers give. If it has been treated with acrylic, urethane or wax then it should be guaranteed for several years. Some experts say that urethane is the best option. Also look to see what moisture protection has been applied otherwise your cork floor may suffer from mold and mildew.
Choice
If you like a wide choice when making a purchase then you will certainly be spoilt for choice when selecting your cork floor. They come in a variety of colours and patterns – some of the patterns are as spectacular as any marble!
You also need to ask the supplier what the density is because this affects how much abuse it can withstand. Look for cork floors with a density of at least 30 pounds per cubic foot. The thickness should also be at least 3/16 inch.
Cork flooring can be bought in the form of tiles which is a think piece of cork whilst laminate floating floors are made up of several layers of cork sandwiched together.
Installation
Installation of both cork tiles and floating floor click systems are very easy for the average DIYer. Before you have you cork floor installed make sure that you unwrap the plastic and leave it to get used to the temperature of the room for 3 days. This might sound strange but cork can expand and contract with the heat and cold.
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