Cork Floor Image

1.            Beauty
Cork is an exceptionally beautiful and natural product. There are so many design options available when choosing your cork flooring tiles. Almost any design that you can find in ceramic tiles is now available in cork. This is partly due to being able to veneer and subsequently print on the cork. These days cork flooring
manufacturers offer unique tile sizes and shapes from standard squares to more complex shapes to fit any design.

2.            Durability

If you want durable flooring than cork flooring is a very good choice. Because of its durability it has been used throughout the decades; you can see it used in libraries, churches, banks and court houses. The softness of cork allows it to flex under foot traffic, which in turn, means less wear and tear of the flooring overall. Cork flooring also has a longer life than other flooring options and is replaced easily when eventually worn out. Did you know that the oldest cork flooring can be found in a Church near Chicago which was built in 1898?

3.            Softness

Do you know why cork flooring feels so soft underfoot? It is because air has been trapped between the millions of cork cells as the tree originally grew, providing a cushioning effect when you step on it. This softness underfoot is one of the key reasons why people prefer cork as a flooring option.

4.            Sound & Vibration Reduction

Cork has a natural tendency to dampen vibrations thus making it a logical choice for sound absorption; you may have noticed that in places with cork flooring you do not hear as much sound when you walk across the flooring. This is also why you will find it abundantly in recording studios and other entertainment places.

5.            Thermal Insulation

Cork is a natural insulator for heat. The air trapped in between the cell structure of cork gives it this ability. It considerably reduces heat loss due to these insulations properties. Cork also naturally maintains a comfortable temperature all year round. It is neither too hot nor too cold.

6.            Anti-Allergenic & Insect Resistant

Did you know that cork can be used as an insect repellant as well? This is because of a natural substance found within cork.  Suberin is a waxy substance that is naturally occurring within the cork cells. It helps keep away the insects and allergic bacteria while at the same time it saves the cork from rotting if it is submerged in water for too long.

7.            Easy Installation

Cork tiles are one of the easier floor coverings to fit, due to the fact you can buy them pre glued and pre finished to save yourself some time. All your floor installer would do is to put them together, saving a lot of time and man hours.

So when will you be getting cork tiling to cover your floors?

Cork Flooring Photo

Cork originates from the bark of the cork oak tree, which comes from Mediterranean locales like Spain, Portugal, Italy, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and southern France. The wood from these trees has a cellular structure that acts as a natural shock absorber, trapping air and responding well to

constant use. For people who spend a lot of time on their feet, cork flooring is a welcome relief for a sore back, feet and legs.

It is this same cellular structure that also reduces noise and vibration. Unlike other materials like tile or wood or vinyl, which do not successfully absorb a variety of noises, cork flooring minimizes the sound of walking or running from individuals or pets. In a busy setting like a kitchen or living room where there is considerable back-and-forth movement, cork flooring is an easy way to minimize an the noise that comes from daily activity in a busy household.

Along these benefits, cork flooring has the additional advantage of unrivaled beauty. Available in many colors from a diverse array of manufacturers, cork flooring has several shapes, colors and patterns that match the needs of individuals, families and commercial residents.

Best of all, cork flooring contains features that are anti-allergenic and resistant to insects like termites. The naturally occurring waxy substance in cork, which repels mites and mold, protects this flooring over many years. This property is, additionally, a natural fire resistant that does not release any toxic gases when it burns. These strengths appeal to parents of young children, safeguarding babies – and pets – from harsh chemicals or sprays. Consider cork flooring as a quick way to enjoy much needed peace of mind.

Maintaining cork flooring is equally easy, since this material can withstand a multitude of conditions and heavy use. With only minimal vacuuming or mopping, cork flooring does not require the use of noxious cleaners or abrasive solutions.

Finally, cork flooring is a renewable and sustained resource. Consumers can thus honor the environment – and beautify their surroundings – without compromising the integrity of the planet. Safe, effective, popular and versatile, cork flooring is the logical choice for individuals and families who value comfort and convenience.

bathroom cork floor

Cork is a logical choice these days to use as flooring in our bathrooms. This is all due to its wonderful qualities as a material and the added strengths it receives from being processed in the factory. Let’s not forget that using cork is an eco-friendly choice which is just perfect should you be looking to turn your house green.

Cork has an innate beauty, quality and warmth that set it apart from other bathroom flooring options such as carpet, tile and vinyl coverings. Cork is produced from the cork oak tree; it is produced in a manner that does not kill

the tree thus making it a very valuable tree with a long lifetime and ecologically friendly. Since cork is relatively new on the flooring scene people are still unsure as to whether it is a suitable covering for the bathroom. This article will go through cork’s natural qualities and added strengths that make it perfect for use within the bathroom setting.

Cork flooring is naturally poor at moisture resistance and it is often purported by experts that you should not use cork in the bathroom where moisture levels are high and the likelihood of spillages is high. Cork flooring is available in two varieties, tile form and plank form. The plank form option if used in the bathroom will allow for moisture to seep between the boards and allow for the growth of mildew and mold in between the boards. If allowed to continue this could be very unhealthy for those using the bathroom.

However with modern advances in material design previous issues have been done away with and now you can buy cork flooring that is specifically made for bathrooms. In these special types of cork all of the original negatives concerning bathroom uses have been eliminated.

It is possible to still use standard cork tiles and planks with in the bathroom, but only if you take a few extra precautions you can make them more suited to the bathroom environment.

• Caulk all around all four sides of your flooring to ensure that your cork tiles are completely watertight preventing moisture seeping underneath them.
• Only use cork tiles and not cork planks as discussed earlier.
• If you want to give it that extra bit of moisture resistance you can add a layer of polyurethane to make sure everything is completely waterproof.

By using cork flooring in the bathroom you will have a well-insulated floor which cannot be matched by that of ceramic tiles unless you go to the expense of installing under floor heating. While carpet in the bathroom allows for mold to grow and harbor bacteria within its fibers, cork, when treated, is moisture resistant and is naturally anti-allergenic preventing the problems of carpet.

Overall cork is superior to the competition and you should definitely consider using it over ceramic tiles and carpet for the bathroom. Just be sure to use the special bathroom varieties or to take the precautions mentioned above.

Top 5 Myths of Cork Flooring

Most people think of cork as the little thing at the end of a bottle of wine or the pop that comes from the end of a champagne bottle. Cork has been around for centuries and has been used for many different products of the years, it its modern day form you can find it in shoes, wines stoppers, coasters, tablemats and in modern day flooring. One of corks best strengths is its ability to be super soft underfoot yet still be durable enough to stand the daily toll of foot traffic it receives as a flooring option.

Myth 1: Cork destroys trees, it is no better an option than mahogany

False: Cork is one of the most renewable resources on this earth. It could even be said to be more ecofriendly than its friend bamboo. This is because once a cork oak tree reaches the age of 20 it will be valuable for the following 170 years. Cork is harvested from the top layers of bark from the tree in early summer thus allowing the tree to recover each year and subsequently produce another harvest the following year.

Myth 2: Cork is a poor insulator

False: Cork is a better insulator than any other hardwood out here, it’s even better than its bamboo friend once again in this case. Cork, due to its construction is a great thermal insulator being able to remain cool in summer and warm in winter. Bamboo and hard woods remain temperature neutral throughout the year.

Myth 3: Cork soaks up water like a sponge

False: Cork is naturally water resistant, it can even withstand being submerged in water for suspended periods of time. If cork did soak water up like a sponge do you think that it would still be in use today as the preferred method for capping bottles of wine.

Myth 4: Cork dents easily

False: Well it’s kind of false. While it does dent because it is a very flexible material. Though what you need to remember is that it has structural memory, meaning it can spring back into its original form even after being distorted.

Myth 5: Cork is a haven for bacteria and mildew

False: Cork is naturally anti-allergic and it is even use as an insect replant in certain parts of the world.  The only reason anyone will say cork is a haven for mildew is because they used the wrong type of cork flooring which subsequently allowed water to fall between the seams and sit, thus promoting the growth of mildew.

Hopefully this has cleared a few of those issues you have worried about when considering using cork as a flooring option.

Because of the way cork is harvested it means that the cork tree has a working profitable life of over 170 years.  Whereas traditional hardwoods can take up to 50-60 years to mature and subsequently are only valuable the year they are felled. In comparison the cork tree starts to produce enough bark to start being valuable after only 20 years of growth thus making it much more economically viable than your more traditional hard wood.

The harvesting process of cork is done by hand therefore not adding to global pollution by spewing emissions into the air from the use of machines to harvest and produce the product. To harvest the cork tree the vegetable tissue is stripped from the bark in late spring – early summer which allows the tree to protect itself with a new layer of cork before the weather turns cold.

Besides its green beginnings cork has some of the best qualities when it comes down to being an amazing flooring material.

Cork naturally comes in six different patterns but through the use of pigment dyes you can find it in a wide range of colors, even though most people prefer to pick a more natural color for their flooring. By being creative you can make some interesting borders and mosaics with different shapes and cuts of cork flooring

Cork has wonderful thermal properties further adding to its eco credentials. Due to its cell structure it is able to remain warm in the winter and cool in the summer unlike hardwood flooring options which are temperature neutral.

Cork also has remarkable sound absorption properties which is why you can find it in recording studios around the world.  So whether you want to set up a room to rock out with your drums in or just dampen the ambient sound levels in your house, then cork is the way to go.

It is also low cost and incredibly durable. It has a memory allowing it to reform its original shape after it has been distorted by passing traffic or the weight of furniture that has been sitting on it.

Overall cork has great benefits as a flooring option and what more its certifiably a green building option, due to its renewable harvesting process and its amazing thermal insulation properties. If you want green flooring than be sure to choose cork!

• First things first, premeasure the room you are laying down the cork flooring in to make
  sure you have bought adequate supplies. Add an extra 10% onto your total room size to
  provide you with some leeway.

• Bring your cork flooring into the room for installation and let it acclimatize to the room so as not to have your floor shrink after you fit it. Three weeks of acclimatization should
  suffice.

• Remove all furniture, baseboards, fixtures and fittings that will prevent you from fitting theflooring. Remove doors as well that will impede on your work area.

• Secure any loose floor boards and level out the floor as necessary to provide a flat surface for your cork flooring.

• If you have bought underlay then fit it as prescribed. Butt pieces together but do not overlap them as it will provide an uneven surface for your flooring.

• Decide how you will lay out your cork flooring before you actually start laying it. Find out the length of your last row and cut that first. Be sure to double check the measurement and then fir the short rows in place.

• Leave  3/8” gap around the flooring and your walls all around your room this will allow for expansion when the weather changes.

• Join the boards lengthwise by sliding the tongues into the grooves. You should hear a snap if it had connected properly.

• Cut the final board in your first row and use this as a start for your second row. This will ensure the seams are offset.

• Join the rows by snapping them into place much like before.

• Continue installing boards as prescribed above, making sure to cut for parts such as water pipes and so on.

• Once completed admire your work and install transition strips at the doorways.

Hopefully this will give you a rough idea of how to lay down your cork flooring with ease. If all goes to plan you will have a wonderful, sturdy yet soft flooring for you and the family to enjoy for years to come.

Be sure to contact us here if you need any more on advice on how to install your flooring or for why you should choose cork over the other types of flooring available to general consumers.