Top 5 Myths of Cork Flooring
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.