Flooring

Cork flooring has become a very popular choice in the home, delivering both durability and comfort. Although a slightly pricey option when it comes to flooring, cork has many advantages that make it a great investment. Cork is harvested from cork trees in several Mediterranean countries, and the trees only yield a crop once every nine years. This makes the supply of cork very limited, driving up prices worldwide. Cork flooring is about the same in price to ceramic tile. The many advantages of a cork floor, however, make it worthwhile to invest in cork.

As the main defensive mechanism of ages old trees, cork has natural properties that make it resistant to moisture, insects, and abrasion. Cork is also made out of over 90% air, allowing it to take shocks gently, while also quickly rebounding to its former form. This ability gives cork flooring excellent durability, allowing it to cushion those standing on it while also remaining level. As tree bark, cork flooring is also very resistant to moisture. Unlike a normal hardwood floor that may lose its shape when wet for extended periods, cork flooring can retain its shape without cracking. Easy maintenance and clean up of spills will maintain cork flooring in prime condition for many years.

A cork floor will maintain its beautiful finish for generations, with just a little care. Suberin, a natural compound within cork, repels insects and prevents water damage. Suberin is also fire resistant, and does not emit any toxic emissions when burnt. The soft air containing structure of the cork also allows for great noise cancellation, absorbing noise instead of reflecting it as hardwood is prone to do.

With little maintenance, cork flooring is known to last for many years, just as it has in a variety of commercial and government buildings. As cork flooring has become more and more popular, the styles available have also grown. Cork flooring today can be bought in a great spectrum of colors, shades, and patterns. Cork flooring can usually be installed by either gluing down sections, or using interlocking segments called a “floating floor.” Interlocking panels are slightly more expensive, but will cut down on the associated installation expenses, as well as improved general reliability. Cork flooring is a great alternative to hardwood, and is available today in many affordable models.