Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Cork flooring

While cork flooring is steadily gaining in popularity in the US and several other countries, its usage has been used in Europe for centuries. Its utility rests on its resilience, durability and versatility. In recent times, cork has been recognized for its eco-friendly attributes. Cork is hand-harvested, therefore, no trees are destroyed in the process. Cork oaks survive for more than 200 years and can be harvested at least 20 times. This flooring is used in the United States Library of Congress because of its hard-wearing qualities.

Cork Flooring: Nature's Perfect Floor

Cork flooring is eco-engineered to be easily installed over an existing floor, including tiles. Once installed, cork not only beautifies the room with its subtle elegance, but also muffles sound with its inherent acoustic properties, proving useful in apartments since it reduces noise transfer to other floors. It provides cushioning and warmth, as it possesses natural insulation qualities, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs. It also safeguards health, since it is hypo-allergenic. Its antistatic properties control mold and mildew growth. It does not generate toxins or shed fibres either.

Cork proves to be a boon in the kitchen area since it has natural flame retardant and resistant properties. Additionally, its elastic nature can break the force of falling utensils and prevent them from shattering. Cork makes for truly earth-friendly flooring as it can be installed without the help of chemicals, glues or nails.

It is a misconception that cork is a soft material used in making boards and bottle stoppers. It is pliable but scuff-resistant and can last for more than 10 years with very little, or no maintenance. It can also resist water penetration, the reason for which it serves well as wine bottles stoppers. Cork flooring is ideal even for use in bathrooms precisely for this reason.

Cork Flooring: Aesthetics

Cork flooring, with its mottled appearance, makes it unique from other wood floors. It is available in an array of patterns and colors to suit every decorating style. Sometimes cork is mixed with rubber or other recycled materials to add texture and depth. The color of the flooring is usually the same tan shade with a porous surface. However, some are have darker red or light cream colors.

Cork flooring

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