Home And Garden Tips and Info

Cork has been used since ages for a number of purposes ranging from insulating ships, making floats for fishermen, bulletin boards, Birkenstocks and capping wine and champagne bottles. But it was only in the twentieth century that the benefits of cork as a flooring material were discovered and cork flooring became one of the most popular flooring options being exercised during certain periods of the last century.

Cork floors are not just long lasting, versatile and beautiful; they have a number of other advantages that have made sure that cork still remains a popular option with many home owners, builders and interior decorators.

Some Of The Main Advantages Of A cork floor Are:

• Cork flooring is not just natural, it is sustainably harvested, which means that you do not harm or damage the environment by using cork flooring, the way you might end up doing in the case of many types of wood flooring. Cork floors are made from the bark of the cork oak, where the bark is harvested once in nine years. The trees are not cut down, and they can continue creating cork barks for years and years to come. So when you use a cork floor in your home, you get the pleasure of having a wood like flooring without the guilt of having damaged the environment.
• Cork is hypoallergenic. In a day and time when we are all suffering from allergies of one kind or the other, it is prudent to avoid contact with allergens as much as possible. Therefore cork flooring, which does not cause any kind of allergies, is a much better option than carpets, which trap dust and allergens and are responsible for many respiratory and allergic problems. Cork is an extremely healthy flooring option.
• The bark of the cork tree contains a substance called suberin which is a natural pest and mold repellent. This means that your cork floor is naturally pest and rot resistant, a major reason why many people prefer cork flooring over other kinds of wood flooring.
• Cork is a natural insulator and sound absorber. Cork is composed of almost 50% air and is therefore an amazingly good insulator that is warm in winters and cold in summers. Another advantage of cork being an aerated material is that it is a natural absorber of sound, a quality which is utilized well while creating sound proof rooms, where cork is used on the walls as well. When it comes to creating a quiet home, then cork is much better than both laminates and wood flooring.
• Due to the nature of its construction, cork is extremely resilient, which makes cork floors much more immune to denting and scratching when compared to wood flooring.
• Nowadays, cork flooring is available in a variety of colors and textures to suit all kinds of décor. Cork floors are no longer a light shade of brown and range from almost white to almost black in color, with a large number of shades in between. Dyed cork floors, which are quite stylish, are a popular flooring option nowadays.
• Cork flooring is generally very easy to install and do it yourselfers can easily install their own flooring with a little help from the user manual provided by most cork flooring manufacturers.
• Cork is beautiful and provides warmth, texture and character to a house and its décor.
• Cork floor repair is relatively easy.
• Apart from requiring regular sealant, cork floors are quite easy to maintain. All you need to do to keep your cork floor shining and looking like new is sweep it with a broom or vacuum it and mop it with a damp cloth.
• If you keep your cork floor properly sealed, then chances of the floor becoming stained are very less, unlike even highly finished wood floors that stain easily with liquid spillage.
• Cork is versatile. Unlike wood flooring, which faces extreme dangers from moisture and wetness, cork flooring can be used in even spill prone areas like kitchens apart from being ideal for living rooms, children’s rooms and bed rooms. However, since cork is a kind of wood, it’s use is generally not advised in very high moisture content areas like basements and bathrooms.

The Disadvantages Of Cork Flooring Are:

• Just like other types of natural flooring like wood, cork flooring might fade if it is exposed to harsh lights for a long period of time. It is also prone to gouging or scratching if proper care is not taken.
• Cork flooring needs to be resealed almost every year. While this is not very costly and your floor keeps on looking like new with regular resealing and finishing, it is a little cumbersome because you will need to move around the furniture in order to reseal the floor.

Installing Your Cork Floor

Cork floor can be easily installed by do it yourselfers, but the method of installation will vary based upon the kind of cork flooring you are installing-tiles or planks, the surface that you are installing it on and the kind of  installation mechanism required –glue less or adhesive based. With the use of the manufacturer’s instructions and help from store staff, you will be able to install your cork flooring yourself if you want to. Otherwise, you can always call in professionals. In most cases, cork floor installation does not take a lot of time, especially when compared to installing wood flooring.

How To Maintain Your Cork Floor

Apart from an yearly sealing, cork floors do not require much maintenance. You can keep your cork floor looking new simply by regular vacuuming and wiping it clean with a damp mop. You can also wax the floors if you want to. Do not use harsh detergents, solvents or cleaning solutions on your cork floor. Avoid putting heavy furniture with pointy toes directly on your cork floor and make sure that your kids or pets do not scratch the floor with sharp objects or nails. Avoid exposing your cork floor to too much moisture, installing it in bathrooms, basements or near sinks or letting water stand on it for any length of time.

Tags: flooring options | flooring options | cork flooring | wood flooring | wood flooring | cork floors | cork floor

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This entry was posted on Monday, June 2nd, 2008 at 9:27 pm and is filed under Interior decorating. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.