Cork trees are a variety of the oak tree species. While most other wood or grass (bamboo) flooring materials are made by utilizing the stalk of the plant, cork is the outer layer of bark. Harvesting the bark of the cork tree is environmentally friendly, as it does not kill the plant. In fact, cork trees grow a fresh layer of harvestable bark every six years. The cork tree can continue to grow new bark for decades if not centuries. Very little of the harvested bark goes to waste.
No other material has the visual detail that is found in cork flooring. It is an excellent flooring material in both homes and offices. Cork has been used as a floor covering for many centuries because of its durability and appearance.
Durability and Resilience
Cork provides resilience and comfort. Unlike many of the ceramic flooring materials, standing on cork does not lead to sore and stained calf mussels. Many people believe that cork is soft, elastic, can be compressed, and hence should not be used if you want a long life floor. This not the correct and the proof is, that there are many century old European estates that still have their original cork floors. When cared for properly, as is necessary with any hardwood flooring, it is capable of providing decades of service.
An excellent flooring material for both kitchen and bathroom floors, cork is extremely resistant to any penetration by a liquid and it provides a non-slip surface (somewhat dependent on how it has been finished). Note: Cork should be sealed when installed as a kitchen or bathroom floor.
Health Benefits
Cork is naturally hypoallergenic and antistatic. Homeowners who are concerned about the allergenic effects of any building materials should consider cork as it resists the growth of mildew and mold and will not attract pollen or dust particles. Cork floors are easy to maintain and do not release fibers nor do they emit any toxins into the air making it an excellent flooring for individuals with respiratory ailments.
Insulating Properties
Cork has outstanding insulation characteristics. Its naturally low thermal conductivity provides a barrier to excessive heat or cold. It reduces energy costs in both heating and cooling. Its thermal properties make it an excellent flooring over above or below grade cement subfloors. Even without under floor heating a cork floor is warm to the touch. An excellent solution to cold, basement, family room floors.
For additional information on flooring products for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.
Cork Flooring Basics
Natural Cork Flooring Can Be A Sound Option For Your Home
If you have never seen natural cork flooring you may be surprised how hardy and versatile a material it can be. Many people might think that cork is flimsy because they have had a bulletin or reminder board that is easy to stick pins into or break if not attached to the wall. This article will cover how natural cork flooring is created and some of the features of this material as a floor surface in your home.
To begin with, natural cork flooring is a renewable resource. This is encouraging from an environmental perspective given the way trees are cut down in vast quantities to be made into flooring or other products. Cork comes from the cork oak tree. It is actually the bark of the tree and is simply peeled off the tree after around 10 years of growth. The trees will grow new bark and the process will continue, culminating in another peeling. In this way the trees are never cut down. Although the process takes a long time, by staggering the planting of the trees a constant supply of cork can be produced.
In terms of the qualities of natural cork flooring, it is noted for it's thermal and acoustic insulation. This is because there a millions of tiny air pockets in cork. They absorb and insulate a room from heat and noise. When you walk on natural cork flooring you will notice that it gives under your feet and will bounce back after the pressure is removed. This is a tactile illustration of the insulation qualities of cork flooring.
Various colors of cork flooring are also available making its use in a variety of rooms and environments possible. They are made with snap-lock connections similar to laminate flooring and can be installed either as a floating floor covering or glued to a sub floor material.
The natural texture of natural cork flooring makes it feel naturally different from other flooring materials and its natural soundproofing makes it ideal in apartments or in rooms where noise can be distracting to those in rooms below them. Its insulating qualities also helps reduce heating and cooling costs. The durability and life expectancy of natural cork flooring is directly dependent on the quality of the installation and how you care for the material.
Cork is especially useful in rooms that are heavily used, like bathrooms and kitchens. In these types of rooms there is a good chance that moisture may come in contact with the flooring. So many types of natural cork flooring for this purpose are given a top coating of acrylic that seals the material of any spills. Other rooms that may not be subject to this type of wear and tear may have a top coat of waxing. This is a thin coating that retains the bounce back feeling in the cork but also protects it from damage.
It is straightforward to clean natural cork flooring. Simply use a dry mop or a duster to remove hard particles from accumulating on the natural cork flooring surface. The floor should never be scrubbed with and liquid based abrasive cleaners that may damage the protective coating of the cork or be absorbed into the cork material itself.
For more details on using natural cork flooring and how vinyl plank flooring can be used in your home, visit http://www.finehomeideas.com
Cork Flooring - An Excellent Flooring Alternative
You might not notice it but it is there! Cork flooring is now fast becoming the flooring of choice for most notable buildings such as churches, museums, hospitals, schools, libraries and hotels. With its excellent noise buffering quality and the comfort it provides to tired feet, who can resist it?
Isn't cork just for bottle stoppers? What is it really and how is it converted to building materials?
Cork is derived from the outer bark of the cork oak tree, Quercus suber, which is commonly cultivated in the Mediterranean. Among the major cork-producing countries are Portugal (which supplies 50% of the total world's demand for cork), Algeria, Spain, Morocco, France, Italy and Tunisia. In these countries, the trees are considered valued treasures. And why not? Cork is fast becoming a prime export commodity and having expansive cork oak forests translates to big local and foreign earnings!
The bark of the cork oak tree is typically harvested every nine or ten years. The harvested raw materials are then cleaned, boiled and have their rough outer bark stripped away. The finest slabs in the batch are then selected and from these, cork bottle stoppers are made.
Nothing ever goes to waste in the production process of these valuable resources. The scraps resulting from the manufacture of stoppers are collected and grounded into small granules. These are mixed with an appropriate binding material, molded into larger blocks and then baked to come up with the natural cork material which can be used for construction purposes.
Cork can be used in a variety of ways. They can be used in the flooring, walls and ceilings. They can even be formed into baseboards and moldings. Cork finds its way into most commercial, institutional and residential buildings due mainly to its moisture, mold and rot-resistant attributes. In most modern houses, cork materials can be found in almost all of the major rooms!
What makes cork such a hit in the construction of modern buildings?
Well, aside from the fact that it greatly reduces noise (offers up to 50 decibels noise reduction when used as a flooring underlay), cork has the following features:
. Durable. Cork is naturally resistant and recovers well from compression. Treating it with a protective finish further enhances this feature.
. Provides thermal and moisture insulation. Cork cells are multi-sided and have very strong and flexible cellular walls. They are joined together in a honeycomb fashion making them airtight and very resistant to moisture.
. Provides underfoot comfort. Cork's natural structure makes it compressible so that it provides a comforting feel whenever you step on it.
. Easy to clean and easy to maintain. Cleaning cork flooring can be done in a breeze! For waxed finished cork flooring, all you need is a dry or damp mop. Liquid solvent wax can be applied occasionally to maintain the glossy finish. Or for a more serious cleaning stint, you can use electric buffing using 00 steel wool discs. Lamb's wool pads can be used afterwards.
For polyurethane finished cork flooring, routine cleaning can also be done by using dry or damp mop. Refinishing it can be successfully done by using power floor machine with 00 wool disc and then applying polyurethane as per prescribed directions.
. Cork is manufactured without any significant negative environmental impacts. Cork-producing nations strictly enforce laws with regards to the harvesting and manufacture of cork. The barks of the trees are harvested in such a way that the trees survive the process and zero waste management techniques are imposed in the manufacturing procedure.
Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Flooring
