Natural Cork Flooring
Natural cork flooring is quickly becoming popular in building and remodeling homes. Natural cork flooring is also the choice of libraries, business centers, and government offices because of its many advantages.
You may not immediately feel the difference, but you can feel it when stepping on the floor barefoot. The comfort of natural cork flooring is second only to that of carpet. Natural cork flooring is soft, temperature resistant, and as durable as hardwood flooring.
Natural cork flooring comes with several advantages. Apart from the environmentally friendly nature, natural cork flooring also reduces floor maintenance costs, fits any interior, and is comfortable to walk on.
Natural cork flooring is a one-of-a-kind flooring material that is resistant to termites and microbes. It also has the capabilities to buffer extreme shifts in atmospheric temperature. Cork oak trees grow in Mediterranean areas and have considerable resistance to forest fires, temperature changes, diseases, and insect attacks. They grow for more than 150 years and do not have to be cut down for harvesting. The bark of the tree is chipped away while the tree is standing. It is harvested once every 9 to 10 years. This cork is the same cork that you pop off of wine bottles.
Natural cork flooring makes sure that the room remains silent since it can absorb sound. Other smooth types of flooring, like marble or granite, reflect the sound waves, creating an echo. Natural cork flooring does not have this problem since each square inch of cork has 40 million air cavities which can trap the sound. The presence of these cavities also makes it smooth to touch and walk on. The honeycomb structure of the cavities makes it flexible and strong. The cork material is mostly waterproof too.
Natural cork flooring can be installed quickly. It does not take too much time to install floating floors or to glue down cork tiles. Anyone who is enthusiastic enough can lay the flooring as a do-it-yourself project.
There are many color choices for natural cork flooring, from lime to chocolate and dark red. Special visual effects such as a variety of patterns and hues are possible with the cork floor tiles.
Natural cork flooring does not have a vinyl finish. Vinyl finish flooring is used in kitchens and bathrooms. With natural cork flooring, you get a durable flooring material that can take a lot of abuse. It can handle high-heels and falling objects.
You can give the natural cork flooring a glazing finish with some protective coating. This increases the durability of the natural cork flooring. You can also refinish natural cork flooring whenever it shows signs of fading. Vacuum or mop the floors on a regular basis for good maintenance.
When planning to build a home or install flooring for your office, natural cork flooring is a versatile option.