Cork Flooring

Cork flooring is made from cork, which comes from the cork oak tree, and is harvested in 7 countries - Portugal is by far the largest producer, then Algeria, Spain, Morocco, France, Italy and Tunisia. When the tree is 25 years old, its bark is stripped for the first time. Every 9 years after that, the cork is again harvested (by hand).

Large slabs of cork are removed, cut into strips and stored in the forest for at least 7 months to cure. The best cork is punched out to make bottle stoppers and the rest is ground into granules.

These are mixed with binders, pressed into slabs, and baked. Various temperatures provide different colors. Dyes are never used. To produce cork flooring, the blocks of baked cork are cut into tiles, sanded, and varnished.

Using cork on your floor can be a good alternative to carpeting in the bedrooms. For several cork flooring reviews, click here.

It can be appealing, and the retailers might tell you how durable it is, but I've seen it look pretty worn inside of 3 years when put in the wrong places. Of course, that could have something to do with the people, and not necessarily the product. When cleaning, never use oil or ammonia based cleaners (they will stain), and no abrasives. Just use a damp mop (not wet) or vacuum. Cork has been used for flooring for over 100 years. It's natural, somewhat durable, beautiful, and fire-resistant. Manufacturers can create many shapes, patterns and colors. It is an environmentally superior alternative to vinyl.

Cork has air trapped within it's fibers, causing a natural shock-absorbing feeling when you walk on it. If you have occasion to stand for long periods of time, cork will provide some degree of relief to your back and legs. It also has acoustic, noise-reducing qualities, making it an excellent choice for a home theater.

This product also has properties that are anti-allergenic and resistant to insects. A substance in cork called "suberin" repels insects, mites and mold and protects cork from rotting for a long time. These natural properties, plus the coatings used to seal cork flooring, make it healthy and safe for adults, pets and babies.

The cost of cork tiles is slightly more than linoleum or vinyl, running from $1.50 to $8.00 per square foot, plus installation. After it's installed, it should get a coat of polyurethane to seal it. You can get tiles prefinished, but then the floor will be susceptible to moisture seeping into the joints.

Any questions about cork flooring, contact me by clicking here.

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