Cork, Perfect For You?

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9400
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Are you ready to replace a floor? Want one that is durable, warm, beautiful, and eco-friendly? Then consider cork. Yep, we said it, Cork!

We know, everyone thinks of wine bottle stoppers or a champagne cork popping on New Year's eve at the mention of the word, but did you know this extraordinary raw material has numerous applications, and has had for centuries, including flooring.

Did you know cork is one of the most sustainable, eco-friendly flooring products on the market. The raw material comes from a specific type of oak tree that is found predominately in countries near the Mediterranean Sea, including Portugal and Spain. Cork is actually the bark harvested from this tree. The process is extremely delicate and only the most highly trained artisans are permitted to do the harvesting. Only specialized hand tools can be used as no machines are allowed to touch the thick outer layer of the tree's bark.

The tree then, in a most reptile-like fashion, regrows its bark. This period will last nearly a decade before the tree can be harvested again. Over the life of the tree (which can be as much as 200 ...
... years) the tree can be harvested up to 20 times. What’s even better, cork flooring products are actually made from the "scrap" bark that is left over from the initial wine stopper production. Environmentally speaking, cork literally can become the standard in a renewable and sustainable resource.

Cork can be used in just about any room in your home or office as it is incredibly durable and can handle a great deal of foot traffic. Its‘bounce-back’ nature not only allows it to handle tough treatment, but also makes it comfortable to walk on, warm, and impact and sound-resistant.

Comprised of a cellular structure that houses millions of honeycomb-like chambers, each of the cells is filled with a gaseous substance. When you walk on this type of a surface, the air becomes compressed and then released. This process absorbs the shock and provides a kind of cushioning, making it ultra comfortable to walk on. This is a great boon for tired legs and can make a huge difference if you spend a lot of time on your feet. The same air trapped cells that give cork floors that ultra comfort also helps reduce vibration and noise caused from walking or from falling objects.

Cork contains a natural substance called suberin. This substance is waxy and is capable of repelling mites, mold and various insects that typically infect and destroy wood or wood based products. The suberin also acts as a protective shield against water so even if the cork remains wet for an extended period of time, it will not rot. Suberin is also naturally resistant to fire and prevents the emission of any toxic gases in case the cork burns.

So, does this make you think that cork may be the perfect flooring material for your home or office. Let us know and we will be happy to help you find the perfect fit for you.

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly type of flooring, the best option available is Cork floor Natural environment . You will find a wide range of Cork floating flooring at icorkfloor.