The Brilliance Of Cork

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9400
Comment this article

Cork. What pops into your head? Bottle stoppers and bulletin boards? Nowhere near flooring, right? But if you're looking to install a new floor, you should really consider this beautiful product.

Cork is derived from a distinctive type of oak tree cultivated in several of the Mediterranean countries. Its bark has phenomenal properties. The bark is very thick and somewhat spongy. And can be stripped from the tree without killing it. The second layer under the outer bark is what we define as ‘cork’, and what is used as the base material for many cork products.

What is amazing is that cork is an environmentally friendly and sustainable natural resource. Each tree begins its virgin harvest at 25 years of maturity and then nearly every decade after the initial harvest, the tree has regenerated a new layer of bark that can be harvested again. With an average lifespan of 200 years one tree can be harvested up to 20 times.That's sustainability at its best.

But cork's eco-friendly nature is not the only thing that makes it a fantastic material for flooring. What a product that takes a hit and keeps going? ...
... Corks durability and resilience helps to keep it protected from dents and scratches. Add a layer or two of polyurethane coating and feel secure that it will do a good job of further protecting the cork tiles and planking. What’s more, the manufacturing of cork tiles and planks are done to ensure that all aspects of its make-up isVOC-free. It rates on the top-shelf in terms of performance and protection.

Maintenance is always a consideration for new flooring. No one really wants to spend hours moping, waxing or shampooing. So, how tough is it going to be to keep a cork floor looking new? With cork, put your mind at ease. A simple regular schedule of sweeping and dust mopping is basically the extent of maintaining a cork floor. Just don't flood the floor with water or let water sit for extended periods of time, as moisture and any type of wood flooring aren't a good mix. Though cork is water resistant and puts up a better fight than all other wood types, it is not infallible. Use furniture casters to avoid indentation from heavy pieces that stay in the same location on the floor and don’t drag heavy objects over the floor surface. Taking these precautions will help to preserve the new look of a cork floor. Then in 3-5 years time reapply a new coat or two of water-based polyurethane and your floors will keep looking like new.

Cork is the building material for the new millennium. It is durable, impact resistance, water and fire resistant, and also has fabulous sound absorption and thermal properties. The standard of cork is such that it is great for any application from residential to commercial to corporate to educational institutions. Consider it, rate it with others and see why we stand behind this brilliant material.

One way of showing your support for the green revolution is by choosing to use Cork Flooring . Go to icorkfloor to check out the options available to you in green cork floors .