Excellent Sound Reduction With Cork Underlay

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9383
Comment this article

Cork flooring has become popular in the recent years in homes all over the United States though it has been popularly used in many European homes for many centuries. This sustainable, renewable resource has captured the hearts of people who are on the look-out for green products. Cork underlay is used for many types of flooring as it effectively dampens sound waves and other vibrations.

The difference between cork and hardwood is that cork is derived from the bark of the tree. Hardwood is produced from trees that are felled or killed for its wood. Cork is therefore considered one of the greenest products that add style and grace to any home when used as flooring material or wall tiles. The bark is ground or pulverized and coated with a resin binder that is non-toxic. Cork floating flooring comes in planks but you can also opt for the tile or panel form of cork products.

As an underlayment, there are several benefits that can be gained when using cork. It is a good investment as it proves durable and curtails noise levels and reduces sound transmission through a home. The cellular structure of cork resembles a ...
... honeycomb. It has air pockets that allow the product to compress when anything heavy is placed on it. The cellular structure has the capacity of bouncing back to its original shape when the same heavy object is removed. Similarly when you walk on cork floating floors, you will experience a “hard surface” that isn’t hard at all! This makes it a safe and healthy option when you have elderly people, pets and children running around in the home. It is also hypoallergenic. The suberin content is what makes so effective against mold, mildew and insects. The suberin is the waxy substance that gives corm most of its “resistant” properties. The wax acts as a water barrier which in turn reduces the growth of molds and mildews. The suberin is also considered “unsavory” to most insect species. The suberin is also the main material that holds the cork underlayment together. During the manufacturing process, cork is boiled – usually twice. This boiling causes the cork granules to grab hold of one another. The factory adds a small amount of water based polyurethane binder (adhesive) to give the product more stability. But in reality, the most work is done by the suberin.

Cork underlay can be used under laminate or hardwood floors effectively. If the material used on top is not free floating, then it may have to be glued down to the sub-flooring instead of just laying it under the flooring product.

iCork Floor LLC are the distributors of cork floating floors that are pre-coated with water based polyurethane. The High Density Fiberboard (HDF) is the middle layer while the cork underlayment forms the bottom layer. Cork recovers easily as it has a good “memory” that helps it regain its normal form when it is compressed.

Cleaning the cork floating flooring is not difficult. Vacuum or sweep the surface and then clean with a damp mop. You will find that your family members remain healthy with reduced signs of allergies or asthma.

Contact iCork Floor LLC if you require further information on cork floors. They offer solutions for your home with Cork floating flooring and cork underlay along with great discounts.