The Everlasting Beauty Of Cork Floors

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9429
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The housing industry is always on the lookout for new building materials. However, every homeowner wants his/her house to look different and have a different “feel” to it. Over the decades, new materials have hit the market and made their mark. Today cork floors are all the rage. They look amazingly beautiful and unique, lend a very earthy feel to the room and are available in a stunning array of colors, designs and shades. Cork floors are not overtly expensive and they actually look very natural. This is probably because they are actually made from a natural material.

Cork is extracted or harvested from the cork oak tree and is a renewable source. This makes it an environment –friendly option which is the need of the hour. The rate at which the housing industry is growing makes it very important for people to be more conscious about the materials they use. It is necessary for everyone to make an effort to reduce the strain on the environment and using natural materials such as cork is a great way to do it. Cork trees are harvested only every 15 years and the tree itself comes to no harm. The fact that cork floors ...
... look so great is a bonus.

Just as the material that is used in the flooring is important, so is its underlayment. This is the material that is fitted under the flooring that you see. This is generally affixed for various reasons. It smoothens the surface for the actual flooring, provides insulation and the right amount of cushioning. Traditionally foam was used as an underlay. Today, cork underlayment is used by most designers and homeowners alike. Foam is not a naturally occurring material and is actually very harmful for the environment as it is non-biodegradable.

Cork is the exact opposite. It is soft and tough at the same time, repels moisture and fungus and has acoustic properties. It has been used on recording studio walls and floors for decades. In the current day, this durable material is used as a surface material and cork underlayment is used not only as a base for cork floors but all other kinds of flooring as well. It can be used under ceramic, bamboo or wooden flooring. This resilient material is also sometimes layered to level and even out uneven floors. Cork companies who supply and install floors also glue the cork underlay to the floors and the final material is laid-out above it.

It is best to conduct a little bit of research before you make your final choice of flooring and underlayment. Nevertheless, if you actually are able to manage to look at the pro and cons of cork as a flooring material, you will realize that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. You can shop for cork flooring online and the same companies offer advice and installation services. The personnel will come and conduct a survey of the site, take measurements of the floor and provide you with a quote. They will also provide you with the work schedule and the time frame for the work. This will give you a fair idea about what you are looking for and what you can expect. You can then make your final choice.

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Cork Floor Sales has Cork floors and Cork underlayment . This extremely durable material is available in glue-down and floating floor options.