Cork Flooring - A Perfect Material For Your Home
You may think that cork is a particularly flimsy material if you have ever had a bulletin or reminder board where you pin random scraps of paper on. However cork flooring is very different from the humble bulletin board. Indeed, cork is a very versatile and hardy material when made into flooring and can be used in a variety of rooms. This article will cover how cork flooring can be used in the home and the benefits of the material.
There are three qualities of cork that make it stand out from many other materials used for flooring. These are durability and good thermal and acoustic insulation properties. These qualities are due to the structure of cork.
Cork is actually the bark of the cork oak tree that is indigenous to the Southern European and North African regions. The bark is a tightly packed material that is interspersed by millions of tiny air pockets. This gives it remarkable strength but also allows it to absorb and insulate heat and sound.
Another feature of cork that is very noticeable is the spring back affect of the material. When you walk on cork flooring it will give a bit. When you move away the cork springs back to the original shape. This is a nice sensation that appeals to many people for their flooring.
Cork flooring is ideal for rooms that get heavily used like the bathroom and kitchen because of the aforementioned qualities. In the case of cork flooring used in rooms that may get wet, the material is given a thin top coat using an acrylic. This effectively seals the cork and protects it from moisture. However, it still retains the bounce back or give when you walk on it. It will also dampen any sound and keep the room warm.
Other rooms that it can be used in include bedrooms, dining and lounge. In these rooms the top coat is often a wax that will protect the cork from any cracking or general wear and tear.
The texture of cork is a unique feature of the material. It’s ability to soundproof rooms makes it ideal in high density housing, like apartment blocks or big city housing.
Corking flooring as a product is quite versatile. It can come as tiling or as traditional floor boards. There are all sorts of colors available. In terms of installing it usually comes as a tongue and groove or snap lock design that is easy to install. It can be installed as a floating floor or glued to the sub floor.
It is pretty simple to maintain. Using a dry mop or a duster can remove most dirt on the floors surface. It does not react well to moisture so ensure that it has a top coating that will protect it from any liquids. Also avoid abrasive house cleaners that will corrode the top coating and destroy the cork.