Cork Floors

The process of creating cork flooring starts with harvesting the material from cork oak trees that do not have to be cut down in order to provide the cork. The cork is peeled from the bark every 9 years, leaving the rest of the tree intact. Cork flooring can also be made from recycled cork wine stoppers, further increasing its environmental friendliness.

Cork floor construction usually involves the same layering process as engineered and laminate flooring, with a top layer of cork bark veneer covered by a wear surface and a core layer, usually medium or high density fiber. The core can also contain cork to provide greater sound and shock absorption. A bottom cork layer is often added for sound insulation.

The spongy nature of cork provides natural cork flooring with cushioning properties. Along with its resistance to water damage cork is ideal flooring material for rooms such as the kitchen where you often have to spend a good deal of time on your feet. Cork's sponginess also makes it an excellent sound absorber, unlike hardwood floors, which reduces the noise from objects that are dropped on it or from people walking on it.

Cork floors are also a healthy alternative to most other flooring being both anti-allergenic and insect resistant. Cork contains suberin, a naturally occurring substance that repels insects and mold and also protects it from rotting. Suberin is also fire resistant and does not release toxins when it burns.

Cork flooring's elasticity, toughness, and anti-static properties makes it perfect for work and play areas. It can also be finished to further increase its resiliency.

Installation of cork floors can be performed either through a glue-down or floating floor method. Cork floating floors are the most popular method of installation due to the ease of connecting the interlocking sections and because they do not need to secured to the floor beneath. However, it's recommended that you only install the flooring over hard surfaces such as wood, ceramic, or vinyl and never over carpeting. Floating floors do not require the waiting time that glued-down floors do before walking on them.

However, the less expensive glued downed floors are much less likely to shift, warp or bulge due to pressure or moisture. One added benefit is that they are easier to cut and shape to the room's layout. The adhesive will need to be laid down separately and the subfloor prepared prior to gluing.

As with laminate flooring, you can purchase both square cork flooring and cork plank flooring (rectangular strips of cork), depending on your needs.

Manufacturers of cork flooring can provide it in multiple colors and patterns ranging from the traditional honey colored to green, chocolate, or any of more than 50 colors. Cork provides rich textures that can enhance almost any room. With it's relatively inexpensive cost, cork flooring is a great option to consider for home flooring.