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Custom Home Painting & Carpet
Cork Flooring
Cork Flooring Features and Benefits Aside from looking great on the floor, cork has an impressive list of features and benefits that most people shopping for flooring aren’t aware of. Here are some of facts that make cork flooring a great choice when considering a new floor for your home or business.
Beautiful Appearance – No one can deny that cork looks fantastic on the floor. There are a wide array of patterns and colors available to suit any taste or style.
Cork is so durable! – Cork has been around for thousands of years. Just to name a few commercial installations, there is a church in Chicago that had cork flooring in 1890 and is still in use today! The Library of Congress has cork flooring installed. Because of its cellular composition, cork is extremely durable and resilient. It is much less affected by impact or friction than hard surface floors such as wood, laminate or tile.
It’s all sealed up – Cork flooring contains Suberin. This is an intrinsic waxy substance that makes the cork impervious to liquids and gasses. Because of this, it will not rot and is one of the best seals available. This is obvious when you consider that cork has been used to seal wine bottles for hundreds of years. Also, cork floats!
Insect Resistant and Antimicrobial – Most common insects including termites won’t go near a cork floor. Because of its composition, cork acts as a natural barrier against insects. Microbe colonies cannot survive in or on a cork floor so you can also say the floor is germ resistant.
Acoustic, Resilient & Insulating – Again, due to the cellular composition of cork, its acoustical properties are remarkable. As a perfect example, cork is installed under many other types of flooring (ceramic tile, hardwood, laminate, etc.) as a sound barrier when those floors are installed on a second floor or higher. This would be typical in a condo installation where the unit is on the second floor or higher.
The resilience or ability to “bounce back” is also second to none. In simple terms, when the cork floor is subject to pressure, for example a high heel shoe, the cells are compressed. When the pressure is released, the cork snaps back to its original shape very quickly. This is a property manufacturers of other floors and underlayments work very hard to imitate.
While those properties are without a doubt remarkable, cork flooring also acts as excellent insulation. If your home is on the ground level, and you live in an area that gets cold in the winter, cork flooring or cork underlayment will block that cold from reaching your feet.
Hypoallergenic – Cork flooring does not produce any particulate irritants nor does it contain any harmful chemicals, it’s all natural. Also, cork does not absorb dust so it does not cause or contribute to allergies.
Value – Cork floors are an excellent value versus other floors such as hardwood flooring, ceramic tile, marble etc. Depending on the style, pattern, color etc., cork flooring can run as little as half the price of some other floors. With the added benefits and the ecological aspect, cork is an excellent all around flooring choice.
Cork Flooring - The Basics
Cork floors have been around for thousands of years. Cork flooring is attractive and extremely durable, but it is also a renewable resource! This is a big advantage with all of the environmental problems we face today.
Where does cork flooring come from? Cork floors are produced using the bark of the cork oak tree. The first harvest of the bark from these trees occurs after the tree is 25 or more years old. After that the harvesting occurs about every nine years. After each harvest the bark grows back with a smoother texture. Since these trees can live more than 200 years, they can be harvested over and over again with no damage to the trees and no negative impact on the environment.
If you were to look at cork under a microscope, you would see that it resembles a honeycomb. Each square centimeter is made up of 40 million cells. The cells and the space around them are filled with a gaseous mixture similar to air. This gives cork flooring it elasticity and many other benefits. See our article titled, “Benefits of using Cork Flooring”.
Are cork floors durable? Absolutely, they are by far one of the most durable floors on the market today. There are some cork floor installations that are more than 100 years old! That’s a long lasting floor. Since cork floors have a cellular composition, they are not affected by impact or friction in the same way a hard surface floor would be.
With its natural look and appeal, combined with extreme durability, cork flooring is hard to beat. We feel it’s a great choice for just about any interior flooring scenario. These days there are many different types and styles of cork flooring to choose from. One of the more popular is the type that gets installed using the floating no-glue method. It simply lays on the floor and clicks together. This is a very easy choice for the do-it-yourself customer that wants to install a room or two over the weekend
What is the cost of cork flooring?
Natural Cork is an importer and North American wholesale distributor and therefore does not sell directly to consumers.
We suggest a retail price ranging from $5.00 to $6.00 per square foot for Parquet tile and from $6.50 to $8.00 for Floating Floor plank.
We suggest a retail price ranging from $5.00 to $6.00 per square foot for Parquet tile and from $6.50 to $8.00 for Floating Floor plank.
Your cork floor is an expensive investment. We always recommend that you buy from a certified dealer in order to have the floor professionally installed and to be assured of receiving benefit of warranty.
Will my pets damage my cork floors?
You are the best judge of your pet’s behavior. You know what the habits, activities, and potentially destructive actions of your pet better than anyone else.
Cork floors are coated with a finish that could be scratched by the claws of cats and dogs running on the floor. However, because cork is resilient and will move away from pressure the surface will be less subject to abrasion than a similarly treated hardwood floor.
Our own company president has two dogs and his cork floors, installed in 1997, still look beautiful. Remember like anything else, good maintenance is the key to longevity.
Will cork flooring resist high heels and heavy furniture?
Yes, the cork material used for flooring is very dense and is designed to withstand even commercial traffic.
Parquet tile and floating floor have been treated with a finish to increase durability and allow for easy maintenance.
As for the high heels and furniture, cork resilient and recovers well from compression. Just like any other flooring material, cork flooring can be punctured by sharp objects or damaged feet of furniture. For this reason, we do not recommend dragging heavy objects over the floor. We also recommend that furniture with sharp or damaged legs have protective pads underneath.
Is cork flooring suitable for a kitchen?
Yes, today the most common application for cork flooring is the kitchen. It is very comfortable to stand on and is easy to maintain.
Cork, as you may know, is sound absorbent and hypoallergenic. No other flooring material combines these benefits. When maintained properly, cork flooring can last for generations. For maintenance, we recommend regular sweeping and damp moping as dirt and grit can act as sandpaper and damage your finish. Once a year or more frequently if there is a lot of traffic and the floor starts to show some signs of wear, you will want to refurbish you cork floor according to the maintenance guidelines supplied. This will reinforce the protective layer and will restore the original luster.
Top
Are cork floors suitable for bathrooms?
Warm and soft, cork floors make a very comfortable flooring surface for a bathroom. However, we recommend you take certain precautions because of the high risk of spillage.
Floating floor is not recommended for bathrooms. Only the tile should be used. (See section Tile vs. Plank: Which product is right for me?)
After installation, it is important to caulk the perimeter of the room, prior to installing molding or baseboard. This will prevent spills from damaging the sub-floor or walls.
For future maintenance, please follow the maintenance guidelines supplied.
What is your recommendation for the installation of a cork floor in a basement?
In basements there is a high probability of occasional moisture migration from the slab. Moisture can cause glue-down tile to delaminate and cup. Therefore, tile is not recommended for this type of application.
For basements, we recommend installing our Floating Floor over a moisture barrier 6 mil film of polyethylene to be used as. A floating floor is not attached to the sub-floor and will rest on top of the moisture barrier.
Are cork floors affected by changes of moisture and temperature?
Just like other wood products, cork is subject to the phenomenon of expansion and contraction in response to climactic conditions. During the heating season, moisture levels diminish, causing cork to contract and making joint lines more visible. When humidity levels are higher, cork flooring will expand.
As a general rule, cork flooring is more stable than wood flooring. When wood expands, it does so only across the grain, so the expansion is concentrated in one dimension. However with cork, any expansion or contraction is dispersed in all directions. With proper acclimation, installation, and maintenance, expansion and contraction of your cork floor will be less noticeable.
Maintaining a stable environment through temperature and humidity control will minimize visible signs of expansion and contraction. With Parquet tile the following precautions during installation must be taken: In winter, once the tile has been acclimated, they cannot be installed too tight as the floor may go through a normal expansion period months later. In summer, again after the tiles have been acclimated, it is necessary to butt the tiles very tight since dry heat will cause contraction in winter.
Top
Is it possible to install a cork floor over a radiant heating system?
Cork is a natural insulator and will affect slightly the transmission of heat. However, many installations of this type have been performed and without encountering any particular problem. Your floor may take longer to warm up but the heat will be retained more efficiently.
Only Natural Cork Floating Floor should be installed over radiant heating systems. Floating floors move as a unit since they are not attached to the sub-floor. That means visible signs of expansion/contraction take place at the perimeter only. Furthermore, adhesive used for installation of the tile could lose strength when exposed to high temperatures.
Certain precautions should be taken to minimize the effects of contraction and expansion:
|
|
Prior to installation over radiant heat, the slab needs to be heated and the temperature maintained at 75 degrees during installation. |
What is the cost of cork flooring?
Natural Cork is an importer and North American wholesale distributor and therefore does not sell directly to consumers.
We suggest a retail price ranging from $5.00 to $6.00 per square foot for Parquet tile and from $6.50 to $8.00 for Floating Floor plank.
We suggest a retail price ranging from $5.00 to $6.00 per square foot for Parquet tile and from $6.50 to $8.00 for Floating Floor plank.
Your cork floor is an expensive investment. We always recommend that you buy from a certified dealer in order to have the floor professionally installed and to be assured of receiving benefit of warranty.
Top
Will my pets damage my cork floors?
You are the best judge of your pet’s behavior. You know what the habits, activities, and potentially destructive actions of your pet better than anyone else.
Cork floors are coated with a finish that could be scratched by the claws of cats and dogs running on the floor. However, because cork is resilient and will move away from pressure the surface will be less subject to abrasion than a similarly treated hardwood floor.
Our own company president has two dogs and his cork floors, installed in 1997, still look beautiful. Remember like anything else, good maintenance is the key to longevity.
Will cork flooring resist high heels and heavy furniture?
Yes, the cork material used for flooring is very dense and is designed to withstand even commercial traffic.
Parquet tile and floating floor have been treated with a finish to increase durability and allow for easy maintenance.
As for the high heels and furniture, cork resilient and recovers well from compression. Just like any other flooring material, cork flooring can be punctured by sharp objects or damaged feet of furniture. For this reason, we do not recommend dragging heavy objects over the floor. We also recommend that furniture with sharp or damaged legs have protective pads underneath.
Is cork flooring suitable for a kitchen?
Yes, today the most common application for cork flooring is the kitchen. It is very comfortable to stand on and is easy to maintain.
Cork, as you may know, is sound absorbent and hypoallergenic. No other flooring material combines these benefits. When maintained properly, cork flooring can last for generations. For maintenance, we recommend regular sweeping and damp moping as dirt and grit can act as sandpaper and damage your finish. Once a year or more frequently if there is a lot of traffic and the floor starts to show some signs of wear, you will want to refurbish you cork floor according to the maintenance guidelines supplied. This will reinforce the protective layer and will restore the original luster.
Are cork floors suitable for bathrooms?
Warm and soft, cork floors make a very comfortable flooring surface for a bathroom. However, we recommend you take certain precautions because of the high risk of spillage.
Floating floor is not recommended for bathrooms. Only the tile should be used. (See section Tile vs. Plank: Which product is right for me?)
After installation, it is important to caulk the perimeter of the room, prior to installing molding or baseboard. This will prevent spills from damaging the sub-floor or walls.
For future maintenance, please follow the maintenance guidelines supplied.
What is your recommendation for the installation of a cork floor in a basement?
In basements there is a high probability of occasional moisture migration from the slab. Moisture can cause glue-down tile to delaminate and cup. Therefore, tile is not recommended for this type of application.
For basements, we recommend installing our Floating Floor over a moisture barrier 6 mil film of polyethylene to be used as. A floating floor is not attached to the sub-floor and will rest on top of the moisture barrier.
Are cork floors affected by changes of moisture and temperature?
Just like other wood products, cork is subject to the phenomenon of expansion and contraction in response to climactic conditions. During the heating season, moisture levels diminish, causing cork to contract and making joint lines more visible. When humidity levels are higher, cork flooring will expand.
As a general rule, cork flooring is more stable than wood flooring. When wood expands, it does so only across the grain, so the expansion is concentrated in one dimension. However with cork, any expansion or contraction is dispersed in all directions. With proper acclimation, installation, and maintenance, expansion and contraction of your cork floor will be less noticeable.
Maintaining a stable environment through temperature and humidity control will minimize visible signs of expansion and contraction. With Parquet tile the following precautions during installation must be taken: In winter, once the tile has been acclimated, they cannot be installed too tight as the floor may go through a normal expansion period months later. In summer, again after the tiles have been acclimated, it is necessary to butt the tiles very tight since dry heat will cause contraction in winter.
Top
Is it possible to install a cork floor over a radiant heating system?
Cork is a natural insulator and will affect slightly the transmission of heat. However, many installations of this type have been performed and without encountering any particular problem. Your floor may take longer to warm up but the heat will be retained more efficiently.
Only Natural Cork Floating Floor should be installed over radiant heating systems. Floating floors move as a unit since they are not attached to the sub-floor. That means visible signs of expansion/contraction take place at the perimeter only. Furthermore, adhesive used for installation of the tile could lose strength when exposed to high temperatures.
Certain precautions should be taken to minimize the effects of contraction and expansion:
|
|
Prior to installation over radiant heat, the slab needs to be heated and the temperature maintained at 75 degrees during installation. |
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