Natural Cork Flooring


Natural cork flooring is one of the flooring options that you may like to consider because it is perhaps the most comfortable and the most environment-friendly flooring. Cork flooring is soft, warm, absorbs sound and is an excellent insulator.

Natural cork is the bark of a tree that is stripped off once every nine years. This bark is ground into small pieces and bonded by non-toxic resin to make flooring. The bark grows back with no harm to the tree. Use of natural cork is thus even more environment-friendly than the use of wood.

Natural cork flooring comes in an astonishing variety of colors and patterns. It is supplied as planks and tiles of different thicknesses, often with interlocking joints. At a square foot rate of US$ 4 to US$ 6 a natural cork floor costs about the same as an imported hardwood or a high-end laminate floor. Cork floors can be fitted over concrete and wood sub-floors and a number of other existing floors.

Flooring of cork is easy to fit in irregular shaped rooms by cutting with a knife. It is usually fixed by adhesive. After installation, the cork floor is sealed with up to five coats of urethane. This floor sealing will last for several years, and if it begins to look dull, a single freshly applied urethane coat will restore brightness.

Because of its softness, natural cork flooring can easily be damaged. Pads should be used beneath table and other furniture legs. Just like other wood floors, cork floors can be damaged by water and should not be used in bathrooms and basements. Cork floor tends to fade when comes in direct contact with the sunlight and turns yellow with age.

Regular sweeping and vacuuming of cork floors helps to avoid scratches. A sponge can easily mop up spills and other kinds of stains. For major cleaning a wet mop with mild detergent may be used.