Cork Flooring Guide

Cork flooring is probably one of the more popular ways to decorate the floors of your home. It is gaining widespread recognition as an environmentally safe material formed with a wealth of natural features. Generally, this sets it apart from all the other flooring materials in the market.

Historically, the cork has been used way back around 3,000 B.C. Its popularity in the 18th Century spawned when Dom Perigon used it as covers for bottles of wine and champagne. Cork is manufactured from the bark of the oak tree and is generally more environment-friendly. The reason behind is that only a small part of the tree’s bark is used in the production of cork.
Cork Flooring Features

Cork Flooring

Benefits Of Cork Flooring

Three features are noted for what makes cork floorings perfect for your home. The first feature of the cork is the natural structure that makes it. There are actually many millions of air pockets in the structure, which provides it durability and flexibility. Eventually, this will give way to foot pressure, but will still bounce back to its original appearance.

The second main feature of cork flooring is the chemical composition. Microscopic cells found within the cork are called Suberin, which is a waxy material adding further resilience and resistance for the floors. This is another benefit that makes it very popular today.

Furthermore, a third aspect of the cork flooring is the hypoallergenic feature that sets it apart from other floor types. The Suberin component is actually quite good in resisting and repelling pests like termites. Thereby, this will help increase the strength of the cork flooring panels and boards, making it last longer than other flooring materials. Also Suberin prevents mold and mildew from forming.
Cork Flooring Installation – To Hire a Professional Installer or Not

When you plan to buy cork flooring you can install by yourself, consider products made with the click lock system of floor panels. For individuals who prefer the glue down style of cork flooring, you may have a harder time installing the flooring. As a result, if you are quite new to the process of installing flooring, you might consider hiring professionals to do it. Another consideration is whether installing the cork flooring on your own will invalidate any warranties. If this is the case, then you need to hire a flooring installer.

Cork Flooring Installation

If you decide to hire a flooring installer, then you should be prepared to ask a lot of questions. You will need to know about their experience working with cork flooring and their knowledge of how it is installed. Be wary if they try to dissuade you and talk you into trying another type of flooring. After all, it is your home and your floor. If they do not seem to know the answers to your questions, then move on to another contractor.

Watch installation videos on YouTube or home improvement shows to get an idea of what to expect during the installation. Use this as a guide for making up a list of relevant questions for potential flooring contractors.

Cork flooring is a wonderful addition to your home. It is easy on the back and resilient and environmentally friendly. When choosing a flooring installer, make sure that they have experience and knowledge about how to install cork flooring.