The largest question still holds true in most people’s minds when they consider cork flooring. Can a sheet of cork really last as long on the ground? The answer is yes. Your Engineered hardwood flooring is at least as durable as other floors options. Some cork floorings, like Ipocork from Amorim, are finished with up to 6 layers of use resistant technology.

Not only is it highly durable, cork has been proven to be an excellent insulator for heat, sound and moisture. Cork bark is made up of a tiny sealed cellular structure, which contains 90% atmosphere. With about 40 million of these cells per cubic centimeter, they provide resiliency and insulating material. As you can imagine, cork can be compacted and quickly returns to its original shape, making it a remarkably forgiving flooring material.
The relaxation of cork shouldn’t be overlooked. The air trapped in the arrangement of cork floor provides excellent support for your feet, making it an perfect product for rooms where you spend the most time in. Cork includes a natural substance called Suberin, which repels insects, mold and is even flame resistant. Not to worry however, Suberin is totally safe for children and animals.
It would not do it justice to discuss cork without speaking about all the environmental advantages that come along with this green item. The reason cork is known as an eco friendly flooring is because it is an extremely renewable resource. Cork oak trees do not need to get savaged to harvest the cork from them. The tree bark is removed, leaving the rest of the tree completely intact.
The bark from cork oak trees could be harvested each 9-12 years for a total of more than 20 times throughout its normal lifespan. Most cork comes from the Mediterranean, especially Portugal, which provides over 70 percent of their cork production on the planet. After the bark is harvested and ground up, it is bound with a non-toxic resin and baked in large sheets and distinct patterns. This procedure generates the pure beauty we see in our cork flooring .
All these benefits must cost a lot of money, right? Fortunately, that is not the situation. Cork, being a renewable resource, is relatively affordable. As of 2011, the normal cost for cork flooring is less than most hardwood species and similar to bamboo.
Cork floors comes in adhesive down or floating. Glue down installation results in lower material costs but higher installation costs. Where as the more common form, floating installation results in lower above all costs and is easier to install. As a result, most cork comes in a click and lock floor system, which makes it perfect for the do-it-yourselfer. If you were to employ an installer, then hours are typically shortened as a result of the brief preparation time.
Another massive benefit of owning a click and lock system floating flooring is the capability to replace specific pieces without damaging the surrounding area. Dishwasher flooding aren’t something everyone can prepare for but the harm simply doesn’t seem as intense when it’s an issue of replacing several pieces.
Now that you understand what all the hype is about, Exceptional Wood Floors hopes you are going to keep cork in mind for the next project.