Cork Flooring Tips

Cork Flooring Pictures

admin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:18:14 +0000

We found some decent pictures of various cork flooring options on the net. Check these out.

Installation of Cork Floors

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:13:26 +0000

Cork flooring is installed much like a hardwood floor in that once installed, a urethane coating is applied. However, cork flooring is much warmer than wood as well as being durable and forgiving.[10] Cork flooring is available in tiles and tongue-and-groove planks, starting at about $3 per square foot. Cork flooring comes in an array of rich, woody tones which vary subtly in pattern, texture, and hue.[11] Cork flooring is a wooden product and should be handled with care and consideration. There are some shade variations from tile to tile and therefore, the shade of a sample may not always be identical to that of delivered tiles.[12]
Installation methods differ depending on whether you buy tiles or tongue-and-groove planks. Cork veneered wood-composite planks are glued to each other but not to the subfloor.[27] Check with your manufacturer’s specifications on maintaining particular humidity ranges.[28] Installing cork is relatively simple, providing that you have the proper tools and adhesive. In addition, you have to take extreme care in properly preparing the subfloor.[29]

Reference Sites:

[10] http://www.atlantaflooringdesign.com/residential/linoleum.html

[11] http://www.reddawn.com/bldmatrev1-98.html

[12] http://www.laminatefloorings.net/cork_flooring_install.htm

[27] http://www.handymanclub.com/projects/project.aspx?id=19837

[28] http://www.pcflooring.com/environmental.php

[29] http://www.querycat.com/faq/3d5ffaaaee6f9563f55a9aac24ec64c6

What Cork Is Made Of

admin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:11:00 +0000

Cork flooring is made up of millions of these 14-sided cells, each one serving as a cushion to protect the surface of the cork flooring, and making cork flooring the perfect natural solution in keeping sound to a minimum. Because of this cellular structure, cork flooring is impact resistant as well, which not only lends to its durability, but also adds another dimension to its sound reducing benefits; items dropped on a cork floor will be less likely to draw attention from noise, or from breaking (a kitchen item, such as a plate, is more likely to bounce!).[13] Cork flooring is actually a recycled by-product of cork bottle stopper manufacture and there is no shortage of supply. This ground up by product is densified three times with steam and pressure to make flooring tiles and plank wear layers and then 3-5 coats of long lasting acrylic (planks) or plant based curable oil (tiles) is applied.[14]
Reference materials:
[13] http://flooring.builddirect.com/cork-flooring/cork-floors-bdu/cork_flooring_silence_is_golden.aspx

[14] http://www.eco-build.com/flooring/cork/index.php

Bamboo Flooring - Is It Better Than Cork Flooring?

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:04:25 +0000

Bamboo Flooring - Is It Better Than Cork Flooring?

Bamboo flooring is unlike any other material when it comes to covering a floor. Many homeowners are just now discovering why bamboo is becoming such a popular choice in new home construction as well as older homes. But is bamboo flooring a better choice than cork flooring? That all depends upon what characteristics the homeowner is looking for in a new floor.

Is the homeowner looking for a softer feel from the floor. If so, cork flooring is a terrific choice. Cork is a very soft material and has a nice sponge like effect when walking or standing on it. Cork also has a nice bounce back effect when something is dropped on it such as kids toys. However, because cork is a softer material than bamboo, it is easily scratched. When compared to cork, bamboo flooring is a much harder surface. It has most of the same properties as hardwood floors.

Another property that makes cork a terrific flooring choice is its capability to provide very good sound insulation. This makes cork an excellent choice for upstairs rooms in two story homes as well as specialized rooms such as home gyms and kids play rooms. Again, bamboo flooring has the same properties as hardwood floors and as such can be very noisy. Bamboo floors will often need to have sound insulation installed to reduce the noise level throughout the house.

There are some disadvantages to cork flooring when compared to bamboo wood flooring. The first disadvantage is that cork needs to be sealed to provide waterproofing and protection from dirt. Cork flooring makes a terrific floor choice for a bathroom or kitchen but it must be sealed to prevent any leakage from spills or cleaning. Another disadvantage of cork flooring is the limited number of patterns or colors. Many types of resilient flooring have numerous designs and colors to choose from but cork is limited in this aspect. Learn more about cork flooring by clicking on the link at http://www.wood-flooring-depot.com/cork_flooring.html.

When compared to bamboo floors, cork can be an excellent alternative for many homeowners. Bamboo flooring is much more popular and has some terrific properties that make it one of the floors of choice in new homes. However, cork flooring also has many great qualities as a flooring choice. There may be the need to use both types of flooring within the home depending on the needs and use of each room.

Create the perfect indoor living area with cork flooring. Learn more about flooring including exotic woods, hardwood, bamboo, and more. Click on the link to get all the facts and info today at http://www.wood-flooring-depot.com

Harvesting The Cork

admin — Tue, 27 May 2008 04:05:27 +0000

Harvesting the cork oak for its bark is strictly regulated, limiting such harvesting into nine-year cycles. The individual cork oaks must be at least 25 years old before they are harvested and when they are, the health of those cork oaks must be ensured.[22] Harvesting of virgin growth cork trees is outlawed until the trees reach 60 centimeters in circumference. Cork bark is still harvested from the tree in a centuries old tradition with hand tools.[26] Cork harvesting is not harmful to the tree. [27] Harvesting only occurs once every nine years and a cork oak can live for 150-200 years, so it can be safely harvested up to 20 times during its life cycle. It is a truly inexhaustible and natural resource.[19] Harvested from the cork
oak, particularly in Portugal and Spain where the species flourishes, cork flooring stands as a shining example of a renewable source in flooring. The bark of the cork oak is harvested by hand.[20]

Refence links to this information can be found at:

[19] http://www.property24.com/property24/hub/homeowners_default_full.aspx?articleid=5748
[20] http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/9-6-2006-107836.asp
[22] http://www.lycos.com/info/cork-flooring.html
[26] http://www.corkfloor.com/benefits.html
[27] http://www.doddandsouter.ca/cork.htm

The Basics of Cork Flooring

admin — Mon, 26 May 2008 04:01:37 +0000

Cork flooring is naturally hypo-allergenic. Cork is anti-microbial and is resistant to mold and mildew.^[1] Cork
flooring is undeniably the single most environmentally friendly floorcovering you could consider. It is quiet and durable and is a natural product that is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree.^[2]Cork flooring is all over the Internet. It seems like as we have grown as a culture and as we begin swapping ideas from different cultures that something like cork
board flooring which is not as popular in America has grown immensely in popularity in the World Wide Web.^[3]