When thinking about flooring for the home many people ignore cork as an alternative. The perception is that cork is a flimsy material that won’t last and cannot withstand heavy wear and tear. This opinion may be forged by using a common reminder cork board that you use to stick notices and reminders on. This is a flimsy material but the cork used for the board is completely different from that used for flooring. This article will cover some of the benefits and uses of cork flooring in the home.

Cork prepared for use as flooring is a durable material that has good acoustic and thermal insulation properties. It is ideal for any room in the home. These qualities are down to the structure of cork.

Cork comes from the cork oak tree that grows in Southern Europe and parts of North Africa. The material used for flooring is the bark of the tree. It takes about 10 years before the bark can be used. It is simply peeled off the tree. The bark is a densely packed structure with millions of tiny air pockets in between. This is the reason for it’s strength and insulation properties.

Another unique feature of cork flooring is the bounce back affect that happens when you walk on it. When you walk on the flooring it will give a bit as though it is soft. Once you move away the cork will bounce back to the original shape. This gives cork flooring a unique tactile feel that many other flooring materials cannot offer.

Cork flooring is ideal for rooms that get heavily used like the bathroom and kitchen because of the aforementioned qualities. In the case of cork flooring used in rooms that may get wet, the material is given a thin top coat using an acrylic. This effectively seals the cork and protects it from moisture. However, it still retains the bounce back or give when you walk on it. It will also dampen any sound and keep the room warm.

However, cork flooring can fit in just about any room in the home from bedrooms to the study to the dining and lounge. Many of these rooms can have cork flooring that is sealed with a top coat of wax that will prevent any cracking but still keep the sensation of cork flooring.

Again, the texture of cork gives it a unique feel to other types of flooring. The soundproofing qualities mean that it can be a useful material in apartments and other forms of housing that have high density populations.

Corking flooring as a product is quite versatile. It can come as tiling or as traditional floor boards. There are all sorts of colors available. In terms of installing it usually comes as a tongue and groove or snap lock design that is easy to install. It can be installed as a floating floor or glued to the sub floor.

It is pretty simple to maintain. Using a dry mop or a duster can remove most dirt on the floors surface. It does not react well to moisture so ensure that it has a top coating that will protect it from any liquids. Also avoid abrasive house cleaners that will corrode the top coating and destroy the cork.