Cork Flooring is a Durable and Environmentally Friendly Alternative

Wood flooring is growing in popularity as people rediscover the beauty and practicality of natural wood floors. Generally one thinks of hardwood floors such as oak. But another beautiful and durable option is cork flooring. While not usually thought of as a flooring material, cork is a great alternative to other types of flooring and has been used for floors for a long time. There are many wonderful benefits to using cork.

Durability

Cork is one of the toughest materials around. It is scuff resistant and unlike most hardwood floors, it resists moisture penetration - this is why it is used for bottling wine. Some cork floor installations have lasted over a 100 years and is even used in the Library of Congress. Cork's composition makes for a very elastic material difficult to damage in normal use. And the natural waxy substance gives cork a natural fire resistance as well as water resistance. In addition, cork is resistant to mold and insects making it an ideal choice for allergy sufferers.

Natural Beauty

Cork flooring has that distinctive speckled look which makes for a novel change from simple wood grains. There are a variety of different patterns and colors to choose from, so you can find cork flooring to best suit your decor. Due to its many small cells, cork provides a cushion that is comfortable to walk and stand on. And it is an effective sound and vibration insulator excellent for noisy apartment buildings, condominiums and anywhere a more peaceful environment is desired. In addition, cork has superior thermal insulating properties, making it very pleasant for bare feet.

Renewable Resource

Cork has been utilized for centuries and is collected from the Cork Oak tree grown primarily around the Mediterranean. Though it is a tree product, cork is not made from the wood. Rather, cork is harvested by stripping the bark from the trunk. So instead of cutting down a tree for a single collection of material, a cork tree can be harvested again and again every 9 to 14 years. Some cork trees are still producing at 200 years old. As a renewable resource, cork is appealing to the environmentally conscious homeowner. In fact cork for flooring is made with waste material from wine stopper manufacturing.

Cork is easy to install and easier to live with making it a flooring material well worth serious consideration.