Natural Cork Flooring Can Be A Sound Option For Your Home
By Adrian Whittle

If you have never seen natural cork flooring you may be surprised how hardy and versatile a material it can be. Many people might think that cork is flimsy because they have had a bulletin or reminder board that is easy to stick pins into or break if not attached to the wall. This article will cover how natural cork flooring is created and some of the features of this material as a floor surface in your home.

To begin with, natural cork flooring is a renewable resource. This is encouraging from an environmental perspective given the way trees are cut down in vast quantities to be made into flooring or other products. Cork comes from the cork oak tree. It is actually the bark of the tree and is simply peeled off the tree after around 10 years of growth. The trees will grow new bark and the process will continue, culminating in another peeling. In this way the trees are never cut down. Although the process takes a long time, by staggering the planting of the trees a constant supply of cork can be produced.

In terms of the qualities of natural cork flooring, it is noted for it's thermal and acoustic insulation. This is because there a millions of tiny air pockets in cork. They absorb and insulate a room from heat and noise. When you walk on natural cork flooring you will notice that it gives under your feet and will bounce back after the pressure is removed. This is a tactile illustration of the insulation qualities of cork flooring.

Various colors of cork flooring are also available making its use in a variety of rooms and environments possible. They are made with snap-lock connections similar to laminate flooring and can be installed either as a floating floor covering or glued to a sub floor material.

The natural texture of natural cork flooring makes it feel naturally different from other flooring materials and its natural soundproofing makes it ideal in apartments or in rooms where noise can be distracting to those in rooms below them. Its insulating qualities also helps reduce heating and cooling costs. The durability and life expectancy of natural cork flooring is directly dependent on the quality of the installation and how you care for the material.

Cork is especially useful in rooms that are heavily used, like bathrooms and kitchens. In these types of rooms there is a good chance that moisture may come in contact with the flooring. So many types of natural cork flooring for this purpose are given a top coating of acrylic that seals the material of any spills. Other rooms that may not be subject to this type of wear and tear may have a top coat of waxing. This is a thin coating that retains the bounce back feeling in the cork but also protects it from damage.

It is straightforward to clean natural cork flooring. Simply use a dry mop or a duster to remove hard particles from accumulating on the natural cork flooring surface. The floor should never be scrubbed with and liquid based abrasive cleaners that may damage the protective coating of the cork or be absorbed into the cork material itself.

For more details on using natural cork flooring and how vinyl plank flooring can be used in your home, visit http://www.finehomeideas.com

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