One flooring material that has both environmental and health benefits, and is also widely recognized as great choice for use in nurseries and children’s rooms, is cork. Earth conscious parents will be pleased to know that cork is a 100% renewable resource, harvested from the bark of living cork oak trees. No trees are cut down to produce cork flooring.

In addition to being a renewable resource, cork flooring also boasts many other benefits relevant to use in your baby’s nursery. One notable feature is its moisture resistance, thanks to a naturally occurring substance found in cork called suberin. Suberin is a waxy material that is a key component in the makeup of the cells found in cork. Suberin is also insect-resistant, and adds a level of fire resistance. Hypoallergenic cork flooring decreases the chance of mold and mildew formation, promoting a clean and healthy environment for you and your family.

Finally, new parents will be happy to know that the soft quality of cork can both help muffle noise in a nursery or children’s bedroom, as well as provide a bit of a cushion for your little one’s inevitable trips and tumbles. Cork’s unique cellular structure is made up of millions of tiny, sealed air-filled pockets which provide a soft feel underfoot.

Whether you are designing a nursery for your new baby, or remodeling your child’s bedroom, quality cork flooring offers a plethora of health and environmental benefits for discerning parents.

You can purchase a beautiful set of cork flooring without breaking the bank by visiting FloorMall. Here you’ll find competitively priced cork products from trusted manufacturers like Terre Verde, APC Cork and DaVinci flooring.

I would be remiss if I didn’t touch on some of the natural qualities of cork which makes it an excellent material for flooring, as I mentioned above. It isn’t just for wine corks and school bulletin boards any longer.

Cork Properties:

• Excellent sound deadening properties
• Resilient structure, that is also soft and comfortable to walk on
• Effective insulator of heat
• Moisture resistant

While cork’s natural properties are fantastic, the same basic rule applies to it as any other flooring product–you have to make sure what you’re receiving is of high quality. That’s why I suggest anyone looking for cork flooring to start their search at Natural Cork. Natural cork is a prestigious company that has been producing high quality cork flooring since 1994. They’ve been working to imbue cork flooring with innovative and effective properties in order to highlight the material’s inherent properties. In 2006 they expanded their company to offer product lines other than solely cork flooring and now offer flooring options in bamboo and wood floors. Whatever you’re looking for you have to make sure you’re buying products from a company that you trust and has a history of excellent quality.

Cork oak trees are grown to be approximately twenty-five years of age before they can begin to be harvested. Using age-old techniques, the bark is gently stripped from the tree and generally sent to factories where the cork is processed and used in the production of wine-stoppers. The excess waste product that is produced in this process is then gathered and processed into sheets of cork, used in flooring or wall tiling. This process is extremely eco-friendly due to the fact that all of the cork is used either in the initial process or by gathering the waste using it productively.

The corking industry is highly regulated to ensure the survival of the cork oak trees. As mentioned previously, trees must reach an age of twenty-five before they can be subjected to being stripped. Once a tree has been stripped, it may not be used again for seven to nine years, allowing the bark to regenerate. This cycle reinforces the concept of cork being eco-friendly because the tree species is being preserved by regulating the amount of time which is allotted for the tree to reproduce its bark so as not to injure the source.

The on going production and the fact that cork is recycled down to the waste are the two main reasons cork can be seen as eco-friendly. However, out of all of the cork companies in the world, only a scarce few have taken the time to conduct and release their carbon footprint statistics. These statistics relay information regarding the amount of Green House Gases emitted by an individual, organization, event, or product. So in conclusion, all cork used for the production of flooring can be considered eco-cork. It is its nature!

Someone who is trained to professionally install cork tile flooring will also possess the training to recognize areas throughout the house where extreme moisture could potentially cause damage. In order to ensure successful installation of your floor there are a few preliminary steps which should be taken is a professional help is not used. Be sure to remove all paint, wax, or any other type of adhesive, creating a smooth and clean area. Some type of electric sander or other machine may be required for best results. After this step is completed the area must be allowed to thoroughly dry. Prior to actual installation the tiles should be exposed to the area in which they are to be placed so as to be able to adapt to temperature and humidity conditions. After all of these steps have been completed, your cork floor boards are ready to be installed.

Following all of these steps will immensely help prolong the life of your cork flooring. However, professional installation is really the best way to maintain the longest life span. Generally speaking, flooring installation companies will tag on a twenty to twenty-five year warranty, depending on the location and the company. Also, basic maintenance of your flooring is necessary to ensure a long-lasting, healthy rapport.

One industry which has also begun to turn green is the flooring industry. Offering a variety of earth-friendly options, they’re goal is to appeal to those who are interested in healthy living. One type of eco-friendly flooring can be found in the installation of cork flooring. There are many ways in which cork flooring can be seen as a “green-building” material. One of the biggest ways in which cork is a green-building material is found in its ability to regenerate. These trees are grown with the intention of the bark being harvested. Using age-old techniques, so as not to harm the trees or the environment surrounding them, the bark is gently separated from the tree and harvested.

Frequently, the harvested bark is sent to a factory in order to craft stoppers for wine-bottles. During the production of these stoppers there is a waste product that emerges. This waste is then gathered and condensed into sheets which are in turn utilized in the natural cork flooring. This process also reinforces the fact that cork is indeed a renewable green-building material. After being used to create the cork-stoppers, the waste by-product is reused to help create flooring. Other types of wood which are commonly used in hardwood flooring, specifically certain species of oak, can take approximately 120 years before it is strong enough to harvest for building or flooring.

The Cork flooring industry is closely regulated, maintaining that a tree must be at least 25 years of age before its bark can be harvested. This ensures that cork is not harvested prematurely, possibly causing harm to the tree. Cork bark not only regenerates fully approximately every seven years, but the entirety of the tree need not suffer during the harvest. Cork can be seen as a highly resourceful product. Utilizing a natural occurring substance known as Suberin, cork is able to repel insects and mold, and is also able to protect against rotting caused by moisture. Also this waxy substance is fire-retardant. These qualities, once sealed into the cork flooring boards, provide a healthy and eco-friendly solution for providing interior hardwood flooring.

Cork also possesses the ability to insulate areas where an echo might occur. As opposed to dry-wall or any type of alloy/metal, cork is able to contain sound much more effectively. In the home this can be useful in many ways. No more competing to hear the television over the commotion in the next room. While these cork tiles are not going to sound-proof your home they will definitely assist in maintaining reasonable volume levels.

Another quality cork possesses is the ability to tack things to it without causing damage to the cork itself. This is especially useful in both home and office environments, basically anywhere pin-ups are wanted. Cork tiles are not only functional, they can also add to the aesthetics of any room or hallway. With the various styles of cork tile there are some different directions in which you can head.

There are a few options to consider pertaining to the tone/shading of cork tiles when installing. One option is to stain the cork wall covering. Through the use of water-based stains, the cork is allowed to maintain its natural patterns while matching even the subtlest of color schemes surrounding the given room. Another option is covering the surface of the cork tiles with wax. With the wax finish, the cork’s textures, patterns, and tones are highlighted. Also, this wax helps to protect the cork from dirt and other irritants.

Another option when dealing with cork tile is simply to leave it in its natural state. This entails adding no surface treatment whatsoever. The plain cork look adds a well-dressed appearance to any room. One of the final options is to just paint the tiles. If a cork is waxed then it cannot be painted. Cork is rarely painted due to the fact that it hides its natural beauty. If the intention was solely for functionality – insulation – the cork could be painted if desired.

Overall it’s not hard to see exactly why cork tiling is a smart investment. While adding to the aesthetics to any room, cork also possesses a wide variety of functional qualities.

One concern of home owners with children is always related to flooring. When installing flooring it is always important to take into consideration what type of activities are going to be taking place within the home. Throw kids and their antics into the mix and you create the need to find a durable and multipurpose flooring solution. Cork flooring offers a wide variety of characteristics, making it a great investment, especially in areas where there are kids traveling through.

One of the main characteristics which makes cork an intelligent investment is the fact that it posses a variety of natural defenses, making it a “family-friendly” building material. Cork naturally contains a waxy substance known as Suberin. This substance possesses many different qualities, adding to the corks versatility. Suberin is highly moisture resistant, which is one of the reasons cork flooring, maintains an excellent tolerance of moisture. So, when that cup of apple juice spills chaotically all over the floor, fret not as there is extra protection to help prevent warping and other damages caused by moisture.

The hygiene of a child’s living area is also of importance when exploring appropriate flooring options. While carpets can be a nuisance to clean due to excessive amounts of dust, mites, and other allergens, hardwood flooring does not have the ability to cling to these harmful intruders. The Suberin found in cork also allows these surfaces to resist mold and mildew growth, as well as possible insect infestations. It has been thought that by switching from a carpet to a hardwood floor, a child suffering from any number of household allergens could potentially show improvements, helping to save money on prescription allergy medications.

Still, we have yet to address one of the most common concerns associated with children and hardwood flooring - Maintaining the aesthetics of the actual floor. No one wants to make an investment into a hardwood floor only to have it damaged through encounters with pets, cleats, toys, and any number of other potentially harmful enemies. When cork floor boards are produced they are compressed into sheets. These sheets contain air pockets which, in a sense, act as a sort of shock absorber. While this does not mean scratches and dents will not occur, it does assist in maintaining a desirable appearance. Also, cork flooring is known to be highly sound resistant, providing insulation in areas where echoes can occur, or in areas where children will play, laugh, cry, etc.

Overall, it is not difficult to see that there are no real downsides to installing cork floors into your child’s room. If anything, it would be beneficial for you and your child alike. Combining versatility and functionality, cork flooring is an intelligent investment for a family to make.