Cork is a very interesting organic material because of the natural attributes that lend it to becoming great flooring. Recently, it has become very popular for use in flooring, largely because of the green movement. Cork used for flooring and a host of other applications actually comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. It’s a renewable resource because once the bark is stripped from the trees; this process can be repeated every nine years throughout the 150 plus life cycle of the tree. Harvesting cork from the oaks actually encourages growth in the tree. The bark is first stripped when the tree is 25 years old.
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.
