Cork: A New Breed of Flooring
When it comes time for a homeowner to update their flooring many choose from wood, tile or vinyl but cork flooring, which has been used in Europe since the last century, is gaining popularity in North America due to its low maintenance, durability and insulating properties.
A completely natural and renewable resource, cork is harvested by peeling it from the cork tree without the tree incurring any damage. Once stripped of its bark the cork tree will grow another layer of cork within nine years and continue to do so for 150 to 200 years, making it an environmentally sound choice.
For those looking for a long lasting, low maintenance flooring cork fits the bill on both counts. Made up of honeycomb-like pockets that trap air, cork flooring resists wear by its ability to regain its shape no matter how much foot traffic it endures or how long furniture has sat on it. Repairs, should they be necessary, are also done with ease. Instead of having to replace the entire floor the homeowner can simply mix shavings from a spare piece of cork, mix with polyurethane, and fill any divots.
Those same pockets of air that provide durability to cork flooring also impart both sound and temperature insulation. This completely natural product provides a perfect marriage between the warmth and sound dampening properties of carpet with the ease of clean up associated with tile. To clean your cork flooring simply vacuum regularly and wipe up spills with a damp cloth and a mild detergent.
Another benefit of cork flooring is that it is hypoallergenic. With an every increasing number of homeowners finding the need to avoid carpets due to allergies to dust or dust mites, cork flooring provides a healthy alternative. Also, due to cork flooring’s water resistance it is excellent flooring for bathrooms in order to provide warmth to the floor while avoiding allergy inducing molds.
If home fashion is at the forefront of the homeowners mind cork proves to be the chameleon of the flooring industry. Available in a wide array of colors, from the traditional honey tones to green, red or even black, cork can also be stained or stenciled in order to match a future change in décor without having to change your current flooring.
Therefore, with its durability, insulating properties, and ability to fit into almost any décor, cork flooring may just become the front runner in the minds of homeowners looking for the next generation in floor coverings.
Copyright © 2006, Ian White
A completely natural and renewable resource, cork is harvested by peeling it from the cork tree without the tree incurring any damage. Once stripped of its bark the cork tree will grow another layer of cork within nine years and continue to do so for 150 to 200 years, making it an environmentally sound choice.
For those looking for a long lasting, low maintenance flooring cork fits the bill on both counts. Made up of honeycomb-like pockets that trap air, cork flooring resists wear by its ability to regain its shape no matter how much foot traffic it endures or how long furniture has sat on it. Repairs, should they be necessary, are also done with ease. Instead of having to replace the entire floor the homeowner can simply mix shavings from a spare piece of cork, mix with polyurethane, and fill any divots.
Those same pockets of air that provide durability to cork flooring also impart both sound and temperature insulation. This completely natural product provides a perfect marriage between the warmth and sound dampening properties of carpet with the ease of clean up associated with tile. To clean your cork flooring simply vacuum regularly and wipe up spills with a damp cloth and a mild detergent.
Another benefit of cork flooring is that it is hypoallergenic. With an every increasing number of homeowners finding the need to avoid carpets due to allergies to dust or dust mites, cork flooring provides a healthy alternative. Also, due to cork flooring’s water resistance it is excellent flooring for bathrooms in order to provide warmth to the floor while avoiding allergy inducing molds.
If home fashion is at the forefront of the homeowners mind cork proves to be the chameleon of the flooring industry. Available in a wide array of colors, from the traditional honey tones to green, red or even black, cork can also be stained or stenciled in order to match a future change in décor without having to change your current flooring.
Therefore, with its durability, insulating properties, and ability to fit into almost any décor, cork flooring may just become the front runner in the minds of homeowners looking for the next generation in floor coverings.
Copyright © 2006, Ian White
posted by housecarers | 7:11 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home