Cork: for those who want to uncork something special.
Beautiful and unique, warm and inviting, cork flooring commands attention, discussion
and a typical question: what kind of floor is that?
Read on and you can easily answer that question, and more; impress friends and neighbors
alike.
Cork is actually the bark of a tree commonly known as Cork Oak. Predominantly found
in Portugal and Spain, Cork Oak is native to the Mediterranean region.
The bark naturally splits every 9 to 15 years and can be safely harvested causing
no harm to the tree. That’s good news for the environment.
The bark re-grows and the cycle continues on for years and years. Some Cork Oak
trees have been known to live up to 500 years.
Cork flooring can be a viable alternative for any room in your home.
It is a natural product, so even if finished in color or left natural, it will show
variations in characteristics, tones and shades from tile to tile.
Cork flooring is installed much like a hardwood floor in that, once installed, a
urethane coating is applied.
However, cork flooring is much warmer than wood as well as being durable and forgiving.
You should know that cork flooring is warm to walk on and extremely quiet with natural
sound absorbing qualities. It’s also naturally hypoallergenic and naturally
resistant to mold and mildew. Great advantages one and all.
Maintaining a cork floor depends on the type of finish, but it is usually treated
like wood, which means sweeping or vacuuming regularly to keep it grit-free.
Wipe up spills promptly, and only use cleansers that are recommended by the flooring
manufacturer.
Cork flooring can be wiped with a barely damp cloth and towel-dried.
Never wet mop.
Waxed cork needs occasional re-waxing and buffing to preserve its beauty.