Posts Tagged ‘Flooring’

Cork Flooring & Your Pets

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

As a pet owner trying to update the flooring in your home some general concerns will arise about what will be the most durable surface you can purchase. Flooring that can withstand claws nails and scratching is an ideal factor as well as one that will be easy to keep clean and not allow your home to become smelly or dirty.  This article has been written to help the home and pet owner see why cork flooring may be the best option in updating their home.

One of the most endearing factors of cork flooring is its natural healthy properties.  Suberin, a chemical found naturally in cork, makes the material anti microbial, anti fungal and moisture resistant, as well as naturally pest repellent.  What this means is that your cork flooring will not grow any mold or mildew or allow any type of germ spreading microorganisms live or breed in your flooring.  This is a great characteristic when you have animals that go outdoors and carry in all sorts of dirt or critters.  Moisture resistance is another quality of cork flooring that works well when having animals as they sometimes have accidents indoors, spill their water dishes or again can track in moisture from outside.  Cork flooring in comparison to carpet is a better choice because carpet will hold in dust dirt and dander, in turn causing discomfort to those who suffer from allergies.

As a very durable material you can feel confident that cork flooring will be a safe choice even if your pet has claws or nails.  You may think of a cork board when you think of cork flooring but the flooring itself is coated with several layers of a protective urethane coating that will aid in its durability while providing a seal and shine.  It is always recommended when having cats with claws to provide them with a scratching post to use for their natural claw sharpening instincts.  With dogs regular nail clipping will keep their length and sharpness to a minimum well aiding in their general health as well.

Want to learn more about cork flooring? Then visit the CorkFlooringPros.com website today and view articles, how-tos and videos on cork flooring. Don’t forget to read our article on cleaning cork floors.

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Cork Flooring: Live, Learn, Love

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

I think cork has quite a few positive attributes, but at the same time it can be the biggest pain! So what exactly is cork? Cork is harvested from the second layer of trees, under the bark, but before you make it to the hard interior rings. We most likely first interact with cork in a classroom on a regular cork board. Maybe your mom had one mounted on the wall of your kitchen for bills and shopping lists? Nowadays cork is used for flooring as well as tackable surfaces.

Cork flooring is considered a “rapidly renewable” flooring choice because it has a growth/harvest cycle less than 10 years. It is important to keep in mind that over 90% of the world’s cork supply is harvested in Portugal. So while one of the biggest positives of choosing cork is the fast growth, it also has to travel long distances, so the embodied energy of the end product is higher. That is why it is always important to keep in mind that a first choice that reads “super sustainable” from the outside products (like bamboo and cork) can actually have negative impacts as well.

Cork flooring is laid as either as roll goods (normally 6 feet wide) or as 12×12 tiles. The first generation of cork tile was prefinished, meaning each individual tile was finished with sealer before laid on the floor. This caused problems because there was not a final seal to lock out moisture. A few years back, the manufacturers changed their tune and now tiles get one set of sealer after it is stained (cork can be stained a rainbow of colors) before its laid, and then it gets a final seal when laid and in place. It is possible to replace individual tiles but it does not look as smooth.

Another positive attribute of cork is its ability to absorb sound. It is substantially quieter than standard wood flooring but still harder (and louder) than carpet. Just keep in mind that it is a natural material, therefore it is porous and soft. I learned the hard way that providing plenty of surface area on the feet of furniture is important. Otherwise, you can end up with a dimpled floor. There is a lot of opportunity to create intricate patterns and depth with cork – it is soft, so it is easy to cut and install. Just be sure to ask for a no VOC (volatile organic compound) adhesive and sealant!

So cork has many attributes, so good, some not so good. But it is always important to do your own research for your particular application. Good luck getting “corky”.

For more information you can check out www.flooringroup.com

www.design-sherpa.com

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Cork Flooring Consumer Questions & Answers

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

So you’re in the market to purchase new flooring but still have a few questions.  In hopes of helping make your decision that much clearer, here are some frequently asked questions and answers on the topic of cork flooring.

Q:  Is cork a recycled material?

A: Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork oak tree.  After harvesting the first item produced from the haul are corks.  The remaining pieces are used for things like flooring, cork boards and other types of commonly used cork items.

Q:  Is cork flooring a new type of flooring?

A:  No.  Cork flooring has been around for centuries and is popular in Europe. It is in some very well known buildings as well; such as the Mayo Clinic and The First Congressional Church.

Q:  Will wearing or walking on it with high heels damage it?

A:  Cork flooring can withstand a lot of pressure and compression and will return to its original state.  The flooring also comes with a coating that will furthermore add protection.

Q:  What if there is a chip in my floor? Can I fix it myself?

A:  Yes you can.  Take a scrap tile and sand it down to create a dust.  Then mix it with some poly urethane to form putty like mixture and fill in the damaged area.  Once dry coat the area with a layer of the poly urethane by itself and let dry.

Q:  Do I need to wax or refinish my floor?

A:  Depending on the type of sealer used on the floor it is best to see the manufactures instructions.  Some only need a waxing once a year others need nothing but general upkeep of seeping and mopping.

Q:  Can I use cork flooring over radiant heat?

A:  Yes you can.  It may take a little longer to penetrate but heats evenly and will hold in the warmth as well.

Q:  I own an apartment building and am looking to replace the flooring in my hallways.  Would cork work well in this area?

A:  Definitely.  As a natural noise inhibitor it would work great on sound reduction of people going in and out while providing a durable surface to stand up to consistent traffic.

Q:  How do I keep my cork flooring clean?

A:  All you need is a mild ph balanced detergent and a damp mop to keep your floor clean.  Mopping done as needed and regular sweeping is necessary as gravel and crumbs could eventually damage the surface.  Clean up any spills immediately.

Want to read more about cork flooring? Then visit the CorkFlooringPros.com website today and view the huge cork flooring frequently asked questions archive today.

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Cork Flooring Beauty – Environmentally-friendly Too!

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Growing Popularity

That wood flooring is gaining popularity is well known. When home owners see just how beautiful and inexpensive a natural wood floor is they are keen to get it installed in their own home. Hardwood flooring is the first choice for most when they are looking at installing a wooden floor in their home, Oak and Cherry because of the variety of colors and shades are two popular choices, sometimes a more exotic hardwood like Bamboo is the hardwood of choice. But one environmentally friendly choice is also available and that is cork. Cork has been around for centuries and used for floors for a very long time and for a number of reasons,among those reasons is the fact that it is a very long lasting product and that it comes from a renewable resource.

Source

Cork is harvested from the bark of cork trees, which are a variety of Oak The cork is gathered through stripping off the bark on the outside of the trunk,this regenerates in about six years ready for harvesting again. This means that rather than cutting down a tree just once for material,cork farms can strip the bark away again and again; there are still trees being used in bark harvesting that are around 200 years old! For for those of us who care about the environment, this makes cork flooring an ideal material, since it comes from a renewable resource. Even for those who have not considered the source of the material, cork flooring is a wonderful alternative for hardwood floors.

Durability

Often when we think of cork, we think of the soft material used in cork boards but in reality Cork is one of the strongest materials used. Not only is it scuff resistant, it is elastic and hard to damage under normal circumstances, but it also resists water penetration, unlike other hardwood floors, so it is ideal for bathrooms and kitchens, for this reason too, it is used as stoppers in wine bottles.

Because of the hard wearing qualities of Cork, there are flooring installations that have lasted for over 100 years. It is also one of the floorings of choice used in the United States Library of Congress. Cork has excellent insulating properties, so good in fact that it can help reduce heating or cooling costs. This makes it a very good flooring material for basement floors for example. Cork flooring is a good sound insulator too, a fact well known in the building industry for years and useful for home owners in reducing noise transfer from floor to floor.

Aesthetics

Cork flooring has a mottled appearance that we are all familiar with and which makes it different from all of the other wood floors. It comes in a variety of patterns and colors that you can select from to match your own particular decorating style. Because of it’s elastic nature Cork flooring is comfortable and quiet to walk on. – ideal for apartment dwellers.

Health Concerns.

Cork flooring is much more than just an environmentally friendly material,it is a naturally hypo-allergenic substance which does not support the growth of mold or mildew , it does not produce toxins or shed any fibres and it is antistatic. All of these properties are good news for those people who suffer from allergies

Author: Brian McQuirk Webmaster and owner Your Floorings

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Natural Cork Flooring

Friday, March 12th, 2010

With the myriad of flooring types available, shoppers tend to lean toward those that are most popular at the time. Unfortunately, this practice can cause a consumer to miss out on some great flooring options.

One of these hidden gems is cork flooring. Imagine a floor covering that is attractive, comfortable, environmentally friendly, durable and affordable. When most people think of cork, they think of a wine bottle or a cork board, and due to this lack of consumer awareness, this product is commonly overlooked. In order to appreciate this material, you really need to understand its unique characteristics.

Origin

Cork is actually the bark of the cork oak tree found in the Mediterranean. Portugal is the largest supplier with over 30% of the world’s cork trees and 70% of the world’s cork production. Every nine years the bark is harvested by hand with the average tree yielding about 4,000 corks.

The bark is honeycomb in nature, containing 90% air that can be compressed to 40% and then quickly returning to its original shape. This feature creates a natural shock absorber.

Benefits

Due to its air like composition, walking on cork is like walking on air. Its comfortable walking surface is perfect for kitchens where you are standing for lengthy periods of time.

Cork has a natural beauty with a rich, varying grain, similar to wood. It also comes in many different patterns and tile sizes from various manufacturers.

The same feature that makes the floor comfortable creates a natural noise reducer. It’s extremely quiet to walk on and reduces the impact if an object is dropped on its surface. It’s insulating effect make cork a great choice in a bathroom over radiant floor heating or even installed over cold concrete floors.

Cork is an environmentally friendly product in many ways. Since the bark from the tree grows back nine years after harvest, it’s a reusable and sustainable product. It also contains suberin, a substance that is resistant to insects, mold and protects cork from rotting when exposed to moisture. Suberin is naturally fire resistant and cork doesn’t release any toxic gases when it burns.

The durability of cork makes it a perfect choice for virtually any room in the house, including those high traffic areas. It has been successfully used in churches and other public buildings since 1898.

Disadvantages

Due to its resilience, heavy furniture can dent the flooring, so it’s important to use castors or furniture pads under table legs. Just as with wood, an excess of water can damage the finish. It shouldn’t be used where you have problems with moisture or flooding.

Costs

The cost of cork flooring compares to high-end laminate or hardwood and runs approximately $4 to 6$ per square foot.

Maintenance

Cork floors are extremely easy to maintain with regular sweeping or vacuuming. Damp mop the floor monthly with a mild detergent and very little water and avoid using abrasive or ammonia-based cleaning products.

The flooring requires up to five coats of urethane sealer, which will last several years. A dulling floor can be refreshed with another coat.

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