Cork flooring is created from an extremely renewable resource. Couple that with it’s comfort and durability and you will understand why it has become so common in the past several years. Additionally, cork flooring has a natural insect resistance, and is anti-allergenic, which are fantastic qualities for the health of the home occupants and our environment.

Why is Cork Flooring Eco-Friendly? Cork flooring is also very eco-friendly as a result of the source of the product and how it is harvested. Cork is obtained from a cork oak tree, which is located in the Mediterranean. The bark from these trees is harvested about once a decade and is used to make wine bottle corks. This harvesting processes does not hurt the tree at all, and this is a very eco-friendly process. After the wine industry manufactures their wine bottle corks, there are scraps that are left over from this process. These scraps are ground up, processed into sheets, and baked in kilns to make cork flooring.

Benefits of Cork Flooring: It’s most obvious benefit is that cork is exceedingly renewable and thus, very environmentally friendly. As you will note, there are many other benefits for using this eco-friendly flooring as well.

* Because of the cushioning qualities, cork flooring provides a natural sound barrier to foot traffic. This makes it an ideal candidate for multi-floor or multi-family usage.
* This natural cushioning effect additionally make it extremely comfortable to walk on. Along with being comfortable for walking a standing, cork flooring also has a natural shock absorbing qualities. Because it’s soft, it’s a wonderful option for anyone with children as well.
* It is additionally very tough and cleaning it is as simple as regular sweeping or vacuuming. The uncomplicated care is attributable to a finish that is applied to the flooring prior to installation.
* It is highly advised that you do not mop your cork floors. Rather, use a specially formulated cleaning product to clean stains or heavily soiled areas.
* It’s very attractive. Cork is available in many special shades. Color variations can be controlled by means of the length of the baking time in the kiln during the manufacturing procedure.

What’s Does Cork Flooring Cost? If cost is very significant consideration when purchasing your flooring products, you will be pleased to know that it is very reasonably priced. The cost can vary between $3.50 to $6.50 psf for the materials only. Two qualities of the product drive the cost variations, being the type of plank, and the finish on the cork. Cork is ordinarily a floating type floor installation. This means that the typical homeowner with some do-it-yourself experience, can install a floor in a weekend. If you enlist in the services of a flooring contractor, the cost of installation will roughly equal the cost of the materials.

Caring for Your Cork Floor: After you have purchased and installed your cork floors, caring for them is an simple procedure. However, you’ll be interested to make sure that you follow a few elementary steps to keep your floors looking good.

* To prevent staining, wipe up spills immediately. Because cork is an absorbent material, spills can soak into the surface if left standing too long.
* Clean your floors regularly with a broom or a vacuum cleaner. Yes, cork is a fairly durable material, but you want to make sure to sweep up debris often as it can scratch the finish.
* Do not ever wet mop your cork flooring. Use specially formulated solvents to clean heavily soiled or stained areas.
* After years of wear and tear, you will discover that the finish of your floors may need attention. You will need to employ the services of a finish specialist as your finish fades to bring back the original luster and beauty of your flooring.

In closing, cork flooring is eco-friendly, attractive, long-lasting, and exceedingly comfortable to walk on. Add to that the fairly reasonable cost of this eco-friendly flooring and it’s no wonder that cork is so popular!