For a warm, cushioned flooring option, think cork. In recent years, cork was thought of to only keep wine from spilling from the bottle; now, this exotic flooring has been reclaimed as a hip, new way to relieve the pressure from your aching, tired feet.
Cork flooring is a soft like suede and comfortable flooring option for any room in your home. Due to its porous nature, the air that gets trapped inside cork is a natural shock absorber. This makes it a great choice for areas where you will be standing for long periods of time, like in a kitchen. In addition to being a shock absorber, it is also a sound barrier. The cellular structure of cork flooring reduces noise and vibrations, so it is quieter all around to walk on. When you install flooring materials such as tile or wood, you get noise whenever you walk on it with hard shoes. Not so with cork! Additionally, cork flooring reduces the impact of items dropped on it, lessening the chance of breakage.
Even though cork flooring seems like a relatively new idea in terms of a flooring option, it actually has been used in public buildings (like churches and libraries) since 1898. Builders chose cork for its renewability, its strength, and its durability.
If you have a child who has allergies, you may want to consider installing a cork floor in his room. Cork has natural properties which make it anti-allergenic, as well as resistant to insects. Cork contains a natural waxy substance called suberin, which fend off bugs, mites, and mold. Additionally, suberin protects cork from rotting when wet for long periods of time – this makes it a great choice for the basement.
Cork flooring comes in many different colors and can be bought in different tile shapes and patterns, as well. Cork’s luxurious appeal from the natural, earthy colors exude a rich visual texture to all who gaze upon it. Cork flooring is made from tree bark, which makes it a natural and renewable resource. It is created by stripping the outer bark from the cork oak tree; this process does not harm the tree, and the tree naturally produces more bark. These trees live for around 200 years and are highly prized by their caregivers.
To learn more about High End Cork Flooring, please contact one of our design consultants at 1-800-764-1633.