Choosing the right type of floor for your space is an important decision when you think about the fact that it can be expensive and can be hard to replace. Unlike other household items such as furniture or decorative products that can easily be replaced, a floor will need a good amount of time, effort and hard work to be changed. In order to choose the right materials, keep in mind a number of factors such as; your budget, the room you are installing it in, the levels of traffic it will endure, as well as the temperature and humidity of the space. The market today is flooded with a number of materials and styles of flooring. You can pick hardwood flooring in your living room, cork flooring in the bedroom and glazed ceramic in the bathroom or kitchen if you want. The choice is yours.
What Is Cork Flooring
Cork flooring is becoming quite popular. Why? For a start, most homeowners appreciate cork flooring because of its natural wood aspect and the warm and softer feeling it has when touched. This is a characteristic in all products that are made from cork. Cork is an eco-friendly product made from the bark or the cork oak tree. Forests of these species are specially grown in vast areas of Asia and Europe. Cork oaks are come with an arsenal of natural abilities that include being a renewable natural resource. Collecting the bark is a process that does not harm the trees in any way. The bark itself is highly regenerable as it is only harvested to a safe depth, not touching the interior components of the tree. It can produce a couple of times in just a single year before it must be left alone to regenerate.
This material is also beloved because of its elastic and insulating features. Elasticity means that when pressed upon, cork will have a small give to it, that translates to an gentler contact surface that eases the strain on your feet and joints. Insulation means that cork is able to absorb or disperse sound waves for a quieter environment and also help maintain desired temperatures for longer periods of time. Forna cork flooring comes in two distinct styles, 100% cork glue down tiles or floating cork flooring. The glue down tiles are made of agglomerate cork that has been bound together thrua a process of high heat and pressure. A floating cork floor is made out of three layers. The center layer is created out of a high-density fiberboard or HDF fiberboard. The sandwiching layers are then made from agglomerated cork sheets that can differ in thickness. Over these layers is added a coat of substances that enhance its properties.
When buying, choose a quality cork floor that comes with a good warranty. This way you can be assured you have made the best buy. A good quality cork floor is worth the investment.
How to Install Cork Flooring Tiles
Installing cork tiles can be daunting if you have no experience, but that does not mean you can’t make it a DIY project. Some distrubtors and sellers even provide videos on how to install their products. Be sure to research and follow directions for the best results. Or if you are unsure, hire a professional cork floor contractor. Some cork floors, such as the floating floor come with an easy to do tongue and grove system. In fact, most distributors or sellers will provide DIY instructions thru weblinks so take advantage of that too. And if in doubt, contact them for any questions and concerns. It is better to err on the side of caution than to make costly mistakes.
With all this being said here are the most basic steps to installing a cork floor. First, remove all furniture and thoroughly clean the area receiving the new cork floor. Make sure the subfloor surface is even and free of unnatural bulges. This will reduce the chances of having a warped looking floor once you are done. Make sure to acclimate the new cork floor before you begin laying. Read all instructions before you begin the installation process. Make sure you have all the necessary materials on hand and ready to go. Do a preliminary lay before you start actually gluing or snapping your new cork floor into place. Taking these key steps into account will help reduce mistakes and result in a lovely long-lasting floor.
