Cork In The New Millenium

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9511
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Not so long ago, the market for flooring materials was limited which made shopping for new flooring options sparse , but new technologies and discoveries have given us more, cheaper, and more eco-friendly flooring options. It’s nice to know there's more to choose from than just carpet and vinyl.

While there have been some advancement in reducing the environmental and health hazards connected with traditional carpets and PVC flooring, many flooring companies have responded to demand for other, more sustainable, health- and eco-conscious materials. When it comes to finding the perfect combination of environmental sustainability, human health promotion, and affordability only a handful of products have risen to the top.

Cork seems to fit the bill quite well.

As early as 2,500 BC cork was being used for fishing floats in ancient Egypt. by 400 BC cork was commonly used as stoppers for containers as well as for soles of shoes.Its eco-friendly nature starts with the actual product before spilling over into the production process that are used to create cork flooring. Only the bark of the cork oak tree is harvested. ...
... No tree is cut down and continues to flourish. The bark regenerates, a period that takes nine years to ensure its viability before it is ready to be reharvested. This makes cork a renewable resource.

Cork flooring is also considered to be made from recycled content. Instead of ending up in a landfill, the waste from the production of cork stoppers is what is actually used as the base for cork flooring. Also, many companies are utilizing adhesives that are classified as no- or low-volatile organic compounds. VOCs are gases that are emitted from certain products which can adversely affect the air quality within a room.

Along with eco-friendly benefits, cork flooring has other qualities that make it stellular. Several of the benefits stem from the unique structure of cork. It is a product with extra ordinarily distinctive qualities unmatched by any other natural material. One cubic inch of cork consists of not less than 200 million completely enclosed air cells. Each minute cell is 14 sided which virtually eliminates empty spaces between the cells. Envision a wine-bottle cork. Squeeze it, and it will condense under the pressure, but when released bounces back to the original shape. This characteristic is what gives the flooring a cushioning effect under foot. The air cells within the cork also help to trap heat acting like an insulator and also make it sound-resistant. Due to a naturally occurring wax called Suberin within cork, the product is insect-resistant and anti-allergen too.

Cork is a tough substance with remarkable capacity for retaining its initial properties wherever recommended. Its high degree of stability under varying conditions makes it a high-grade success in the world today.

Today, cork floors are overtaking all other types of flooring in popularity and it is not surprising at all. cork floating flooring is durable, easy to maintain and is also very versatile. To know more go to icorkfloor.