Which Flooring Do I Choose?

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9503
Comment this article

Choosing the right flooring is all about understanding exactly how much wear and tear it is going to see, where it is going to be installed, the maintenance it will require, how long it will last and whether it will fit your budget. No matter what parameters you weigh in on, cork flooring somehow seems to be an ideal choice for any setting. It looks amazingly great, has earthy tones and is available in an array of colors and shades. It is suitable for residential and commercial applications. Can be used to great advantage in auditoriums, libraries and conference rooms and provides an equal amount of functionality in a home as well.

Very few materials can actually boast of being able to do all these things. The cost factor is also something that you don’t have to worry about too much. The material is not very inexpensive but it offers functionality, durability and has several other properties that add value to it. Cork is a very resilient material and has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. It repels moisture and does not need excessive maintenance. It is not an outdoor material and should be kept away from direct ...
... sunlight and rain. However, it can be used in any home, office or other public places and will look good no matter where it is installed.

Its versatility lies not just in its application options but also in that it can be used as flooring, underlayment, cork wall tile cladding and ceiling covering. Its acoustic properties make it an ideal option for replacing hardwood floors that tend to carry sound. It is ideal for high traffic areas such as kitchens. Glue down floors and floating cork floors are available and the latter are pre-fabricated and pre-coated. They are a little more expensive than the glue-down variety but the installation does not take too much time and it is an ideal DIY option.

A cork wall tile serves different functions. It has thermal and acoustic properties and can be used to sound-proof a room. It can also be used in offices and schools as pin up boards. The tiles are available in different patterns and colors and a creative designer can create hundreds of designs with them. They can also be used in combination with ceramic wall tiles for a unique effect. Wood parquet floor tiles can be interspersed with cork ones and will look equally attractive. You can always check online for designing ideas or have an interior designer help you with them.

You can also pick up some ideas from magazines and create interior spaces that reflect your style. Always buy the densest cork that is available. This will be the best quality and will also be long-lasting. Ensure that you look after and maintain the flooring well and do not let water accumulate or drip on it. Cork floors are either pre-coated or coated with a polyurethane application at the time of installation. This makes them water-resistant and durable as well. However, it is best to keep the cork floor clean and dry and it can last for several decades.

Resource box:

A Cork Wall Tile can be used for various applications. ICork Floor supplies and installs cork Flooring in tile and plank form.