History
Cork flooring is made from the bark harvested from the cork oak, which grows primarily in Western Mediterranean countries. Cork has been used since the ancient Egyptian empire, where it was used primarily used for fishing nets, allowing them to float and insulation. It wasn’t actively manufactured until the early part of the 20th century and became quite popular when it debuted. Cork is highly durable, with many original cork floors installed almost eighty years ago still in use today.
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Advantages of Cork
Cork is more than 50 percent air which makes it lightweight as well as a natural sound absorber, and it is also because of those properties that cork is as resilient and durable as it is. Cork has excellent insulating properties, making it quite warm underfoot, and the cork itself doesn’t dent, scratch or show grooves easily. Since the bark is harvested every nine years, which yields a large batch of cork, and the trees are not damaged in the process allowing trees to yield multiple crops during their lifetime.
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Cork Tile Installation
Cork comes readily available from a variety of manufacturers, and even people with a decent modicum of floor installation knowledge can handle cork and install it with a minimum of complaints. It is always recommended to follow the manufacturer’s instructions if you decide to install it yourself, though we can help by providing a rough outline.
*Read the manufacturer’s installation instructions carefully
*Prep the floor properly. It must be smooth, clean, dry, without bumps, dirt, oil or paint, which could damage the flooring. You can lay cork on a number of different surfaces, including concrete and hardwood. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer for more details.
*Make sure that the cork has had the chance to acclimate to the ambient temperature in the room – we suggest leaving the wood in the room it will be installed in for several days prior to installing it.
*Cork flooring mainly comes in tile form, so you can customize how the tiles look by mixing the types of cork used. Ask your manufacturer if you have questions about the cork tiles you are using.
Removing Cork Floors
Cork is difficult to uninstall, no matter what shortcuts you may take to make the job easier. There are a few things you may want to think about before tearing out your old cork flooring:
*If the tile is firmly attached to the floor and is not coming out easily, you may just want to lay down a new floor over the cork. All you need to do is screw down some masonite or cement board, mud the seams, and install the new flooring on top. This is helpful if you are reflooring your entire house, as the differences in height won’t be apparent.
*When uninstalling cork flooring heat is your best friend. Remove the tile, then scrape any adhesive off the underlay and apply plenty of heat so it will come off easier. If you’re having trouble you can always call your local hardware store and see what tools and materials you need to safely remove your cork flooring.
Maintenance
Cork flooring doesn’t require much in the way of maintenance. The only major upkeep you need to do is sweep it, mop it occasionally, and every year or so resealing it. The best advice we can give for maintenance is to read the manufacturer’s instructions for maintaining your cork.
WHERE TO BUY?
Buy Cork Flooring at Floormall.com
FlooringNow.com recommends that you look at Floormall.com for your cork flooring needs.
They have a monstrous selection and the customer service is superb.
From Wicanders to APC cork floors, they definitely have what you are looking for.
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