Comfort Cork Flooring? Advantages and Disadvantages
Cork flooring is a type of flooring designed from cork bark that comes from cork oak trees (Quercus suber). The wood from the trees, when used in wine cork production, dispatches away unwanted materials. These materials are then grounded up, bonded with resin and pressed into sheets, planks and tiles. Lastly, cork flooring is one of the most eco-friendly flooring around the market.
Suberin, a natural substance in cork acts as a mold inhibitor and prevents cork flooring from damage. It comes with natural insulation properties which help in reducing energy costs and expenditures. These types of floors are fire-resistant and don’t release any toxic gas or chemicals during combustion. It is a durable material when properly maintained.
Advantages of Cork Flooring
- The use of cork in flooring does not harm trees.
- It can be used over radiant heat systems.
- These flooring systems can be installed like regular ceramic or glass mosaic tile.
- It can be installed on uneven surfaces.
- Cork flooring can be installed over existing flooring systems, such as wood or linoleum.
- Excellent material to be used on retrofitted buildings.
- It can also be used as an underlayment covering for ceramic, wood or stone.
- This flooring offers premium sound attenuation characteristics.
- It offers a simple and easy installation process.
- It offers great performance under heavy furnishings.
Disadvantages of Cork Flooring
- This flooring system comes with a limited palette of colors to choose from.
- It needs regular maintenance (sealing, etc.).
- There are a lot of carbon emissions during cork transportation.
- Sharp objects can punctuate or damage this surface.
- It offers higher costs than traditional flooring materials.
What is cork underlayment?
This type of flooring goes between your subfloor and your finished surface. The layers combine together to form a tough and long-lasting flooring area. As far as subflooring is concerned, it’s the base that your finished floor rests on, which is usually made of concrete, plywood or other similar products. The underlayment is usually soft and sound-dampening that actually increases the comfort of your floor.
It is a great solution for adding some safety to cemented subfloors or removing minor imperfections. Laying cork sheets under stone, hardwood, or tile infuses your flooring with all the advantages that it brings about. It is also easy to install and does not expand in contact with water or in high humidity conditions. Other advantages of cork underlayment include reduction in cracks, acoustic insulation and a comfortable walking space.
Different Types of Cork Flooring Systems
Cork flooring is available in different forms, made from pieces of cork or granulated cork mixed with resin binders. The primitive cork flooring consists of solid cork tiles that are applied with glue, just like vinyl tiles. Another form is laminated planks, which consists of a layer of compressed cork, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or high-density fiberboard (HDF) and a top layer made up of cork.
Additional benefits of cork
Cork, as used in flooring, comes with various other features, such as:
- Antimicrobial
- Hypoallergenic
- Frictional Quality
- Resistant to Moisture and Liquid Penetration
- Impact-Resistant
- Aesthetically versatile
Conclusion
Cork underlayment and flooring is an optimum option for budget-friendly individuals and those who want a long-lasting and durable base for their homes or offices. It comes with various advantages, like noise reduction capability, impact-resistance, high traction and moisture-repellant. However, there are some disadvantages attached to this material, including regular maintenance and high costs.
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