Cork Flooring
From SBN Members, Palandro LLC:
Want a natural flooring material that is super comfortable, energy efficient and quiet? Consider cork. Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork oak, native to the Mediterranean region. Cork is harvested without killing the tree, making it a highly sustainable product. In fact, flooring cork is actually an industrial byproduct. Scraps from the manufacture of wine corks are ground and combined with binders to create a beautiful, durable surface suitable for home or office applications. Besides being sustainable, cork flooring is:
- Resilient. Cork gives a bit, making it an ideal surface for people who spend time on their feet. Indentations left by furniture will also spring back in time.
- Durable. Even though it’s softer than wood, cork doesn’t dent easily. It’s also crack resistant and impermeable to liquids and gas.
- Insulating. Cork has an R value of 3.00 per inch, three times that of maple or tile. It is comfortable for your feet on chilly mornings, and helps regulate home temperatures in both summer and winter.
- Quiet. Cork is also a great noise insulator, and can dampen the sound between floors of a home.
- Fire resistant. Cork does not burn readily. Even at the extremely high temperatures that make it burn, its fumes are not nearly as toxic as those of synthetic flooring materials.
- Easy. Cork is easy to maintain and refinish.
- Antimicrobial. Cork surfaces are resistant to germs, including Staphylococcus and E. coli bacteria.
- Hypoallergenic. Cork doesn’t promote allergic reactions. Unlike carpet, it repels dust so it’s a cushy surface that’s ideal for environmentally sensitive people and those who simply want to maintain healthy indoor air quality.
Think a cork floor sounds interesting, but are not sure you want your floor to look like a bulletin board? Think again. Cork flooring is available in a wide range of natural and decorator colors and patterns. We invite you to come on in and take a look — we suspect you may be pleasantly surprised at the possibilities!
Stay tuned next week for an introduction to another waste-reducing flooring option.
Featured Supplier: US Floors
http://www.usfloorsllc.com/about-usf/eco-mission/