Janka Hardness:
Very Soft (what’s this?)
Country of Origin: Portugal
About Cork:
Comprised of a nearly-countless number of individual air-filled cells, cork offers a very unique appearance. Depending upon how the flattened bark is cut, cork can reveal any of a number of distinctive surface designs.
Cork is a renewable and sustainable alternative to traditional wood flooring. The Cork Oak’s bark is harvested every nine years. The tree is unharmed and regenerates after each harvest. In manufacturing cork flooring, the cork material is ground up, urethane binders are added and the cork is subjected to pressure and heat to produced the desired density.
Cork is resilient and durable. It is resistant to wear and has a cushioning feel underfoot. It flexes and absorbs shock. The softness and give of cork flooring protects it from the wear-and-tear and grinding of normal foot traffic, giving it an advantage over harder surfaces such as hardwood floors. If you dent cork, it will likely regain its shape. Cork flooring has a very long life and is easy to repair.
Cork provides thermal and acoustic insulation as a natural consequence of its cellular structure. It is an ideal solution to reducing unwanted noise within a space and between rooms and separate floors. It also maintains an even temperature and is able to prevent heat loss. Cork is a natural thermal insulator because its cells trap air.
Cork is impermeable to liquids and gases and will not degrade with moisture. Cork is anti-allergenic, anti-microbial and resists mildew. Cork neither absorbs dust, nor does it shed fibers or outgas chemicals.
Cork contains a waxy substance called Suberin. Suberin functions as a natural insect repellent. Cork is resistant to over 38 species of insects, including termites. Suberin also repels mold and mites. Suberin also prevents cork from rotting even when completely submerged under water for long periods of time. Suberin also makes cork fire resistant.
A cork floor would be maintained in the same way as a wood floor. It can be swept and lightly mopped with water and a mild cleaner.
Contact us now for a free estimate!
Phone: (877) 525-5393.
Email: sales@kalleyflooring.com
