Tuesday, 1 February 2011

The Durability and Strength of Cork Floors

For some reason when consumers think of cork they think of a weak material. However, cork is far from a weak material. The best example to give is a cork wine or champagne stopper. These cork stoppers can last hundreds of years and keep the contents of their bottle flawless when properly cared for. This is why you should give cork a consideration for your flooring solution. Cork flooring is a durable, strong flooring material that will benefit every homeowner in virtually every room in your household; including the basement and bathroom.

You might be thinking, "How can cork be durable?", will it all comes down to the chemical and cellular make-up of cork material. Naturally cork contains a chemical called suberin; this waxy substance helps prevent moisture, mold, mildew and pests in the wild. Suberin is a key chemical in making cork flooring a durable product. Another key thing cork has is its cellular structure. Millions of tiny honey combs, per square centimeter make up corks cellular structure. Inside each of these combs is trapped air; around 90% of the volume is this trapped air. This allows cork to be compressed by as much as 40% without damage and allows it to return to its normal shape.

The same cellular structure we mention in the paragraph above also allows cork floors to be quite comfortable. Odd isn't, that you can have a strong durable wood-based floor that is comfortable? The trick is that cork isn't really wood, instead it's bark. It's the bark of the cork oak tree. A fact that shouldn't be forgotten is that behind its durability and comfort it's also eco-friendly. That's right; it's a sustainable natural resource due to the process of how the bark is harvested from the cork oak tree. So, not only will you have a strong, durable flooring product you'll also be helping the planet.

It's a good idea to visit a vendor's showroom that has a live example of cork flooring. This allows you to get an idea of how comfortable, durable and strong cork can be. Honestly, no article can give you that experience, so when you get a chance locate a vendor that sells cork floors and give their showroom a visit. If you need help locating a vendor or what more information on this amazing product then just follow the links below. We hope this article helped you learn more about cork and the value it can have in your home and for the environment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brighton_Early

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