Cork Floor Information and Options

Picking out your cork floor can get complicated...

When taking installing a cork floor into seriously consideration you'll need to ask yourself a few questions. Do I want a plank or tile cork flooring? Should I put mosaic cork tiles in the bathroom? Should the kids' rooms have colored cork flooring?

Read on and all these questions and more will be answered.

Cork Planks or Tile

Cork floor planks are easy to use because they fit together like puzzle pieces that sit above a sub floor or a preexisting floor. Cork floor planks are best in areas where there will be lots of people walking, but not good for bathrooms or humid places, because moisture will cause the medium-density fiberboard in the cork floor to swell

Cork floor tiles are glued to the sub floor or directly on concrete, and also cork floor tiles can be placed on walls. While cork is not suitable for watery areas, cork floor tiles are probably the best suited for the job if you absolutely have to have cork in the bathroom or the basement.

Solid, Laminate or Mosaic Cork

Now that you have been introduced to the option of a plank or tile cork floor it's time to get more specific. What style do you prefer? Would you like a solid, laminate, or mosaic cork floor? Solid cork floors are cork floor planks made of a ground up cork mixture that is 100 percent cork. A laminate cork floor is a layer of compressed cork on top of a composite material, such as a layer of fiberboard on top of a layer of uncompressed cork, and is good for places that get roughed up by a lot of water like the bathroom or the basement. Then mosaic cork floors are made of pieces of recycled wine corks, which are turned into dicks glued to a kind of backing, which is then installed with grout or mortar.

Size of Cork Granules Matter

If you are the kind of homeowner that obsesses over the fine details when it comes to decorating your abode then the size of the cork granules in your cork tile will matter. By being able to choose the size of the granules within the tile, (whether you want them to be small or fine, or medium or large) you can determine a unique look for the floor that reflects your style and personality.

Natural, Painted or Stained Cork

These are the different colors of cork floors. Natural cork floors are obviously cork floors without any additional pigments added to it. Painted cork floors come are cork floor that come in a variety of colors depending on the manufacturer. Stained cork floors are made to look like hardwood floors, and come in a variety of stains to fit your style.

Maintaining Your Cork Floor

Cleaning up your floor no longer has to be an arduous task when you have a cork floor. It requires minimal maintenance; all you need is your choice of a vacuum, broom, or swiffer, and a damp mop. First remove dust and debris from the floor with a vacuum, broom or swiffer. Then run a damp mop that's been dipped in a mild soap-water mixture.

Why shouldn't you consider cork flooring?

Since cork floors are naturally soft it can be dented easily by furniture, high heels, and dog nails. Liquids can also damage the finish if left to stand for too long, so forget mopping the floors when cleaning. Only cork floors that have been sealed can withstand moisture. Also cork will change color in direct sunlight, and naturally yellows with age.