What to look for when buying Cork Flooring

Cork flooring is becoming a popular and attractive flooring option that is resilient and durable. An eco-friendly floor covering, it is a luxuriously soft, comfortable and hypoallergenic product that can stand up to the rigors of household traffic.

A renewable resource from Portugal, cork is bark that is harvested every nine years from living cork trees in a way that leaves the trees unharmed, allowing the trees to regenerate. As a floor covering, cork is soft, easy to clean, as durable as wood and is naturally anti-microbial so it will not rot or mildew, making it suitable for areas like your bathroom, kitchen or basement.

You will find different patterning in cork from the least expensive bulletin board style to the better quality style that has elaborate patterns and is more costly. Price is also determined by the size of plank you choose; the standard size is six inches wide by 54 inches long, although, you can buy planks that are as wide as 12 inches but are only three feet long.

The better quality cork flooring has multiple coats of polyurethane or acrylic finish to ensure longevity and durability of the product. Density is another factor that affects the price of cork flooring, with the better quality product having a density rating of 30 pounds of cork per three feet or higher.

Cork flooring can have some variations in color within a production run and, on a completed floor, you may see slight variations of the color you chose. It may be difficult to avoid this situation altogether but you should unpack the flooring when you receive it and inspect the flooring to ensure you are satisfied.

Nealy’s Flooring at 500 Bingemans Centre Dr. in Kitchener offers a selection of quality cork flooring, carpeting, hardwood and bamboo flooring, vinyl, ceramic and natural stone. A family-owned business with more than 30 years of experience in the flooring business, their knowledgeable staff can offer you advice on care and maintenance of your ceramic or natural stone flooring.

For more information, call Nealy’s Flooring at 519-570-0008 or visit their web site.

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