Cork flooring is an increasingly popular material with many people, as it offers a wide range of attributes and qualities that make it a suitable choice for the modern home.
One key feature of cork is that it is a sustainable and renewable material. It comes from the bark of the cork tree, which re-grows and can be repeatedly harvested, in contrast with normal wood products which can only be sourced by killing the tree through felling.
In addition to this, cork can be recycled, with this being achieved by re-using material from bottle stoppers, the most traditional use of the material.
As a flooring material, cork is resistant to spills and stains which makes it ideal for use in the kitchen and bathroom, as well as having notable soundproofing qualities and being able to withstand fire.
It is also softer than other materials and as such can offer the comfort for feet that few other surfaces can offer, while not providing a potential home for bugs that can live in carpets and spark allergies. Cork flooring is available in a variety of shades, colours and styles, offering plenty of choice for buyers.
Cork Floor Tiles
Cork floor tiles are a golden to mid-brown in their natural colour, but the products available are much more varied than this, with a number of different shades, patterns and styles available.
These can vary from pitch black to dark brown, pink to brick red, grey to olive. As well as a number of familiar natural cork textures, products are available in leather patterns, while buyers also have a choice between smooth and lacquered finishes, or unfinished. Those possessing a lacquered coat have extra scratch resistance as a result.
Manufactured by Florence, the products come with different levels of built-in durability, with warranties of ten years, 20 years and a lifetime all being available. Thickness varies from 4 mm to 10.5 mm, while the tiles are either 300 mm or 194 mm wide.
All the products come with click system or full stick down installation. The first of those two categories applies to engineered floors.
Florence Cork Flooring
Florence is a maker of various flooring products sold through UK Flooring Direct, which also include solid wood and engineered wood products.
There is also a wide range of Florence cork flooring items that demonstrate the diversity of the offerings provided by this manufacturer. These come in a range of different colours, including red, pink, black, grey, dark olive and more traditional light brown shades. Some of the patterns are a natural grainy or patchy pattern, while there are also leather-effect surfaces. Further choice is offered in terms of the finishes provided, with smooth, lacquered and unfinished being available.
Buyers looking to pick a cork floor product can also choose between stick-down installation flooring, or engineered tiles available with click system installation. Tile sizes vary between 194 mm and 300 mm in width, while the thickness varies from 4 mm to 10.5 mm. Thicker tiles have longer warranties of 20 years or even a lifetime guarantee, while the thinner ones come with ten years of cover.
