Green Flooring Las Vegas
This post, about green flooring, will center on cork. Most of us think of cork primarily as stoppers in wine bottles; now it is becoming a new green flooring alternative.
The largest producer of cork oak trees is Portugal and their forests are the most carefully regulated in the world. Cork trees are never cut down; their bark is harvested. When a tree is about 25 years old; they remove about 50% of the bark. The tree is not harmed since the bark will grow back. The typical tree which lives for about 250 years may be harvested as many as 20 times.
The bark is stacked in the forest where it is allowed to cure. The cork is then boiled to make it more pliable and to expand its cells which form a very uniform pattern much like a honeycomb.
Cork has a natural ability to resist rot, insects, and mold, cork flooring is also fire retardant. If cork flooring does burn, it does not give off toxic fumes like other flooring materials.
The colors and styles are numerous; allowing the user to create an environment that matches their individual style. The manufacturers use a micro-bead ceramic oxide technology that is green friendly and exceptionally durable.
Cork flooring can be a great replacement for carpeting for those with allergies. Cork flooring does not absorb dust or pollen, making it easier to rid your home of these potential allergens.
Cork flooring has very good accustical properties reducing echo effects. These properties make cork flooring a great choice for larger bathrooms.
You’ll find that many people prefer the warmer and softer quailites of cork over tile flooring. This works well in kitchens where cork flooring is easier on your feet and more comfortable to stand on for long periods of time.
I have also heard that cork flooring works very well with radiant heating. Here are a couple of natural flooring manufacturers and there website links:
July 10th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Mark, I was wondering about Bamboo, did you write anything to compare the cork and bamboo? Bamboo is fast growing might cost less.. but you have me thinking cork for bedroom…TL
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