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cork underlay and cork floors requirements. ">Cork is ideal as a wall covering material and perfect for floors too. It looks attractive, has endurance worthy of champions, and is equitably priced. Also as a result of its unique cellular structure, it is warm and comfortable to walk on too. Add to those outstanding qualities the fact that cork is also ecologically friendly and you’ve got the best in its field. Construction of Cork Tile The bark of the cork oak tree is used for manufacturing cork tile. Pared off in sheets using only hand tools, the bark is thick and spongy. This harvesting is done carefully so that the trees are not injured or damaged in any way. After the bark is removed, the tree is left to regenerate a new layer of bark, a process that usually takes 9-12 years. Because the tree is not injured or killed and because it is capable of re-growing new bark, cork is essentially a renewable and ecologically friendly resource. The bark is first used to produce cork stoppers for wine. These stoppers are punched off the bark as is. The remaining material is ground up into granules to be used to produce the tiles or sheets. An approximate amount of adhesive is mixed together with the granules before being subjected to tremendous pressure presses. The sheets are then cut into tiles of the desired shape and size. This is the basic process of production. To achieve the different colors and looks the granules are often heated or charred. This process caramelizes the natural sugars that are in the tiles and imparts a darker color. Another process used includes blending together different proportions of darker shades of granules with tan colored and natural colored granules. Mixing and matching these processes allows for a variety of qualities, colors and designs. Maintaining Cork Floor With proper maintenance, cork flooring will look as good as new for many years to come. A regular up keep schedule includes simple weekly vacuuming or sweeping followed by mopping with a slightly damp mop. Avoid abrasive cleaners, waxes or oils as they can damage the surface of the floor and cause a dull sheen. Check the wear and tear of the cork surface every few months. Take special care with high traffic areas to confirm that they are not overly worn down. Meticulous care needs to be taken when you are moving heavy objects such as a sofa, dining table or refrigerator over flooring made of cork. Dragging such heavy objects on the surface will scuff the veneer irreparably. The most damage-resistant procedure to move these heavy objects is to lift it up from the old location and place it down gently in the new location. If it is impossible to lift, place a thick cardboard or a mat under the object and then drag it along slowly and gently. Typically, a cork floor should be re-varnished once every two years to four years. If your floor is in a high traffic area we suggest every two years to keep it looking and feeling great. You can even re-varnish only high traffic areas that may have worn more if the other areas are still in great condition. When re-varnishing your flooring, make sure to purchase the appropriate kit. These kits should be easily available from any distributor that sells cork floors. The kit should include everything you need for the job, from applicator and polyurethane, to the urethane protector and touch-up stain. Do not use any product that has not been specifically designed for cork floors as it can cause irreparable damage. Resource box: iCork Floor offers a selection of cork products that are environmental friendly. Contact them for your cork underlay and cork floors requirements.
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