Bring nature into your home with cork flooring
When thinking of a sustainable finish to your house, does flooring ever cross your mind? What? An eco-friendly floor? Yes! Turns out that cork isn’t just great for wine bottles - it can be used as an environmentally friendly option for your floor.
Why use cork flooring?
Cork flooring has existed for over 100 years. Its usage spiked in the 60s and 70s, but then declined. Today, it’s seeing a rise in popularity again due to its many wonderful benefits.
Cork comes from the outer layer of the cork oak tree, primarily grown in the sunny climates of southwestern Europe into northwestern Africa. Cork oak is unique as its bark is able to regenerate itself after being harvested, without the need to cut down the tree. The cork oak also has the capacity to retain carbon, and a harvested tree contains up to five times more carbon than an unharvested tree.
If being a naturally sustainable product isn’t enough to convince you, here are more reasons you should use cork flooring:
✔️ Soft surface
Cork is soft and flexible, and is perfect for rooms where you will be standing for long periods of time, such as the kitchen (this also means glasses will have less chance of shattering if they’re dropped!). It is also a popular choice for children’s rooms, as it provides protection for falls.
✔️ Great insulator for sound and heat
Cork is made up of millions of air pockets, which block out noise. Having cork on the floor will insulate a room and prevent noise escaping through the floor down through the ceiling below. You’ll also save money on heating and cooling, as its insulating features allow it to retain heat during the colder months, and keep the heat out during summer.
✔️ It is very hygienic
Carpets tend to get filled with dust, hair and specks of dirt. This can cause problems for people with allergies. With cork flooring, there’s no need to worry as the material repels all of these. It also repels insects, mold and mildew due to a waxy substance called suberin. It is also much easier to clean than carpets.
✔️ It is easy to maintain
Cork flooring is easy to keep clean, and only needs sweeping or vacuuming to remove dirt. It is impermeable to liquids and only needs a quick wipe for spills.
Cost
With all these great features, you would think that cork flooring has a high price tag attached to it. The good news is, it doesn’t! Cork flooring is comparable in price to other flooring options such as laminate, hardwood and vinyl. Depending on the style and design, you can expect to pay anything between £13 and £50 per m².
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Puretree is one of the top retailers of cork products in the UK. A family run business based in Devon, they offer a wide range of cork products for all types of interiors. They work closely with designers to create stylish cork flooring, walls and fabrics.
For more information visit Puretree Cork here: https://puretreecork.com/
