Cork has a long-lasting history, stretching back thousands of years to Greece and Rome, where it was sometimes used in the soles of sandals, on rooftops, or bottle stoppers. The almost elastic cushioning it provided made walking more comfortable and therapeutic, while the naturally moisture resistant nature of the material worked well as roofing. The ancient Chinese used cork as a float for their fishing line. It's even been applied to insulation uses as a heat shield, in both modern and times past.
Harvested from the Cork Oak tree found and best cultivated in the Mediterranean Coastal areas, Cork stands to be one of the most environmental choices in flooring. As opposed to felling the tree, the bark is hand-stripped from the tree. Enough bark is left for the tree to protect itself, and the rest is set out. This exposure to the elements triggers a chemical reaction to strengthen the bark. The tree promptly grows back its bark over the next nine years – in accordance with the "nine years" law past in the 1930's – and is ready to be harvested again.
Today's Cork Flooring market has jumped with recent developments and concern for the environment. Green products spring out of every industry and flooring is no exception. Along with Bamboo, Cork is a natural choice for the eco-friendly homeowner who wants to do their part to help the planet conservation movements, while still allowing for a beautiful, practical floor. In the past, specifically the seventies and the thirties, Cork flooring became more popular and faded away. But this time, with society's increased awareness for the condition of the ecosystem as a whole, it is sure to be around for good.
Types of Cork Flooring
The environmentally favored Cork flooring has a wide variety of available colors. Natural, green, or even black, cork has the versatility of many different styles to fit into any setting. As with other types of flooring, it comes in many widths, lengths, and thicknesses.
Installation of Cork Flooring
Much akin with bamboo, cork can be floated successfully, or glued down.
