Cork tile flooring is similar to floorboard but with additional benefits such as insulation against noise and temperature. Cork tile flooring is considered the perfect flooring solution because it is easy to maintain, pleasing to the eye, comfortable to walk on, soft and warm, keeps the noise out, insulates against temperature, and yet is rough and tough.
Cork tile flooring comes in a variety of hues from natural browns and beiges to greens, reds, and even black. These multi-faceted tiles come with their own unique speckles and whorls and blend in easily with the décor, no matter what the type.
Cork tile flooring was used in the old times but is now making a major reappearance not only because it is fashionable, but also because it is an environmentally friendly product that doesn’t require the cutting of trees. The bark is harvested once every nine years in accordance with strict harvesting standards, giving the trees time to regenerate themselves, when they will be ready for harvest again.
Cork tile flooring has all the benefits of natural cork products: resilient, anti-static, sound absorbing, water resistant, insulating, and anti-allergenic.
Cork tiles can be used in any room of the house or office. They are a favorite choice in sound recording studios because they support acoustical excellence and prevent an echo. Cork tile flooring is also resistant to friction and, therefore, long lasting; it provides the soft underfoot and insulation against heat and cold. The flooring is capable of “impact sound reduction” and “sound transmission reduction”. Cork floor tiles are priced in the same range as hardwood.
There are two types of tiles in popular usage these days. One is the “glue down” tile, which is the standard type, usually twelve square inches and four millimeters thick. They are available is bigger sizes, with or without beveled edges and in an array of shapes to chose from.
The second type of cork floor plan is the “floating cork floor plank”. These tiles are similar to laminated wood flooring planks. The former consists of a cork base that is typically two millimeters thick, MDF fiberboard at the core and a three-millimeter cork surface layer in a range of patterns. These tiles are bought pre-finished with three coats of UV-protected polyurethane. The installation procedure is the same as that of a laminate floor. The choice of glue used in the installation is of utmost importance. Cork tiles expand and contract with changes in humidity. The soft and flexible nature of cork does not require a flexible adhesive, but a strong one, which will ensure that a permanent bond is created.
