7 Reasons Why Cork Flooring Reviews Favor This Eco-Friendly Floor Installation

We are all becoming more aware of caring for our environment. Cork flooring reviews point to the latest floating ranges as a more eco-friendly DIY installation for your home. Due to innovative manufacturing techniques, this kind of home improvement has turned into a boon for the handyman.

Installation is relatively easy, even for a novice. You may not even need to purchase a separate underlayment.

Let's take a look at 7 reasons why natural cork floor coverings have become so popular among the DIY crowd.

1. Eco-Friendly Floors

During manufacturing, bark from the cork oak tree is used. Once harvested, it is ground and processed into sheets. These are then kiln baked to produce the flooring tiles. This type of floor covering can be used in homes and light commercial settings such as offices.

This is a highly regulated industry. Regulations require that a tree must be at least 25 years before it can be harvested. The tree isn't negatively impacted by the harvesting. The bark grows back in time, making for a renewable flooring source. This is why it is seen as an eco-friendly or 'green' interior design solution.

2. Durable And Resilient

Judging by cork flooring reviews, this kind of floor is comparatively resilient when it comes to impact. The cellular nature means that it contains microscopic air pockets. This creates a 'memory' in a sense that allows the surface to go back to its original state after impact or pressure. This also makes it a suitable choice if you have pets in your home, although you still have to make sure that you keep their nails short.

3. Family Friendly

Moisture Resistant: Cork contains a waxy substance called suberin. This is the secret behind the excellent moisture resistance of floating cork flooring. In spite of this, it is still safer not to let fluids stand on your new floor. Rather clean any spills immediately.

Insect Resistant: The waxy suberin also allows these surfaces to be highly resistant to insect infestation and molds and mildew. Many cork flooring reviews also mention that, if your kids suffer from allergies, changing from carpeting to cork may be beneficial.

Impact Resistant: The air pockets act as shock absorbers in a sense, facilitating excellent cushioning. This gives it a good level of impact resistance. The cushioning may also offer some measure of protection when, for instance, an elderly person falls on one of these floors.

Warm: The air pockets or cellular structure also traps warmth. This means that a floating cork floor will be more comfortable and warmer underfoot than many of the other options, such as laminates or vinyl.

Absorbs Sound Well: Again, due to the cellular structure, sound is absorbed remarkably well. Cork flooring reviews note that you won't get the hollow sound that is associated with laminates. This is very useful in areas where echoes can be a problem, such as in a hallway.

4. DIY Installation

The new floating cork floors come with locking systems such as Uniclic for easy DIY installation. This gives you access to planks that are installed in much the same way as a laminate floor.

As long as the sub floor is dry, clean and level, you should have very few problems. These ranges are usually not recommended for use in a basements, due to excessive moisture levels. Cork can be installed over surfaces such as tile, wood and concrete, but check with your supplier to be safe. Some brands come with a cork underlayment already attached, allowing you to use only a moisture barrier. In other cases, you may still have to purchase an underlayment.

5. Fairly Low-Maintenance

This is seen as a fairly low-maintenance option. Day to day dirt can be taken care of with a soft broom. Once a week or so, a quick wipe with a very slightly damp mop should be enough. Never use a wet mop. Clean spills immediately by blotting with a sponge or paper towel, before drying the floor with a mop. Never use harsh or abrasive cleaners.

6. Interesting Color Variations

The interesting color variations offered add to the popularity of these collections. No two floors will look exactly alike, due to natural diversity. Shading can stretch from a rich golden yellow to a darker nutty brown. You also get variety with the speckled patterning. If you are looking for creativity in your decor, this is one way of achieving your goal, according to cork flooring reviews.

7. Good Warranties

If you give your floor covering some tender loving care and use a touch of common sense, you should have the pleasure of a great looking floor for many years to come. Many of these ranges come with warranties of between 25 and 35 years.

The drawbacks of these floors include the more limited color options, compared to laminates, as well as the fact that the floor may need to be re-sealed from time to time. When you make your purchase, make sure that you get a product that has been sealed with something like a high quality UV varnish to give added durability.

Cork flooring prices may be a bit higher than that of vinyl, but you can easily get a wholesale deal if you know where to go.

If you can't afford to install a wood floor and would like to do your bit for the environment, cork flooring reviews claim that these collections can be a sensible second choice.

12mm Laminate Flooring - Durability With a Hardwood Look

There are numerous pluses to laminate flooring, including being water resistant (a customer favorite). One of the offers you can get for durability and resistance to moisture is 12-millimeter laminate flooring. The general rule of thumb for flooring is the thicker the core, the more resistant the material seems to become. Flooring, especially laminate, should be at least 12mm thick and be impregnated with water repelling chemicals even at the joints. This would save the day in case of accidental spills in the kitchen or bathroom. Very often there is a correlation between the terms of the warranty and the quality of the product, so be sure to consider this when making your choice.

Besides, when walking on a laminate floor that's 12mm thick, you won't notice the difference in sound after first having walked on a 6mm floor, for instance. The trick is that the thicker the core, the more your floor will sound like genuine hardwood. While everyone loves hardwood flooring, it is simply too expensive for some people. The 12mm laminate floor looks like real hardwood color - and finish-wise which can trick anyone into thinking it's genuine.

Most laminate flooring on the market is within the thickness range of 6mm to 8mm. The locking system of 12mm laminate is heavier and will ensure your floor will hold up. Additionally, the 12mm floor can be placed on any type of surface. On the contrary, using thin laminate hardwood flooring is more difficult and time consuming to lay than thicker laminate hardwood.

All in all, a 12 millimeter laminate floor presents advantages over thinner laminate in that it is more water and swelling resistant, it carries longer warranty, it fools not only the eye but also the ear in resemblance to hardwood, it has a more reliable locking system and can cover almost any kind of surface to meet your needs. Choose the 12mm laminate flooring as the experts suggest and you can get up to 25 years warranty for your new floor.

Clean and Green - The Bamboo Way

For that look that which is sure to grab the attention of many a one visitors to the house is the appearance and the kind of floor. Among a large variety of floors, bamboo flooring is one the most wanted and appreciated. The utmost significant part of any house interior is the floor as they form the integral part which in turn helps focus upon the makeup of the house.

When any topic of "bamboo" is in progress, the first and immediate picture that comes to one's mind is the rough and irregular surface which is generally thought not appealing to the eyes. But contrary to that view, bamboo flooring has the distinct advantage of being cent percent environmental friendly and which also helps in beautifying the surroundings. When the bamboo flooring is laid they radiate the aura of being in a natural exotic state and the resulting appearance is outright authentic.

As a result of the various technical developments made in the wood industry, bamboo canes can be processed into several straight and smooth floor strips with an excellent finish. Various industrial processes have given scope for the bamboo floors to come with ultra refined smooth finish and with high resolution. Therefore, most of the people insist upon the bamboo flooring which adds class to the decor of the house.

Bamboo flooring's are commonly available in planks, tiles and laminated short strips. What's more, they are sure to last for a long time, the image they portray is mind-blowing and astounding as they can be easily laid due to their length. But, adequate precaution and care has to be taken to ensure proper snug fitting of the strips during the laying process. Once the installation procedure is over, it will definitely be a sight to behold for a long period.

Keeping in tune with the changing times, most people are now anxious to give that "clean and green" appearance to their houses. They also prefer that the accessories and the interiors should compliment each other. The answer towards installation of a flooring which is an assortment of colors and styles, bamboo flooring is the right choice.

When decided upon having bamboo flooring, the best idea is to have a sample sent to identify the hues and the contrasts before purchasing the entire lot. Bamboo flooring is generally available with most of the online outlets which sell conventional floors. We are sure to find various agencies which are often caught up in their concern to sell their bamboo flooring to customers while flooring come in various types and varieties.

The value of your house is sure to appreciate, while it also ensures the house in getting a get good market as the age also increases. Among the bamboo flooring, one can be assured to find among the various brands available which provide various colors and styles. Some of the brand names to choose from are the Envirochoice, Panda Lumber, Springwood, Westhollow and the Bamboo Garden.