What is the cost of cork flooring?
Prices range from about $4.00 to $5.00 per square foot for cork tiles and from $3.99 to $6.39 for floating floors. Freight and accessories are extra. Installation costs are usually between $1.50 to $2.50, but many people do it themselves.
Below are more frequently asked questions.
Will my pets damage my cork floors?
This is a question often asked and since we do not have an A.S.T.M. test to prove the performance, what follows is the best response we can provide.
Cork floors are coated with a five coats of UV cured acrylic that could be scratched by the claws of cats and dogs running on the floor. However, because cork "gives under pressure", the surface will be less subject to abrasion than a similarly treated wood floor.
The president of Natural Cork has two dogs and his cork floors still look beautiful after four years. However, he applies the polish twice a year to eliminate any tiny scratches caused by foot traffic and active animals. Remember, for all types of flooring, good maintenance is the key to longevity.
Will cork flooring resist high heels and heavy furniture?
Yes, the cork material used for flooring is very dense and is designed to withstand even commercial traffic.
Parquet tiles and floating floors have been treated with a polyurethane finish to increase durability and allow for easy maintenance.
As for the high heels and furniture, cork has a lot of "memory" and recovers well from compression. Just like any other flooring material, cork flooring can be punctured by sharp edges and sharp feet of furniture. For this reason, we do not recommend dragging heavy objects with a sharp edge over the floor. We also recommend that furniture with sharp or damaged legs have protective pads applied underneath.
The application of an additional coat of polyurethane after installation to seal the floor and proper maintenance using our polish once or twice a year will ensure the longevity and beauty of your floors. For more information refer to How to Maintain a Cork Floor.
Is cork flooring suitable for a kitchen?
Yes, today the main application for cork flooring is in the kitchen. It is very comfortable to stand on for long periods of time, and it is easy to maintain.
Cork is also sound absorbent and hypoallergenic, as you may know. No other flooring material combines all these benefits. When maintained properly, cork floors will last as long as hardwood floors.
After installation of a parquet floor, we recommend application of an additional coat of polyurethane to seal the floor. This will prevent penetration of dirt and water through the joints. While it is not necessary to do this on our floating floor, it can be done to smooth out minor scratches which will enhance the look and feel of the floor.
Copyright © 2006 Joel Hirshberg All rights reserved.
