Cork Flooring

Product Description

Accord Cork Flooring is manufactured from high quality imported premium grade cork. Cork flooring gives an excellent look and has a uniform defect free finish.

Cork is the environmentally sound choice for flooring.The cork oak tree is not destroyed and then replanted but rather the bark is trimmed from the tree every 9 years, leaving the tree and the forest undamaged. Its not unusual to have a 200 year old tree still producing cork bark. Cork flooring is actually made from the waste of the cork wine stopper manufacturing process so cork flooring is a recycled product. 

History of Cork 

Cork is harvested from the Cork Oak tree that is grown primarily around the Mediterranean basin. Portugal is the largest producer of cork today. The benefits of cork were known to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians who used it for bottle stoppers for olive oil and wine, floats for fishing nets, sandals, insulation on shipping vessels and even roofing in Northern Africa. By the 1300s, cork was a major export of Portugal and royal decrees established regulations over the harvesting and protection of this valuable national resource. In the 1930s, the "9 Year" law was passed which forbid the harvesting of cork bark at any interval less than 9 years. Harvesting of virgin growth cork trees is outlawed until the trees reach 60 centimeters in circumference. Cork bark is still harvested from the tree in a centuries old tradition with hand tools. 



Natural Benefits of Cork 

Most of the benefits of cork are derived from its specialized cellular structure. Cork has a honeycomb cellular structure and each cubic centimeter contains roughly 40 million hexagonal cells. The cork tissue is nearly 85% comprised of an air-like gas that makes the material very lightweight and low density.

Durability

Cork flooring is a very durable choice. Its been popular for use in public buildings such as court houses, churches, banks and libraries. The softness and give of the floor causes less of a grinding action to occur with normal foot traffic than on harder surfaces such as hardwood floors. Cork flooring has a very long life and can be repaired if damaged.

Softness

The air contained in the millions of cork cells provides a cushioned feel underfoot. It is not so soft that it feels spongy, but it does provide noticeable relief for those who stand on their feet for many hours. Whether standing on your feet at work all day, working in your kitchen, or if you have small children that play on the floor, you'll appreciate the soft quality of cork floors. 

Sound & Vibration Reduction

Cork reduces the transmission of sound, vibration, heat and thus is a great insulator. The tiny cellular compartments seal air in each compartment insulating each from the other with a moisture resistant, waxy-like substance. This makes cork a great material for recording studios, entertainment rooms, and any other places where sound needs to be reduced. Cork has long been used in commercial buildings between floors and on roofs under heavy machinery for sound and vibration reduction. Cork reduces impact sound  as well as sound transmission. 

Thermal Insulation

Cork reduces heat loss in rooms and even body heat loss through the feet. Cork naturally maintains a comfortable median temperature, never getting very hot or very cool. Walk barefoot on a cork floor and the warmth is immediately apparent. In tests its been shown that less heat is lost through the feet with a cork floor than with vinyl or ceramic  floors. Cork is a natural thermal insulator because of the encapsulated cells containing mostly air. 

Anti-Allergenic and Insect Resistant

Bugs, mold, mites and even termites are repelled by cork due to a naturally occurring substance in cork called Suberin. This waxy substance also prevents cork from rotting even when completely submerged under water for long periods of time. 

Easy Installation

Accord cork tiles are pre-finished and pre-glued. This means that your flooring installer will spend far less time installing your floor and if you like to tackle home improvement projects, you can do this job yourself. Accord Cork tiles have a micro beveled edge that allows tiles to expand and contract as all natural products do without the edges of a tile peaking above another. 

Elasticity

Cork cell membranes are very flexible allowing cork to be both compressible and elastic. When cork is subjected to pressure or heavy weights, the air in the cells is compressed. An example would be when a cork stopper is pressed into a bottle opening. Once the pressure is released (or in the example, the cork is removed from the bottle), cork returns to its original shape. In cork flooring, this means that although its possible to make a dent in cork with a heavy object or high-heeled shoes, the cork will recover to its original shape.

Fire Resistant

The natural waxy substance Suberin makes cork a natural fire inhibitor. Cork is fire resistant and also does not release any toxic gases on combustion.