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08-19-2008 at 11:09 AM
infiniteblisstk
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infiniteblisstk is not online. Last active: 12-03-2008, 10:44 AMNewbie

Cork Flooring anyone?

I've been mostly a lurker on this and other knot and nest boards for quite a while... Now I feel I really have something worth posting!!!

We're trying to figure out what to redo our floors with, throughout the house.

 We're in Florida house is greatroom plan, 6 years old right now just carpet over the concrete slab.  We have three small dogs and a kitty.  The overall decor inside is simple with very slight hints of asian accents.  The exterior
is pretty plain too, stucco. 

I know Hardwood is a 'safe' investment but it would have to have minimal grain and minimal seams.  I hate all the 'lines' between the planks.  Same goes for ceramic tile, grout would basically have to be invisible.

So now we are toying with the idea of cork, uniform random pattern, no 'grout' lines, eco-friendly.  However and FINALLY here is my real dilemma:

 I have not found any definitive info on the web or from other folks
as to whether or not the cork will hold up with our busy household.

Does anyone have any experience living with Cork flooring???

Good, bad ugly, or even just shared research info!

We'd much appreciate it.

Thanks so much,
TK

09.24.06

 
 
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08-19-2008 at 11:18 AM
derky17
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Greensboro, NC
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derky17 is not online. Last active: 12-04-2008, 11:50 AMBronze
Good question, but unfortunately I have no answers.  I posted a ? yesterday and someone suggested the cork flooring.  Perhaps she will respond with some info!
Let's play hide and seek in mama's dresser!
 
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08-19-2008 at 11:29 AM
HikerBride07
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HikerBride07 is not online. Last active: 12-04-2008, 4:52 PMNewbie

I don't have any personal experience w/cork flooring but I've done some research on my own because I'm interested in it too.  There are various grades of cork so the quality will be dependent on the grade.  Also, it isn't typically good for use in high traffic areas like the kitchen or a foyer/hallway.

If you do decide to use it, I'd love for you to post a followup with your impressions and experience.  And pictures of course.


"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all"

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08-19-2008 at 11:53 AM
Chrissymarie98
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Joined on 12-05-2007
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Chrissymarie98 is not online. Last active: 12-04-2008, 6:45 PMSilver
ive never heard of this. is this a new eco friendly trend?
We've set the date!
We're getting married on October 24th, 2009!!!









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08-19-2008 at 12:00 PM
infiniteblisstk
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infiniteblisstk is not online. Last active: 12-03-2008, 10:44 AMNewbie

Yes it is VERY eco-friendly because it can be harvested from the tree bark I think it's an average of every 7 years.  It only peels off the bark, which does not hurt the tree (so I've read!) instead of cutting the tree down like hardwood or even the 'hardwood' part of engineered.

Even bamboo flooring the 'tree' is cut down.

 Take a look!
http://www.corkflooring.com/natural.cfm

Plus I personally like the cork because it has a more random non -patterny look.

TK
 
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08-19-2008 at 12:00 PM
derky17
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derky17 is not online. Last active: 12-04-2008, 11:50 AMBronze

Chrissymarie98:
ive never heard of this. is this a new eco friendly trend?

The OP mentioned that this is a more eco-friendly option, however, when I worked in a wine bar, I read that many wine manus are moving towards synthetic corks because real cork was being over-harvested and that the supply was going to run out.  I wonder if that was just hype, or if this is a pseudo eco-friendly option (much like the hybrid cars who's hybrid cells are uber-pollutant to produce and then uber-deadly to the environment once they get replaced every 4-5 years...)
Let's play hide and seek in mama's dresser!
 
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08-19-2008 at 12:08 PM
infiniteblisstk
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infiniteblisstk is not online. Last active: 12-03-2008, 10:44 AMNewbie

Chrissymarie,

Thank you for the info about the overharvesting for wine corks.

It seems overall that anything we do unless it is truly reclaimed/reused
has some not so good points!  UGH!!!!

:  )

TK
 
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08-19-2008 at 12:12 PM
jennifer&aaron
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Joined on 11-27-2007
Pennsylvania
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jennifer&aaron is not online. Last active: 12-04-2008, 2:22 PMNewbie

I have cork flooring in my kitchen and love it!  We decided on cork over hardwood because we couldnt match the original hardwood in the rest of the house and it's way more forgiving and comfy on your feet than ceramic.  There are a few different grades of cork flooring - we have the mid-grade, which is great for high traffic areas like a kitchen.  There has not been any scratching or denting at all.  Even moving the appliances back in didnt affect the floor at all..we were so amazed!  Our floor is so easy to clean up - I vacuum it regularly, but for a good cleaning it's so easy to just wipe down.   Also, cork floors are naturally resistant to bacteria and water.  And yes, cork is a very "green" product because they harvest the bark from the tree every 9 years so they never have to cut down a tree.  If you have any questions, please feel free to page me.  PIB of the floor and the brand is Wicanders...check out their website for more info   http://www.wicanders.com/





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