The choice of building material for your home should depend on cost, availability, ease of installation and maintenance and sustainability. Using cork wall panels or floating cork floors helps you build your home keeping all these factors in mind, and giving equal importance to your health and well-being and the environment. Cork isn’t only beneficial for you but also for our planet as it can be re-harvested without loss of trees.
Being responsible homeowners
At times we tend to overlook our responsibilities towards the natural resources, with which we are endowed. There is abundance, but with shortage in the foreseeable future. Cork oak tree can be used without harming the tree in any manner. The bark is taken off the tree and it can grow back in time. Oak tree is easily found in Mediterranean regions of Europe, Africa and the United States of America. Harvesting begins when an oak tree is 20 years old. Oak tree plantations are protected by the federal governments and cutting them down is illegal. Even cutting old trees require permission. By using cork you are not just saving the planet’s hardwood resources but also enjoying the many advantages of having cork wall panels or floating floors. Cork does not give off VOC. With no carbon footprint, cork building material make for the healthiest wall and floor materials possible.
Cork enhances aesthetics and saves cost
As a sustainable building material, cork also appeals to the aesthetic senses of the homeowners. As floating floors, cork gives the look of textured hardwood and comes with a soft feel. Its natural and warm colors give an earthy look and feel to the rooms. Both the wall panels and the floating floors will have insulation and acoustic properties which come as a part of the package. There is no need to add anything to the floor or walls to make them so.
Cork is durable and cost effective as well, being available easily. Floating cork floors are to be installed in rooms which have no chances of getting wet. Some other benefits include seamless installation, minimum floor preparation and low fuss material. Some floating floors come with an integrated underlayment. If you wish to add a bit of depth and pattern to the room and make it look as good as new then bringing in a floating floor would be an excellent idea. It can be installed above the old floor, so there will be almost no disturbance to your routine.
The usage of cork in other fields has reduced quite a bit. So, you’ll only be doing your part in saving the cork industry which employs thousands of people in the harvesting regions. Cork is sustainable and recyclable. There are no adverse effects on health and it doesn’t weigh much on your savings to use cork for building your home.
Floating cork floors and cork wall panels can make the room insulated and soundproof, allowing minimum noise to get it. The air pockets in cork give it the insulating and acoustic properties. Cork is thus, safe for the environment and for those who will live and breathe in the rooms.
Having floating cork floors on your existing floor or as a new floor along with cork wall panels makes for safe, eco-friendly and cost effective living.