Flooring Styles

Keeping In The Warmth

One of the most important things to consider when buying flooring of any type is how much insulation the flooring will actually provide, something which can be even more important if the house is located in a cold area, perhaps where there is snow in the winter. For this reason, many people are taking a look at floating laminate flooring, especially the cork types since it provides great insulation, is fairly inexpensive and can be installed in many locations around the house, including the kitchen and the basement, where insulated flooring types are very important.

As the name implies, floating cork flooring is not fixed directly to the sub floor, which makes it ideal in situations where the sub floor is concrete or possibly prone to damp and moisture in any way. And cork flooring is also a great sound insulator, which is an added but important benefit.

Cork flooring is generally available in strips or tiles, which makes it very quick to install in most cases, though if the floor is to be fitted to battens above the floor there will need to be some preliminary work carried out. This type of floor can be a great choice for the bedroom, since it will cut down on the noise of footsteps. But it can also be installed on top of a traditional hardwood floor since it will give both heat and sound insulation.

The main benefits apart from this are the fact that cork tiles can transform the look of a room without having to go to the trouble of taking out a pre-existing floor. Cork tiles can be laid over wood, concrete and most other materials except carpet. Cork tile designs are varied and can mimic styles such as stone or ceramic tiles but without having the cold feel. Wood designs are also common, with the cork looking like light woods such as pine and cedar, and even having a wood grain effect. One added benefit is that cork tiles are hypoallergenic, something that can be great for those with allergies. Natural cork tiles are naturally free from chemicals and so offer a very clean solution to flooring needs.

When it comes to the installation, cork is easy to lay down, and can usually be done on a DIY basis. Many cork tiles are glueless, with a snap together mechanism to make installation easy and quick. However, glue-down tiles are till common. You also do need to remember that fitting a cork floor in a large room will need an expansion gap so that any movement in the floor tiles will not cause any damage. If cork planks are used, the average size is 10-inches wide and 30-inches long, with 26-inches long also being available. A depth of �-inch is usual, as is 5/8-inch.

Some of the more common cork flooring colors and styles include earth color, sandy and pyramid. Most of these are a solid cork tile, square and glue down. A semi gloss surface with an acrylic varnish is standard with these tiles, which are 12-inch x 12-inch size and usually 8mm (0.19-inch) thick. No matter which type of tiles are chosen, a natural cork underlayment, usually of about 6mm, is recommended for extra sound insulation.

A good choice can be Cleopatra floating cork plank flooring by Duro Design, and interlocking cork floor that can be used in both commercial or residential areas. Also consider WE cork floating floors, a matte varnish floor installed by a click system.

Whether you want cork flooring for the living areas such as the lounge or the cooking or play areas such as the kitchen and the basement, there are a huge range of styles and colors to choose from. Take a look at some of the many flooring suppliers to get a real feel for what is available before making your choice.