While not a new choice in flooring, natural cork flooring has garnered lots of attention recently as an eco-friendly and versatile option. Cork provides functional, beautiful surfaces that combine functionality, ease of maintenance, beauty, and environmental sensitivity together. If properly maintained, cork flooring can last for over 80 years, even under high traffic. Kemper Carpet is excited to provide this green option to customers!

Durability
Cork flooring is a very durable choice and has been popular for use in public buildings such as court houses, churches, banks and libraries. Cork flooring has a very long life and can be repaired if damaged. The oldest cork floor installation in the US is in a church near Chicago dating from 1898.

Environmental Impact
Even better than a renewable resource, Cork is a Harvested Resource. Only the bark is harvested from the tree once every nine years, leaving no damage to the tree which regenerates new bark. Most cork flooring is actually made from the waste of the cork wine stopper manufacturing process, making cork flooring an earth-friendly recycled product.

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, and Thermal Insulation
Cork reduces the transmission of sound, vibration, and heat by sealing air in the tiny cellular compartments it is composed of. The compartments insulate each from the other with a moisture resistant, waxy-like substance. Cork is 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 (IIC) as well as sound transmission (STC).

Cork is a natural thermal insulator because of the encapsulated cells containing mostly air which trap the surrounding heat from the air or ground. 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. If you walk barefoot on a cork floor the warmth is immediately apparent. In tests it has been shown that there is less heat loss through the feet with a cork floor than with hardwood, vinyl or ceramic floors.

Allergen Reduction
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.

Fire Resistance
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.