Thanks much, Jason, for this thoughtful response.<br><br>I'm now leaning toward exploring solid, glue-down cork. I've seen too much moisture damage to fiberboard to risk the fiberboard-core planks, and it's clear that they detract from the green quotient.<br>
<br>Tile is way too cold and hard for our taste, but locally grown hardwood would be a viable alternative.<br><br>George<br><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Nov 4, 2012 at 9:55 PM, Jason Holstine <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jason@amicusgreen.com" target="_blank">jason@amicusgreen.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<font face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt">There are still some “Solid” corks that are glue-down, but they are dwindling. Most corks are going the way of the entire flooring industry as click-lock tongue-and-groove planks, which have veneer finishes on them. This will come (or should) as no surprise: some lines are better and more durable than others. Some still use formaldehyde while others are form-free. Some use better finishes than others. But the bottom line considerations to remember with cork:<br>
</span></font><ul><li><font face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt">original cork comes from Portugal and has very high sustainability ratings. Some cheap lines now come from China and are crap (technical term).
</span></font></li><li><font face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt">simply keep in mind cork’s advantages: soft, energy absorbing (helps the joints), warm...like no other flooring surface. Very durable but does patina and could show age quicker than other hard surface floors. If you like its advantages, you’ll love cork. If you want bomb-proof, especially with very high traffic, big dogs, etc., and you’re nervous it, give your nerves a break and consider other than cork....go right to ceramic/porcelain tile. Of course, it has the opposite attributes. If you like its advantages, you’ll love it.
</span></font></li><li><font face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt">cork naturally fades in sunlight. <br>
</span></font></li></ul><font face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt"><br>
Cork is most popular in kitchens, plus playrooms, and theatres (excellent sound attenuation), b/c of the comfort.<br>
<br>
In terms of getting wet: cork is tree bark, it can get wet. But water getting in and underneath, and getting stuck, could be a problem. But that’s no unique to cork. So a bit of a moot point.<br>
<br>
Here’s another twist: It turns out it depends on who you are and what your experiences and eyes tell you. (shocking, I know). Just yesterday had a designer come in to our (all-highly-green) showroom and talk about how she’s had wonderful experiences with cork and can walk on it with stiletto heals just fine, but she had a bad experience with Caribbean Walnut poked by stiletto heals—since it’s a hard tropical wood that’s surprising. <br>
<br>
HTH, J<br>
<br>
<br>
On 11/2/12 1:16 PM, "Benjamin Pratt" <<a href="http://benjamin.g.pratt@gmail.com" target="_blank">benjamin.g.pratt@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
</span></font><blockquote><font><font face="Consolas, Courier New, Courier"><span style="font-size:10pt">The cork flooring I've seen in home centers, is a veeneer of cork,<br>
with everything below it being the same as any other floor system<br>
(mostly particle board). I'm sure some manufacturers use more<br>
sustainable practices than others, but that fact that the floor is<br>
(partly) made of cork does not necessary make it more green.<br>
Just one opinion,<br>
Ben<br>
<br>
On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 11:43 AM, George Tremblay <<a href="http://gtremblay@antioch.edu" target="_blank">gtremblay@antioch.edu</a>> wrote:<br>
> My wife and I are considering cork flooring for a kit/dining/living room.<br>
> We're drawn to the claimed environmental sustainability of cork, along with<br>
> its comfort and texture/appearance.<br>
><br>
> I'm interested in informed comments about cork's "green" credentials, and<br>
> especially about its durability in a high traffic area.<br>
><br>
> Potential for spillage has me worried about using the floating planks, which<br>
> are ~.25" of cork glued to a fiberboard (water absorbent!) core - can the<br>
> seams be sealed well enough to protect against damaging moisture intrusion?<br>
> Alternative appears to be glue-down tiles (on a new Advantech subfloor).<br>
> How refinishable/replaceable?<br>
><br>
> Thanks,<br>
> George Tremblay<br>
> Troy, NH<br>
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