Softwood Flooring: The World of Cork and Bamboo
So often in the world of flooring we get caught up in the same old, same old. Most people usually start with either residential carpeting (if they are tackling their home) or the usual hardwoods, then branch out in things like vinyl plank flooring and linoleum plank flooring if they don’t like what they find. But, for those of you in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area, there is another option. It combines the look and feel of a nice hardwood with the comfort and ease under your foot that carpeting gives you. “This cannot be!” you might cry, but then you have revealed that you have never heard of the small intersection of these worlds: the sphere of softwoods. The two big materials in this area are cork and bamboo. Now, bamboo has been used as a flooring material for centuries in certain parts of the world, thanks to it being local. However, we live in a globalized society and everything is available, especially if you know the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey, who are capable of getting almost any kind of flooring you desire.
A Renewable Kind of Flooring
The main thing about cork flooring, the big selling point, is its renewability. The way the material is harvested leaves the tree alive and intact, so the manufacturers can return to it for as long as the tree stays alive. It’s the reason the flooring material has seen a rise in popularity in recent years. But it is not the only reason it’s a popular, albeit a narrow, choice. For one thing, it acts as a natural insulator, both in terms of sound and temperature. For another thing, it is extremely hypoallergenic. For these reasons, combined with its natural buoyancy, it is a wonderful choice for a child’s room, since it will keep the noise down and cut down on any injuries that might occur due to horseplay. It is a breeze to install as well, although the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey are here to help with any flooring installations.
Don’t Get Bamboozled by this Flooring
Bamboo offers many of the same benefits that cork does, although it is a little less renewable, since it still involves the cutting down of trees. Bamboo trees do grow back a lot quicker than pretty much every tree, especially oak or other traditional hardwood trees, which can take decades to reach maturity. Bamboo, on the other hand, only takes a couple of years until it is ready to be harvested. Unlike cork, bamboo is also resistant to water damage, and is one of the easiest floors to maintain, just requiring a regular sweeping or vacuuming. Additionally, despite its reputation, bamboo is a very sturdy material. It can handle a beating a lot better than most hardwood floors.
It is easy to get caught in the bubble of the flooring world and stick with the same basic flooring materials. If that doesn’t sound right for your home or business, then you need to talk to the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey about cork and bamboo flooring. They are a lot better for the world than pretty much all of the other materials, and they add a certain otherworldly quality. Make sure to contact Ozburn-Hessey so we can help you get started!