APC Cork has provided its consumers with a broad depth of knowledge, which can all be found on the company’s web site. To give an indication on the quality and type of information that can be obtained – read on.
One of the primary concerns that cork purchasers have surrounds the issue of durability. This seems to have stemmed from people having mental images of old cork boards that have been exposed to endless pricks from pins and from noticing that often entire chunks of the cork board are missing. Women worry that their first step on their new cork flooring wearing their favorite black heels will result in their shoe now permanently embedded in their kitchen cork floor. In reality, this is not going to be the case. Cork is dense in nature and APC Cork is manufactured to withstand commercial grade usage. It is still advised to cover any sharp furniture feet so as not to leave a permanent indentation. While even the mention of this might spark concern, think about the last time you moved your couch in your carpeted living room – most likely, if you did not have protective covers on the couch’s feet, you probably found that your carpet had an indentation from where the couch used to be. So, this is not just a concern limited to cork flooring. This brings us to the discussion of pets and their wear and tear potential. Most cork flooring products are shipped to the end consumer after an acrylic matte varnish has been applied. What will end up happening if your pets have claws is their claws might leave slight abrasions in this coated surface. Your options include refinishing the floor, you live with the tarnished surface, or you prohibit your clawed pets from walking on the floor. It is important to note though that because cork is comprised of air cells and it has a greater ability for compressions, it will not be as badly bruised as say hardwood.
Another concern that shoppers often have relates to fading and color changes. This again is not a concern that is limited to cork, as hardwoods, laminate and even some area rugs will fade after time, and at an accelerated rate when exposed to direct sun. The short answer is that yes, exposure to sunlight will cause color changes to occur. One practical way to combat this problem is to install window treatments that restrict direct sunlight and also to periodically rearrange furniture thereby creating more even fading of the surface.