Ever Wondered How Direct Print Cork Flooring is Made?

Today, lovely, easily maintained Direct Print Cork Flooring graces floors in many elegant homes and offices throughout the world. Have you ever wondered how the manufacturer produces this type of durable and attractive building material?

Charming Floors

People appreciate cork floors because they offers the beauty of a glossy wood veneer surface without exceedingly complicated installation requirements. The easy, glue-free application process enables a rapid deployment of both new floors and replacement floors.

This product also offers the advantage of versatility. Homeowners select between a wide variety of wood textures and hues. For instance, World Floors Direct offers choices that include brown Larch Barcelona, golden Larch Geneva, silvery Oak Beachside, dark brown Oak Java, reddish-brown Oak Mojave and dark-colored Oak Seashell. The colors mesh seamlessly with a host of exciting interior decor themes.

Everything Begins With a Tree

The manufacturing process begins with the harvesting of bark from groves of Quercus suber. Usually referred to by its common name, “cork oak,” this hardy oak grows naturally in many places in North Africa and Southern Europe. For literally centuries, this species of plant has furnished the lightweight cork stoppers found in wine and champagne bottles. A typical tree lives for 150 to 250 years.

Growers harvest layers of bark from the exterior of the Quercus suber tree roughly once every ten years. In Spain alone, cork production has blossomed into a 1.5 billion euro industry. About 15% of the harvest winds up as bottle stoppers. Manufacturers use the remaining cork for a variety of other useful products, including flooring.

Factory Processing

The next step in the process of producing fine Direct Print Cork Flooring occurs in a factory. Manufacturers process the cork into long, thin boards of wood. A microban coating helps protect the cork from microbial contaminants. The manufacturer injects this sealant into the cork underlayment. The workers cover the board with specially printed veneers in an assortment of in-demand wood colors and shades.

Today, flooring producers manufacture both planks and tiles from cork. Many builders appreciate the utility of these lightweight yet highly protective materials. The production facility performs finishing work to cut the boards into planks or tiles and bevel and shape the edges so that these floor components will lock together seamlessly. Construction systems utilizing cork boards include both glue-based and non-glue based designs.

Digital Printing of Wood Veneers

The printing of the veneers itself represents a remarkable technological achievement. Instead of using printing plates, sophisticated machinery prints wood grains directly onto the veneers.

This process typically occurs at very high speeds. Digital printing furnishes a very quick turnaround process.

An Innovation in Flooring

Veneers printed in different colors and textures cover the surface of light weight, hardy cork planks used in the beautiful Direct Print Cork flooring offered by Wood Floors Direct. They offer a glossy, yet easily maintained, flooring that pleases consumers.

Just a few of the distinct advantages offered by this type of floor covering include:

• Much lighter weight than traditional hardwood flooring;
• Easy to install and maintain;
• Environmentally friendly and sustainable;
• Exceedingly comfortable, non-squeak flooring;
• Excellent insulating capacity;
• Many attractive color and design selections.

A Popular Item

Not surprisingly, today cork floors enjoy widespread popularity. These lovely floor coverings help create an appealing ambiance and warmth in homes.