vida cork planks

	Please call us at  877-432-6428 or visit one of our stores for more information and to place your order.
	An Ecohaus exclusive product. Formaldehyde-free HDF core that’s tongue-&-grooved and can float over most existing flooring. Planks are approximately 1' by 3'; 7/16" thick. Cork is a renewable an sustainable material. Comes beautifully finished with a hardwax oil-type finish that can be rejuvenated without refinishing. Not recommended for damp & steamy rooms or very high-traffic applications.
	Pricing: Sample Almada Natural Almada Toffee Bamboo Natural Bamboo Toffee Lisbon Natural or Leather Lisbon Saddle Nazare Chocolate Porto Natural Porto Leather or Sevilla Natural	17.32 SF / Box $15.00 / EA $138.39 / Box $138.39 / Box $121.07 / Box $96.86 / Box $86.43 / Box $103.75 / Box $138.39 / Box $121.07 / Box $96.86 / Box

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• overview

  the story

  We can't say enough about cork flooring. It's as easy to install as any laminate, but there’s nothing plastic or imitation about it. Cork is a completely natural material that's warm, quiet, and a treat for your feet.

  And did we mention sustainability? Cork is completely renewable, carefully protected resource, and every bit that’s harvested gets used!

  Our Vida CorkTM brand comes prefinished with a UV-cure hardwax oil-type finishthat’s as tough as polyurethane, without that artificial look. If it gets dull, there’s no need for expensive, messy renovation. You can rejuvenate it with a bit of Liquid Wax Cleaner and a swipe of a cloth.

  These planks come in six beautiful patterns, and they’re available in different colors. We have them in stock for immediate shipping.

  performance

  Because it contains millions of tiny air cells per square inch, cork has a multitude of stellar qualities. Its cellular structure creates a shock-absorbing effect, which makes it an exceptionally comfortable surface to stand on. Air within the cells also acts as insulation, so cork flooring can reduce heating bills as well as noise.

  Cork’s natural defenses protect it from assaults that can ruin other floors. It contains a waxy substance called suberin, which repels insects and inhibits the growth of mold, mildew and microbe colonies. Its resilience allows it to “give” when something moves across it, whereas hard flooring surfaces will scratch or gouge.

  Our Vida cork planks have three layers for extra stability and longevity: a thick bottom cushion of cork, a thicker middle layer of high density fiberboard (HDF) and a top 'wear layer' of cork that’s compressed to resist denting. The planks are milled with precision so they will remain intact without any glue or nails.

  Cork offers excellent insulation against noise. A rating system called sound transmission class (STC) assigns a number to quantify acoustical insulation; an STC rating of 50 means loud speech is not audible across the barrier. Our cork planks, installed over a concrete slab, have an STC rating of 52.

  The hardwax oil-type finish used on Vida cork planks is UV-cured for toughness. Most finishes coat the floor with a sheet of plastic that ages ungracefully and eventually needs to be sanded off. The finish on Vida cork can be revived over and over again just by wiping on a bit of OSMO Liquid Wax Cleaner, especially in areas where the floor gets extra wear.

  OSMO Liquid Wax Cleaner

  OSMO Wash and Care

  Cork planks do not perform well in damp or steamy rooms, and they are not as easy to repair as glue down cork tiles.

  
  
  Next: Health
• health

  at home

  Cork requires no chemical treatments: it’s naturally fire-resistant, and it contains a waxy substance called suberin that naturally repels insects and inhibits the growth of molds and microbes that can cause human illness. Cork insulates against noise, heat and cold to create a healthy, comfortable indoor environment.

  Not all cork flooring is created equal. Cork products may contain a number of additives, and researchers have reported high emissions of formaldehyde, phenol and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from composite cork.

  Our Vida planks are laminated with low-emission adhesive that won’t contribute to poor indoor air quality. The factory-applied finish contains natural waxes and oils, and because the planks are pre-sealed, you won’t be subjected to the volume of chemical emissions associated with on-site finishing. Vida products are free of formaldehyde, a suspected human carcinogen that can “offgas” into your home and cause respiratory and skin problems.

  on the planet

  The cork used in our flooring comes from the bark of the Mediterranean cork-oak tree, a completely renewable and carefully protected resource. The bark is harvested without damaging the trees, using techniques that have thrived for generations in the Mediterranean. In Portugal, the largest producer of cork, it is a crime to cut down cork-oak trees, which live for 100 to 200 years.

  Cork harvesting is the ultimate in sustainable production. Harvesting schedules are set by law: trees must be 25 years old before the first harvesting of cork can occur, and they must have nine years to regenerate before the next harvest. Every bit of cork that is harvested is used. Producers stamp out wine corks first, then grind the scraps and press them back together to make flooring and bulletin boards.

  Because the market for cork provides an incentive to keep forest cover on arid land, the industry helps keep 5 1/2 million acres from turning to desert.

  Next: Use
• use

  where can i use it?

  Vida cork planks work well in most rooms; however, they are not recommended for damp or steamy rooms such as the bath. They can be installed right over most existing floors.

  how much do i need?

  Cork planks are 1 foot wide and 3 feet long. Vida CorkTM planks are sold in boxes of six planks. Each box covers 17.32 square feet.

  how do i install or apply it?

  It’s so easy to install Vida cork planks that many homeowners do it themselves. The middle layer of each plank is milled with a tongue-and-groove edge so that the interlocking edges click together and remain intact without any glue or nails.

  The floor must be level and dry. Remove any existing carpet. You can leave most other flooring, including wood, tile, vinyl, linoleum, particleboard and plywood. Concrete floors should be tested for moisture emission. This can be done using a calcium chloride test kit (you can order one here) or an electronic test instrument owned by most professional flooring contractors. The moisture should be below 3 pounds per 1000 square feet in 24 hours

  When installing cork planks over concrete, lay down a moisture barrier before proceeding. You can use a 6 mil polyethylene plastic, or any foam underlayment not exceeding 2mm in thickness.

  If your house has plywood subfloors or a concrete slab, cork planks can run either the length or the width of the room. If the subfloor is made of individual boards, lay the planks perpendicular to the direction of the floor joists.

  Vida Cork Plank Installation Instructions

  how do i maintain it?

  Spot repairs are easy. There's no need to strip the whole floor or even to remove old Hardwax Oil. For minor repairs, just scuff the damaged area with fine steel wool, coat with OSMO Liquid Wax Cleaner and buff lightly when the cleaner is dry. If a more extensive fix is needed, use Hardwax Oil. Make repairs regularly, and the finish will last indefinitely.

  Next: Colors & Styles
• colors & styles

  Container sizes

  

  Almada Natural

  

  Almada Toffee

  

  Bamboo Natural

  

  Bamboo Toffee

  

  Lisbon Natural

  

  Lisbon Leather

  

  Lisbon Saddle

  

  Nazare Chocolate

  

  Porto Natural

  

  Porto leather

  

  Sevilla Natural

  Previous: Use

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