Emissions from Cork Flooring?

From: Hugh
Date: Mar 15, 2007 4:24 PM
Subject: Cork Flooring Odor

I am trying to get this message to the CEO-Steve S.. I visited the iFloor outlet in S. Seattle and they suggested I contact Steve. My issue is, do have knowledge of odors being off gassed by the Lunenburg style of floating floor? I recently purchased a condo that has this flooring installed by the previous over concrete and we believe there is an odor coming off of the cork that is causing allergic reaction in my wife.

Do you have any suggestions as we are at a loss. We believe we have eliminated all other possible sources of odor and keep coming back to the flooring. While at the store, we noted a stronger smell coming off the back of the Lunenburg tiles than other cork tiles-was this an anomaly or is it a fact?

Appreciate any knowledge you can impart.

Hugh

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Hi Hugh,

Lunenburg and cork in general is very much considered hypo-allergenic. Some floors have “odor”, but cork is very low emission. There should not really by any difference between cork of any color from a laboratory perspective.

All chemical sensitivity is a relative bar in my humble opinion. Some folks are blessed with an extra receptive set of sensors so it’s hard to say with any degree of certainty what is causing your wife’s reaction.

However I can say we hold sold millions of feet of cork over the years and this would be the first time I ever had a situation where an allergic reaction has been reported. That is definitely not the case in other flooring like carpet, even wool carpet, carpet padding (even felt padding), laminate, wood floors, even tile and stone. I’ve seen it all.

So I guess the summary is that I am puzzled. I would highly doubt that the cork is producing anything that would create a reaction, but I can’t rule it or anything else out.

Good luck on solving this mystery. Our hope is that your wife finds relief!

ss