Cork is a versatile material used in lots of different products, from bottle stoppers to baseballs, and – yes – flooring. It’s resilient, retains heat, and has both sound mitigating and anti-microbial properties – a.k.a., it’s quiet and clean!
Cork flooring comes in cork sheets and has been around for over 100 years. There has been a huge uptick in popularity of cork flooring and cork sheets thanks to improved visuals and its reputation as a green flooring option. If you’re curious to learn more about this sustainable, springy floor, read on!
Table of Contents
Harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree, cork isn’t exactly hardwood, though it is a natural product made from tree parts. It’s harvested every nine years, usually in the Mediterranean. The floors are made from the bark that’s left over from the wine bottle cork-making process.
It’s comfy: Cork flooring is springy and resilient, making it a pretty comfortable floor. It would be a great choice for kitchens, especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet cooking and entertaining. Its resilient nature also means dropped objects like glasses or bowls are less likely to break on impact. It’s also a good choice for children’s rooms, especially if you have toddlers who are just learning to walk, or home gyms.
It’s a great insulator: Cork flooring muffles sound and retains heat, both great properties for flooring on the upper level of a home. If you’re looking for a comfortable, warm, quiet floor for an upstairs bedroom or playroom, cork flooring is a great choice.
It has versatile visuals: In its natural form, cork flooring looks like … well, cork. Lots of people like this look, but if it’s not your style, cork can be dyed or stained to fit just about any decor.
It’s eco-friendly: Because cork is sourced from tree bark, no trees are destroyed in the making of cork flooring. If green living is a priority for you and your family, you should definitely consider cork floors!
The same properties that make cork such a comfortable surface also make it a little high-maintenance. Dirt, dust, and debris can all scuff cork floors, so be diligent about sweeping, dust mopping, and wiping your feet when you come inside. Your pet’s nails can also scratch cork floors, so be sure to keep them trimmed.
Cork flooring and cork sheet contains suberin, a waxy substance that makes it water-resistant. However, cork flooring is not waterproof. Damp areas or places where standing water can be an issue, like bathrooms, basements, or even laundry rooms, aren’t well-suited for cork floors.
For another tick in the positive column, suberin also prevents mold, mildew, and other microbes from settling in, making cork floors a dream for people with severe allergies.
November 26, 2020 Everyone knows that hardwood floors are the best. They’re beautiful, they’re strong, and they can look great for ages with proper care. But with so many types of wood flooring available, it can be difficult to decide what hardwood species is best for you. But what exactly is a hardwood species? It’s […]
November 24, 2020 Looking for the best engineered wood flooring brands? We get it. Tile flooring, vinyl flooring, laminate flooring, hemp flooring—until you need a new floor in your home, you may never realize exactly how many types of flooring exist. And more than that, how many flooring brands exist! But don’t worry—we’ve got you […]
November 20, 2020 Wondering if you can refinish bamboo flooring? Don’t worry—it’s a question we hear all the time. Maybe you’re looking into bamboo floors as a non-toxic laminate flooring alternative and want to know how long you can expect them to last. Or maybe you already have bamboo floors you love, but they need […]
Leave a Reply