The Pros and Cons of Cork Flooring

Nothing is more resilient and beautiful than cork flooring in your home.  This type of flooring is commonly used in newer homes, mainly in the kitchen or dining room areas.  There are several pros and cons to cork flooring, but before we examine those, it is important to understand at least the basics of cork flooring, including how it is installed, what it is made of, and other general information about the standard flooring type.

Cork is a very common renewable resource that has a number of practical applications.  Cork is made from the bark of certain types of trees found in the Mediterranean.  The bark of the cork Oak tree grows very thick, and it was discovered that the bark could be harvested and turned into cork.  This was commonly used following its rediscovery in the 17 century to stop bottle and liquid containers.  It quickly replaced wood stoppers for bottles once the glass bottle became commonly used.  The wood stoppers that were used to keep liquids in containers before did not fit well inside of glass bottles, so cork had to be used.

Cork, as a material, has a very unique cellular structure.  About 50 percent of cork is a series of tiny air sacs.  This helps to create an lightweight material that can still be highly durable.  When it comes to cork flooring, the structure is 50 percent air, which makes for a more resilient type of flooring material.

There are two main types of cork flooring to choose from, tiles and planks.  These are the two general styles of the flooring material.  Tiles can be used and laid in a highly similar fashion to ceramic tiles (although the installation process is slightly different) to create unique designs and patterns.  Planks make a pattern similar to that of a hardwood floor, and once again, the installation process is slightly different.  You can get both types of cork flooring in multiple types and colors of finishes.  The most common way to alter the color of cork flooring and tiles is to bake it.  Baking the cork will give is a deeper, darker color, and the longer you bake, the darker it gets.  Many companies have also started staining or dying the cork to give it an even darker color.  You can get cork floor tiles and planks in just about as many colors and shade as you can wood. 

Installation of cork flooring is tricky, and should be done by someone with experience working with the product.

The Pros of Cork Flooring

Many people will be happy  to sing you the praises of cork flooring, and they have reason to rejoice.  Cork flooring has several different pros that almost everyone can easily see once they have experienced it.

• Resilient - Cork flooring is a naturally resilient substance.  It is extremely difficult to scratch or damage cork flooring, since the majority of items that are dropped or moved across the floor will do little damage.  Due to the molecular nature, the air sacs absorb most dropped items and then quickly restore the area to its original shapes and size.  This also helps to prevent broken tiles, which is common with stone, ceramics, and glass tiles.
  
  
• Insulation - This type of flooring makes for a fantastic insulation material, helping to keep heat and cold separate.  It helps to keep your inside warm and the floor toasty even in the cold winter months. 
  
  
• Walking - Moving on cork flooring is a pleasure.  Due to the cellular nature of cork, it provides a very comfortable walking surface, with some of your weight and force being absorbed as you walk.
  
  
• Sound Proofing - If you have a pet, this type of flooring will help to reduce the sound of their claws hitting the floor.
  
  
• Water Resistant - Cork is a naturally waterproof material, making it an excellent flooring surface for your kitchen.  While the floor itself will be protected from any liquid hazards, anything that is laying near the liquid could still be damaged.
  
  
• Fire Resistant - Cork, along with all of these other pros, is also fire resistant, to a point.  Due to the air sacs and a material called suberin, fire does little damage to cork and the flooring will not help fire to spread.  It also works as a fire inhibitor and does not give off noxious gas.
  
  
• Cork is Renewable - The best part, cork flooring is a renewable resource.  This very green material is made from tree park, and removing the bark of these cork producing trees does not even harm the tree. 

With this long list of pros, many will instantly jump up and rush out to redo their entire home.  It should be said, that even with this long list of pros, there are also cons to cork flooring.

The Cons of Cork Flooring

Alright, nothing is perfect.  While cork flooring may sound great, there are a number of disadvantages to having this type of flooring in your home.  Here are all the cons of cork flooring.

• Cleaning Difficulty - If you do not have your cork floor sealed with polyurethane, it can be damaged by common floor cleaning practices, including mopping, sweeping, or the use of oil and alkaline cleaners. 
  
  
• Resilient - Because of the air sacs cork floor is very resilient, but break down with time.  If you leave a heavy object, like a piece of furniture on cork flooring, it will slowly compress the area, which does not return to its normal state after it has been moved. 
  
  
• Cost - Cork flooring is expensive, especially since you will most likely have to have it installed.  On average, the cheapest cork floor tile (which is around a square foot) cost $4.  Planks are more expensive.  So a 30 square foot room will cost a minimum of $120 for material alone.  The average cost of a single tile is between $6 and $12 each.
  
  
• Moisture - While most cork flooring is water and liquid resistant, a small amount of water can cause severe damage to a tile of plank, causing it to need replacing.  The tile can swell and expand, ruining the look of the entire floor.
  
  
• Selection - Many people say there is a very small selection of colors and styles when it comes to cork flooring.  Compared to stone or ceramics, they'd be right.

You should always weigh the pros and cons of cork flooring before you decide on an whether or not it is right for you.

 

 

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