When you think of adding new flooring to your home, cork may not be the first material that pops into your head. However, in recent years homeowners have been turning to this eco-friendly flooring option for their kitchens, hallways, and home offices! Here at the Poulin Design Center we’ve put together some pros and cons of installing cork flooring in your home.
Cork is made from the bark of the cork oak tree. This is a sustainable, renewable resource, and can be harvested every nine to twelve years. Because it is harvested from the bark that naturally falls off of the tree, the tree remains unharmed. To create the flooring, the bark is ground up, glued, and then baked into multiple flooring sheets. It is then usually installed as planks.
Pros
- Cork is durable and flexible, making it the perfect kind of flooring for high traffic areas, such as kitchens and entryways.
- Cork flooring is comfortable to stand on even for prolonged periods of time! Cork is much softer than natural stone flooring or even some species of hardwood flooring.
- Cork is renewable and does not harm the cork oak tree. It is harvested from the bark, not the tree itself, so you can get your beautiful flooring without taking down the forest.
- Cork is hypoallergenic, making it a superb flooring choice if you have any household members with allergies.
- Cork flooring insulates as well as breathes. In the winter, it will insulate, keeping in the warmth. In the summer, however, it will breathe and keep the floor cool to the touch.
Cons
- Cork does not always resist damage, and can be damaged by high heels, your pets, or dragging furniture.
- It is not highly water resistant, so it is not ideal for areas with main sources of water, such as bathrooms or basements with the possibility of flooding.
If you’re ready to get your new flooring installed today, give the experts at the Poulin Design Center a call. We’ll provide a free consultation to answer any questions you may have. Give us a call today!
