Cork Flooring Buying Guide
From Floor Coverings
Floor Shoppers Manual
Take the Cork Tour -
Is cork flooring eco-friendly?
Cork Flooring is made from an eco-friendly process of harvesting the Cork Oak Trees about every 9 years. Cork is only harvested from half of the tree and since cork oak trees can live up to 200 years, cork is considered a highly renewable resource. The natural resilience that cork flooring possesses makes it a good choice for many rooms and environmental situations within the home. But it may not be right for every room and situation, so this buying guide has been developed to aid the decision making and purchasing process. You will also learn some information about types and styles of cork flooring, proper installation, pricing and how to care for cork floors if you decide that cork flooring is what you are looking for.
What rooms can I install cork flooring in?
A few things to consider before installing cork flooring is the particular room destination that you are looking to install cork in, your lifestyle situations that will exist in that room, climate conditions where you live and the floor’s exposure to sunlight. Cork flooring is comfortable to walk on, strong and durable and beautiful in appearance, making it a good choice for almost every room in the house. The climate where you live is one of the first things to think about when considering installing cork flooring, because humidity extremes can cause cork to expand or contract causing either buckling or cracks in the flooring. A humidifier or a dehumidifier can be used in conjunction with cork flooring if your climate does not otherwise agree with cork in order to maintain a perfect 35% to 65% humidity at all times.
Can sunlight damage my cork floor?
Sunlight can fade cork flooring, so if the room that you plan to install cork flooring has a lot of windows, you may wish to install blinds or solar protection sheets outside the windows. Rooms that see a lot of wet spills and other moisture like the bathrooms, kitchens, basement and outdoor patios are not necessarily good choices for installing cork flooring because cork can be damaged greatly by standing water. On the other hand, there are certain types of cork like mosaic cork tiles that if sealed properly might be considered the best solution to flooring where a lot of standing will take place, as in the kitchen. It is important to check with your manufacturers guidelines to see if this may be the case for your cork flooring.
Is cork flooring kid friendly?
Generally speaking, living rooms, dens and bedrooms make good destinations for cork flooring due to its ease of installation, durability, walking comfort and lovely appearance. However, heavy furniture may leave dents in cork flooring, so area rugs or furniture pads should be used to prevent damage or dents. Cork flooring is especially kid-friendly because not only does cork flooring cushion any slips and falls, it also resists moisture when it is properly sealed and cork helps to naturally sound proof a room. The durability of cork is strong enough to handle heavy traffic and the suberin substance inside the cork cells naturally repels insects and fights mold and mildew. These same qualities make cork pet-friendly too, but for both kids and pets, care should be given to reduce the amount of scratching, like trimming pet nails and installing area rugs in heavily used areas.
What types of cork flooring are there?
You will find three main types of cork flooring when you go shopping for it, homogenous, veneer and mosaic tiles. Homogenous cork flooring is a ground up mixture of cork that has been compressed and laid out into sheets. After baking, it is cut into planks or tiles. Veneer is made up of five layers including low-density cork underlayment, a medium or high density fiberboard, the cork core followed by a cork bark veneer and then the fifth layer is the sealer. Inside mosaic cork tiles are slices of recycled wine corks that have been embedded in a paper or mesh backing. The tiles are grouted and the whole floor is finished with a sealer.
Are there different colors and textures to cork flooring?
Cork flooring offers a variety of textures and colors. Small, medium and large granules will make cork flooring vary in texture. Peeled cork laid in strips resembles the actual look of the cork tree and burled cork takes different sizes of cork chunks and cork granules to put together a wavy, almost bumpy appearance. Color variety comes in the baking process. Cork is naturally a light shade, but the longer it is heater, the darker it will be. Cork can also be stained almost any shade or painted almost any color. You can also have an artistic design on your cork flooring.
Do I need a moisture barrier for my cork floor?
Manufacturers of cork flooring usually recommend the use of a moisture barrier underlayment. The only exception to this would be if the cork flooring is being installed on the second floor or above grade level of a home. Since cork flooring expands in higher humidity, it is wise to leave a little space next to the wall when it is installed. This space can be hidden by moldings and trims. T-moldings are used when rooms of similar height meet, reducer moldings are used when rooms are of a different height, quarter round covers the gap next to the wall, end cap covers thresholds and stair nose covers the edge of cork on stairs.
Does cork flooring need to acclimate before installation?
With regard to installation, four things need to be considered. As mentioned before, cork flooring will need the application of a moisture barrier underlayment. In addition, like bamboo, cork flooring needs to be acclimated before installing. Check with your manufacturer’s guidelines to see how long of a time period your cork flooring requires acclimating. Another important health consideration is the use of adhesives and the fumes they may give off. Adequate ventilation needs to be used if there will be fumes present. It is also important to make sure that the sub-floor is clean and dry before installing your cork flooring. Cork planks are click and lock floors that will float over sub-floors without attachment to it. Cork tiles will be attached directly to the sub-floor with glue.
How expensive is cork flooring?
There are a couple of different things that may affect the price of cork flooring. Anything that makes your cork flooring unique like larger pieces of cork or distinctive patterns that are harder to find are usually more expensive. For example, cork from China is more unique than cork from the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, it is also thinner and provides less insulating benefits. In addition, the large the plank or tile, the more expensive it will be.
Care and Maintenance of cork floors.
The care and maintenance of cork flooring involves regular sweeping or vacuuming and damp mopping with a mild cleanser. Do not use any cleaners with ammonia or other harsh abrasives. Quickly clean up spills to prevent staining. You can also prevent deep scratches or dents in cork flooring by avoiding the temptation to drag heavy objects across a cork floor.
