Cork floors: their pros and cons

In recent years, there has been a growing tendency to use mainly natural materials in home decoration. It is environmentally friendly, safe and does not harm health. One such material is cork flooring.

Cons of cork flooring

Cork is a material that is obtained from cork oak. It is used not only in construction, but also in other areas of human life. For example, wine corks are made from this material, it is used in medicine and in the automotive industry.

Cork floors have become popular in the same way as laminate or parquet floors. But, like other building materials, cork floors have their own disadvantages and their positive sides.

The negative aspects of using cork floors include the following:

• Natural cork floor is quite expensive. This is its main disadvantage. But it is compensated by the ease of installation compared to parquet.
• Cork floors have poor moisture resistance. This disadvantage can be eliminated by using the glue-coated version. To improve the moisture-resistant qualities, you can use the locking version of the coating, which is additionally coated with wax to improve the moisture-resistant qualities.
• The cork is bad for mechanical stress and burns very well. These properties add to the list of negative qualities of cork flooring. To prevent dents from the furniture on the cork floor, special spacers must be placed.
• Cork flooring requires special knowledge and skills. It is very difficult to lay it on your own. Therefore, with improper installation, various defects often arise.
• The cork floor is afraid of exposure to direct sunlight. From this it fades.

Pros of a cork floor

As you can see, the list of cons of this excellent material is relatively small. And after reading the list of positive qualities, it will seem to you completely insignificant.

• A floor made of natural cork is an environmentally friendly material for humans. When it is mined, the tree itself does not suffer.
• This coating is recommended for people who are prone to allergies. The fact is that the cork does not attract dust, which means it is safe for allergy sufferers.
• Unlike synthetic coatings, cork does not emit harmful substances and is harmless to human health. It can be used to cover bathroom floors as it does not form mold and fungus.
• Natural cork has excellent sound insulation properties. It is from cork that soundproofing is made in recording studios not only on the floor, but also on the walls and even on the ceiling.
• The structure of the cork is such that the floor from it retains heat well. Therefore, it can be used for floor covering in children's rooms and bedrooms. In addition, it is very pleasant to walk barefoot on the cork floor.
• Cork material has excellent shock-absorbing properties, which is beneficial for the health of the human musculoskeletal system.
• Cork floors are durable and virtually abrasion-free. They perfectly withstand the effects of detergents and are not afraid of pests and wood borers.

Cork floor: photo