Cork Flooring

We reviewed many types of flooring in the two previous blogs.  One option not yet reviewed is cork flooring, an increasingly popular choice.  Cork flooring is attractive, easy to clean, and reasonably priced.  Cork tiles and planks are available in many colors and patterns.  Cork flooring is hypoallergenic and resistant to mold and mildew associated with some other types of flooring.  Cork is a natural renewable product obtained from the bark of trees generally located in the Mediterranean.  Cork flooring is typically more durable than wood and provides more give than hardwood, and is warmer to the touch.  Typical installed costs are $5.00 to $10.00 per square foot.

The resilience of cork flooring is also its weakness.  Sharp or heavy objects left on the floor for long periods of time can permanently damage the floors.  Since cork is a natural product direct sunlight will cause color to fade over time.

You cannot wet mop to clean cork floors as any water absorption can damage cork flooring.  The floors are kept clean with regular sweeping and dry mopping.

In general cork flooring holds many benefits with respect to a healthy environment in your home and is an environmentally conscious choice.  We recently installed a cork floor in a kitchen remodel.  Pictures are on our newsletter and website (www.adrbuilders.com).