Cork flooring is becoming more and more popular because this flooring is made from sustainable raw materials. But that’s just one of the many advantages that cork flooring brings with it: The natural floor creates coziness paired with a warm atmosphere. Why this is so and in which designs you can buy cork flooring – you will find out in this article.
What is cork flooring actually made of?
Cork is the name given to the material obtained from the bark of the cork oak. Cork oaks are amazing plants. They live to be over 300 years old, and during this time they grow in two different directions: wood grows on the inside – cork on the outside. If you proceed carefully when extracting the cork and observe a time interval of at least nine years, the oak will not suffer any damage. This means: The extracted raw material simply grows back. A dream from an ecological point of view! To see decoration made of felt, please check bestcraftblog.
What types of cork flooring can you buy?
You can find two types of cork flooring on the market: cork tiles and pre-finished cork parquet. Cork tiles are rarely laid nowadays because the process is quite complex. The tiles are glued to the subsurface and are therefore difficult to remove again.
Thanks to ready-made cork parquet – often even with a click system – it is no problem for do-it-yourselfers to lay the desired cork floor themselves. This works very similar to installing parquet or laminate , and there are also different thicknesses and many different designs available.
Speaking of design – the selection is now really huge. Cork flooring with a wood look or with a stone pattern is also available, as is cork flooring in black, gray or even white flooring. Patterns and other decorations can also decorate the surface. So if you think of the boring pin board from back then when it comes to cork floors, far from it!
Where can you lay cork flooring?
Thanks to its color and its insulating properties, cork flooring creates a cosy, warm atmosphere. It is therefore ideal as a modern floor covering for the bedroom or living room. It also looks good in the children’s room, because cork is amazingly sound-absorbing.
However, cork is only suitable to a limited extent as a floor covering for kitchens and bathrooms. It is important that it is well sealed before laying, for example with cork varnish. Also good to know: If exposed to direct sunlight, cork floors can fade over time. You should consider this when planning – or simply choose a light-colored floor from the start.
Tip: The surface on which the cork floor is laid must be clean and level. Old carpets, needle felt floors and stone wood screed are not suitable as a substrate.
Trendy cork floor: advantages and disadvantages
We’ll tell you in advance: the advantages of cork floors clearly outweigh them. At the top of the list is its sustainability. In addition, there is the high density with poor thermal conductivity – this means that cork flooring insulates and helps to save heating energy. It is also elastic and therefore easy on the back and joints.
And this versatile floor covering is also easy to care for: Regular vacuuming and wiping are all you need to keep it hygienically clean. Mites and dust also have a hard time on cork floors. This floor also gets a plus point for allergy sufferers. Last but not least, cork flooring is odorless and – as already mentioned – sound-absorbing.
With all of this, however, there are also a few downsides. The biggest one is probably that cork flooring isn’t all that hard-wearing. Heavy furniture such as sofas or cabinets can leave marks. Protective mats help to prevent this. You already know that cork floors can fade. It also only tolerates heat to a limited extent: the material can expand when it is very hot. This is why not every cork floor is compatible with underfloor heating, and the floor should only be laid with an expansion joint.
By the way: Due to its naturalness, cork flooring goes well with solid wood furniture or with the Scandinavian style .
