Cork Flooring Pros And Cons
Information about the cork flooring pros and cons can really help you in deciding whether to install it in your house or plan otherwise. To know more about the cork flooring pros and cons, read on…
So, you are rooting for information about cork flooring pros and cons, because of the faded carpets or the non-functional hardwood floors in your house. You can look into a variety of options such as floating cork flooring, natural cork flooring, bamboo cork flooring as the replacement for the present flooring in your house.
Pros and Cons of Cork Flooring The raw material used for the cork floor is a tree produce. It is basically the bark shed by the tree every 9 to 15 years. If you are using hardwood flooring in your house, then you may be well aware of what is an efficient wood floor-killer. Mold, mildew, which prefers moist environments, and insects like termites are the natural enemies of the wood flooring
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The cork flooring is known for its anti-bacterial properties and is preferred because it is known to resist mold, mildew and termites. In rooms, such as kitchen and basement where the chances of water seeping under the flooring and making it moist are high, using cork flooring may prove to be the right choice.
On the other hand you may want to use it, as a sub-flooring, between the moist floor and the hardwood flooring in your house. Depending upon individual requirements, cork flooring can be used for flooring and sub-flooring. This flexibility is definitely unique and can be considered as one of the pros of cork flooring.
You may prefer cork flooring over others for its insulation properties. It does not let the heat, present in the house to seep out through the floor. During the cold months of winter and in the homes located in the cold climate areas, this factor definitely proves to be of utmost importance. This may help you in deciding whether to replace your old, worn-out and cold (to touch), ceramic tile flooring with the cork flooring. Insulation is one of the important factors while weighing the pros and cons of cork flooring.
For those living in the apartments in the midst of neighbors, who believe in using a chisel and a hammer every now and then, the cork flooring could provide ample insulation. It would not only dampen the shallow noise reaching you to invade your privacy, but also dampen the vibrations that are traveling through the floor. This is because it absorbs vibrations that are traveling through your apartment walls. On the other hand, it may help you in making the lives of your neighbor much easier by protecting them from the floor-shaking thumps and bumps, that your sparring Tyson’s and/or Tarzan might cause, while they jump from the tree of their imaginary world to the jungle floor (read cork floor) to challenge mighty gorilla. Is this one of the cork flooring pros or? cons? I leave the decision to you!
You may choose a cork flooring to get the full benefits of cork flooring durability. It requires very low maintenance as compared to the other types of flooring such as hardwood flooring. If you accidentally drop the knife onto the cork floor in your kitchen, there is no cause to worry, as the scratch will mend on it’s own. Although the cork in naturally fire-resistant, it is sure to burn when the temperature crosses its tolerance limits. It will burn, however, it won’t give off toxic fumes. This is a point that needs consideration and must be seen as an advantage of cork flooring.
Cork flooring is available in many natural tones. Alternatively, you have the option of choosing it in one of the artificial colors manufactured, and one that suits your home decor perfectly. The durability factor and availability of colors in cork flooring can be counted as one of the cork flooring pros.
We can consider the following facts while observing the flip side of the cork floors pros and cons. If by mistake, you take out a chunk of the cork flooring, the scrape remains permanently. If you have pets such as cats or dogs, then cork flooring is not for you. Using mop to clean the cork flooring is a sure way of damaging it, because it absorbs water which can damage the floor. It is recommended that the cork floor be refinished with polyurethane coat, after it is used for 5-10 years.
The cork flooring is 3/16th of an inch thick and it not an easy job to sand them and apply the new coat. You have very restricted options if you consider the number of times you can refinish cork flooring, as it is made of material that is prone to crumbling. You may like to explore other types of flooring such as bamboo flooring, laminate flooring, and vinyl flooring.
Cork, as a material of flooring, is soft and springy under the feet. You may consider weighing the cork flooring pros and cons, probably with the help of an expert. Certainly, it is not a decision to take hastily, so you can still sift through the cork flooring information before selecting it to install in your house.
