Cork Flooring Offers the Perfect Alternative for Kitchen Remodeling
Posted July 23rd, 2008 by PaigeMy kitchen has constant action. There are always cookies being baked, vegetables being steamed, bottles of wine being opened, and cupcakes being iced. With all this time on my feet in the kitchen, I’m constantly thinking about what kind of flooring might best work under my shoes.
Growing in popularity, and providing an array of benefits that traditional flooring options can’t even come close to offering, cork flooring is a great investment for any kitchen remodel.
Cork flooring first came across my attention because of my yoga studio. All the studio spaces were installed with cork flooring because it is soft, durable, and of course, a natural sustainable choice. If it’s the perfect comfortable flooring materials for yogis practicing difficult poses, it must be just as comfortable for the busy cook.
But it’s not just about comfort. While cork makes for happy feet, it’s also fire resistant, reduces heat loss (it’s a great insulator!), is mold and bug repellant, reduces sound and vibrations, and is easy to install since cork flooring can often comes in click-into-place mosaic tiles.
And for those of you increasingly concerned with your impact on the environment, cork flooring is a perfect sustainable product. Not only is it easy to easy to grow and harvest, it’s very easy to recycle too.
And, don’t think cork only has to go on your kitchen floor. You can try it in just about any room of your home, or you can even look into cork siding for your walls, and cork furniture. Examples of new uses for cork are coming out everyday, so keep your eyes open and see how you can use it in your home.
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July 24th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Hi Paige!
Thank you for your awesome post. The unique cellular structure of cork floors are indeed a great alternative for kitchens,
For those who already knew that cork oak was environmentally friendly, you’ll be happy to hear that now cork flooring has gotten even greener, thanks to a unique technological breakthrough in its manufacturing process.
Wicanders Cork Oak Floors now contain Acrodur®, a water-based binder developed by BASF that replaces traditional resins used to manufacture flooring. It contains no ingredients such as phenol, formaldehyde or isocyanate and significantly reduces the level of emissions without compromising the technical performance of the products.
For more you info, you can check out our posts about Acrodur. http://wicanderscorkoakblog.com
Thanks a lot!
September 12th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
The overall feel of the wood under your feet is another factor you should take into consideration when you are choosing which material to use. You should select something that would feel comfortable and pleasant.
Make cork flooring as your top list!
November 29th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
My wife and I looked at some of the cork samples at a local shop. It does look beautiful…
I took one of the samples and rubbed it against the display and it scratched fairly easily (and horribly). We are concerned with a potential problem once chairs start rubbing against the floor. At least hardwood can be refinished.
Any comments?
December 1st, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for your comment.
Cork can be a bit more senstive than hardwood floors, but here are some points I might consider.
If you will have chairs or lots of furniture on top of cork flooring, add propoer protection on the bottom of your furniture. You’ve probably seen the small pieces of adhesive felt that can be put on the bottom of furniture to prevent scratches in flooring.
If you have a dog constantly running around on floors, I might consider a different option.
However, in general cork has been known to hold up well as a material. Maybe try looking at a few different samples before making a decision.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:33 am
Keep in mind that the lower end prices may indicate a lesser quality and performance. The higher cost cork flooring is generally thicker meaning you will not need additional materials underneath it. It will serve as an insulating factor meaning a possible reduction in heating costs. Higher end flooring also has several layers of protective coating, usually a UV varnish which helps protect it and makes it even more wear and moisture resistant.
Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.helpful-kitchen-tips.com/kitchen-blog/2009/06/06/cork-flooring-review-cork-floor-covering-ideas/