People who are considering installing cork flooring in their homes should know what the advantages and disadvantages are with this kind of a floor. Knowing what pros and cons can be found in these floor types can help you decide whether or not you should continue with your plans of installing this kind of a floor and if you do decide to push through with your cork flooring plans, you can be prepared for what needs to be done should problems arise with such a flooring option that you chose.
Advantages of using cork flooring include the following:
- Noise Reduction – this kind of a flooring option helps reduce vibration and noise produced by walking and running on these floors.
- Comfort – while these may be hardened versions of the soft pulp that is cork, the cellular structure of this material is still soft enough for it to be very comfortable to walk on even when on bare feet.
- Beauty and Versatility – the huge number of colors that you can choose from when it comes to cork flooring gives you the versatility you need when it comes to choosing your floor’s color and these come in many lovely shades that can easily complement your home.
Some disadvantages of using a cork floor include the following:
- Moisture Problems - if you get cork flooring that is not properly sealed for protection from moisture, you may find yourself with a stained floor. You should also make sure that the subfloor you put these flooring options on is dry and free of moisture. A subfloor that is prone to moisture seeping up from it may require a protective moisture shield to be installed first before you can lay your cork flooring down on it.
- Cost - Cork floors are more expensive than other flooring options similar to it due to the way that they are produced.
- Maintenance costs – while some manufacturers of cork floors say that all you need to help keep your cork floors clean is occasional mopping with a damp mop and weekly sweeping or vacuuming, there are times when you need to get some dirt and grime out of these floors and regular cleaners won’t do with such porous flooring options.