Cork is slowly becoming a popular choice for flooring due to its durability and comfort. It is a natural and renewable material extracted from the bark of cork oaks. This versatile option is suitable for every room in your home, including the kitchen. 

Cork is a durable material that resists cracking, abrasion, and liquid damage. It does not show the indentation marks of the furniture that can be placed on top.

Comfort and shock absorption

To ensure homeowners and their guests are comfortable, cork flooring provides cushions similar to carpets. The air pockets within the material are the reason behind this soft feel. Therefore, it is beneficial in rooms such as the kitchen, where you have to spend a significant amount of time on your feet. Cork flooring has a cellular structure that improves insulation, warming it under bare feet. It also absorbs sound, allowing it to produce minimal overhead footstep noise.

Suberin is a natural waxy substance found in cork flooring, which helps repel moisture and makes it resistant to mould, mildew, and insects. Also, the cork does not shed any microfiber, so you can enjoy better indoor air quality.

Cork flooring is made by recycling cork bottle caps. With a minimum adhesive, they are grounded and bonded under high pressure. When used for commercial purposes, this material is harvested environmentally friendly. However, it does not require deforestation since it is extracted from the bark of cork oaks. This ensures that they stay alive and healthy and produce superior quality products.

Easy to clean and install.

Maintaining and cleaning cork floors is simple since they can be swept and vacuumed. Spills should be cleaned up immediately, and it is recommended to avoid methods that include water and mops. It is available as a parquet file, which can be glued to the subfloor or installed using a floating method. This option is also used as an underlayment for acoustic flooring.

Cheap with versatile

Despite its many benefits, cork is less expensive than other hardwood and engineered wood flooring options. It is also available in different styles, sizes and colours. Various designs and patterns can be created with cork planks and tiles. This is a perfect material for creating a beautifully patterned floor on a tight budget.

Cork floors are also easy to maintain and are comfortable, ecological, healthy and durable.

Tips for cleaning cork floors

It is an extremely durable option for homeowners. They are choosing to lead a sustainable life by using natural resources. This is one of the main reasons many choose eco-friendly building materials, such as natural fibre rugs and bamboo or cork flooring. 

Cork is naturally absorbent, making it extremely susceptible to staining from spills or water damage. Therefore, cork floors should be treated with a finishing agent that creates an invisible yet protective barrier. Although manufacturers often apply one agent before distribution, it is better to apply another agent after installation is complete.

Clean up spills immediately

Stains and spills are unavoidable in most homes. These things are likely to happen when children or pets are around. Therefore, spills must be cleaned up immediately if there is a cork floor. Otherwise, they can settle and cause stains to remain on the surface.

While soaking ceramic tile floors is fine for deep cleaning, doing the same with cork floors can cause serious damage. Cork floors are similar to hardwood floors in this regard. Exposure to too much moisture causes it to expand and warp. A slightly damp soft cloth can be used to clean. This method can provide excellent results when cleaning cork floors.

Cork floors are known to be naturally resistant. Its surface is smooth, which also means it is extremely sensitive to sand and dust. These can act as abrasives like sandpaper and scratch the cork flooring surface. The regular sweeping of cork floors can easily prevent this.

There are commercially available cleaning products specially designed for a specific type of floor. Like any other floor, cork floors can be deep cleaned with cleaning products specifically designed for this purpose. This will ensure that no damage to the floor occurs. However, even with these speciality cleansers, it’s always best to test them on an area that isn’t easily seen. This ensures that it is safe to use on the floor. Therefore, abrasive or ammonia-based cleaners should be avoided.