Do you ever stand in the flooring aisle of your local home improvement store and wonder what material will work best for your design needs? With a large selection to chose from, the process can be overwhelming. Thankfully, all products have pros and cons that should enable you to distinguish the good, the bad and the ugly. Cork flooring is no exception. Cork floors are used in both residential and commercial properties; however, like any innovative product, there are some disadvantages associated with this type of flooring.
History
Cork is a rapidly-renewable resource harvested from cork oak trees. While cork is commonly known for wine corks, bulletin boards and Birkenstocks, it has proved to be a widely used, versatile material. First manufactured in the early twentieth century, cork flooring soon became widely popular and was even used by design legends like Frank Lloyd Wright.
Color
Limited color selection is one disadvantage of cork floors. Because it is a natural material, only a small quantity of shades and patterns are available. In addition, the darker colors are susceptible to fading when exposed to direct sunlight.Therefore, proper placement is a crucial consideration.
Placement
Keeping with other natural, resilient flooring, cork is not immune to gouging and damage from sharp objects. Heavy foot traffic is an important consideration when determining where to install cork floors.
Sealing and Cleaning
The daunting task of re-finishing or re-staining cork can become a burden due to the nature of the material. Cork must be initially sealed, and re-sealed every few years in order to protect the integrity of the material by keeping dirt and moisture at bay. Since cork has a thin outer layer, moisture and excessive dirt can easily damage the flooring. In addition to the added maintenance of sealing the floor, cork cannot tolerate regular cleaning products and, therefore, requires special attention. A solvent paste wax is recommended, but this process can be rather time consuming to apply.
Considerations
Determine the intended end use of your space before deciding to install a cork floor. Ask yourself these important questions:
What is the cleaning procedure for the space, and will my budget and time allow for proper maintenance?
Will the floor be exposed to direct sunlight?
Will there be a large amount of heavy furniture?
Are women with high heels expected to walk through the space often?
Tags: disadvantages, cork, floors, direct sunlight, exposed direct, exposed direct sunlight, install cork
