Is that cork on your floor?
When most people hear the word CORK, they usually think of a wine cork or a city in Ireland. But what doesn't easily come to mind are the exciting possibilities that can be done to cork as a flooring product. This article will outline the different aspects of cork flooring and try to articulate answers to the common questions about cork's application, specifically for flooring and underlayment. I know nothing about corks for wine bottles so please quit emailing me those queries. And no, I do not know how to cork a bat.
Cork offers a unique aesthetic presentation combined with some really cool features. Most notably: sound absorption, hypoallergenic properties and comfort. In addition, the natural insulation properties found in cork, as well as its versatile selection of colors really round up to a very distinct floor cover offering. And to top it off, cork is now available as a click together floating floor! Now this should really bring it out of the cobwebs of flooring showrooms worldwide.
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Cork history
Where does cork come from? Well, I'm glad you asked. Cork is from the cork oak tree, or perhaps more accurately, the bark of that tree. Isn’t it weird that bark from a tree can produce such an interesting floor? These oak trees are of the Mediterranean variety, and are not the same as a northern red oak. The bark is harvested every 8-10 years over the total life span of the tree that is typically 150-200 years (depending on who is quoting you the facts). These trees, which are mainly found in Portugal, Spain and parts of North Africa, are creating a very sustainable supply of flooring and other cork-based products. Indeed, cork flooring has reportedly been around Europe for more than 1000 years. Heck, even the flooring giant Armstrong Flooring started selling cork when they entered the business over a 100 years ago.
Now about that wine cork... Cork flooring is actually a by-product in the manufacture of cork stoppers. The residuals from the stopper production is collected and then used to create the different patterns and colors by adding pigment into the process.
It feels so good!
You can't really say much about how nice flooring feels unless you are talking about cork or carpeting. You can, however, immediately feel the difference underfoot when walking on a cork floor especially if the cork is installed using a floating installation method (rather than being glued down like the older, more traditional cork tiles). It is hard to describe the unique feel of cork when you test it for the first time. I must say that it still surprises me when I walk on cork. It really is quite astonishing to really stop and feel that your floor is really nice to walk and stand on despite it being a "hard surface" floor (i.e. not carpeting - which is referred to as soft surface flooring within the industry).
Even floors like hardwood or laminate that are installed using a floating installation system can benefit from the sound absorption of cork. By using an underlayment that is made of cork, you can really make the floor sound better on the surface and reduce the downward transference to almost nil. There is really a major difference on how more "solid" a floor feels as you walk on it, which is, in part, the actual feel and partly the reduced echo effect often found in floating floors. The impact is significant, but goes unnoticed by many since they have not had the experience of comparing the different floors and underlayments like I have. However, let me just say that getting the best underlayment you can afford is well worth it for the solid feel, the added comfort and the sound factor.
At our office we had an area that needed flooring and that area was where a staff member was to spend hours at a time on his feet. So we thought that cork would be useful. (Plus we had some mismatched leftovers and I am too cheap to buy a floor. Ironic isn't it – a floor guy unwilling to invest in a floor?). We also had a power saw in that room that was used for cutting flooring samples and knew that cork would help reduce the sound both in the room and in the offices that were adjacent to this area. Because we had some leftover boxes of cork in several different colors, we decided to install this over the concrete in a random pattern. Besides the floor looking nice, it really felt great.
I still walk in that office from time to time just to feel how nice that floor feels. I believe that it reduces fatigue, as well, which enhances the workplace. And though I am not aware of any specific studies about cork flooring and reduced tension and/or fatigue, I do know that there is significant amount of data that suggests a more comfortable environment can lead to reduced stress and higher levels of productivity.
It sounds so good!
Cork really has a powerful sound deadening quality to it. Due to cork's natural tendency to absorb sound, it can really be a great option when it comes to adding a bit of serenity to your home. Can you imagine a den with a cork floor aided by a cork underlayment for additional sound neutralization? What a peaceful place that would be! And for the more practical among us, if you have an area upstairs - perhaps a kid's playroom or bedroom that you are concerned about, a cork floor (or at least a cork underlayment) is exactly what the doctor ordered. You will be amazed at the difference in the level of sanity a family room with children at play (that prior to cork flooring sounded like a NASCAR Pit Row) compares to the newly liberated tranquility zone that a cork floor can create. Well maybe not quite that dramatic – but you can be assured it will be a big difference.
In addition to the sound benefit, you will also find that your children's injuries will typically be reduced by one severity level from the current playroom industry standard CLASS 3 - "Just fell off the shelf I'm not supposed to climb; plunged onto the hardwood and fractured my wrist…" to a more acceptable CLASS 4 - "Broken toy, bruised ego, bones intact." Yes one could say that cork flooring saves the children.
Cork for Condos
Your condo association will love you if you decide to be the pioneer of cork flooring for your area (to really score brownie points use the added cork underlayment). Let me tell you in the interest of full disclosure that I do not own any stock in any condo association boards. As a matter of general tolerance, I loathe condo boards. I realize that boards set all kinds of rules for condo dwellers to live by which are to "help" everyone. I have worn the yoke of condo association cruelty and have decided that for me personally, I prefer a single-family dwelling. (Although as I mow my 1.75 acre lawn I reminisce longingly about condo living.)
Anyway, without delving deeper into the politics of condo associations, let us all agree that noise transference from upstairs neighbors to downstairs neighbors is a problem that must be solved for the benefit of all condominium citizenry. Flooring is especially regulated to ensure that a selection like a solid hardwood is not allowed. Such a selection would indeed aggravate any underside neighbor due to the efficient sound movement through the wood and into the unit below. However, there is a solution that offers the personal shopping for flooring a very liberal range of flooring options yet balances the needs of the lower dwelling.
You guessed it, C-O-R-K. Cork as a floor will score well when it comes to sound. Cork flooring installed as a floating system and using a cork underlayment (as thick as you can afford – but a minimum of 6mm) will really set a new benchmark for happy relations between 'up-sters' and 'down-sters.'
Even if you do not want cork as your primary surface, you are well advised to combine a cork underlayment with a floating laminate, hardwood or bamboo floor. This system will pass even the most stringent noise or sound regulation that even the most tyrannical condo board can muster.
Most North American condo boards require 6 mm cork underlayment to reduce sound, and that is about the equivalent of 6" of concrete. Let me repeat - 6 millimeters of cork is, in terms of sound deadening capability, equal to 6 inches of concrete. This is the standard for condos right now - but may increase in the future so a cork floor + cork underlayment would really be a home run. Although I am not up to speed on the British and EU standards, I can assure you that cork will improve your situation regardless of where you live.
3 mm. is also available and useful, but if you can afford it - get the 6 mm.
Cork Underlayment does not emit gas/odor (that usually comes from the adhesives used) plus it will not break down like foam. Cork has memory, therefore, when an impact causes it to dent, it will recover over time unlike a foam or fiber underlayment.
(Btw - if you are on a condo board and feel unappreciated or offended by my comments please forward all hate mail to my email address.)
Where can cork go?
Cork can be installed in most areas of the home or office. It is in fact a very tough floor when constructed properly and with appropriate finish. There are many examples of commercial installations of cork, however, most are still in the traditional glue-down applications. The click together floating systems are relatively recent introductions to the cork world.
But if you are thinking towards a home usage, you can go just about anywhere in the house except heavily wet areas like bathrooms, laundry rooms or other areas that would be routinely wet. For the same reasons that I don't like hardwood or any other wood product in wet areas, I must draw my own personal ban on using it in bathrooms.
Even after this warning I will still receive hundreds of emails asking if their bathroom is OK for cork. You decide where you want to install it, but I am just telling you that I personally EXCLUDE heavily wet areas from wood-based products including cork. But if you want to install it in a powder room or a laundry room or other areas, go for it. My advice is to make sure your insurance coverage is current.
Cork is a good candidate for kitchen flooring. This is an area where you are on your feet for long durations (think Thanksgiving) and could use a much-deserved reprieve for your feet. (They will thank you at the end of another holiday cooking marathon!) Yes, I do realize that kitchens can have water, but overall, I feel comfortable with that recommendation.
Some experts recommend adding an extra coat of finish for kitchen areas if you want to add a higher level of protection for your flooring, which I do not oppose. If you have an especially active household or feel that you could benefit from this added coating, you’ll need to make sure you know what type of surface finish is applied on your flooring and what new finish product you should use to add the extra coat.
Here are some other areas that are perfect for cork flooring:
- Foyer or Entry
- Living Room
- Dining Room
- Family Room
- Play Rooms
- Bedrooms
- Media Rooms
- Dens
For the office setting, virtually any area can have cork floors. Although again, I forbid you from installing it in bathrooms and, in this case, I would even be careful about installation in an office kitchen-type of area. This is because commercial kitchen usage seems to set new standards for how poorly floors can be maintained, I would say that a budget-friendlier idea is a vinyl surface or tile. Both of these options will be better long term.
Even retail applications like main street stores, hair salons, museums, yoga or dance studios and even coffee shops are perfect applications for cork. Cork with proper maintenance can stand up well in commercial applications, especially light commercial or what is commonly called main street commercial. It is often prudent to add an extra coat of finish to cork flooring every few years to prevent any damage to the cork itself. This process is called re-coating. (Works for other floors as well - but the type of finish is a key factor so don't assume that you can do this without knowing about the finish compatibility, as well as what has been used in the past to maintain the floor. Also, in general, waxes are bad for your floors.)
Types of finish
There are two main types of flooring finishes that are used on cork floors today. One is a polyurethane acrylic base and the other is a water-based finish.
Which one is better? The answer to that depends on whom you ask. However, my own slightly biased view is that for the environment’s sake, a water-based finish is more eco-friendly. A cork expert with whom I agree with made that similar point. She went on to explain that water-based finishes are also less likely to yellow with exposure to light.
Of course, the proponents of the urethane/acrylic finishes will fire back and say that their finish is a bit tougher and, therefore, will protect your flooring better. Further, they will assert that you can achieve a wider range of compatibility for top coating your floor as well as having a very nice gloss level.
Overall, I do believe that part of this decision is based on economics. The water-based finished products are a bit more expensive than the urethane/acrylic floors. You can determine for yourself what finish you like and how much you are willing to spend.
