When it comes time to replace your flooring, hardwood is often considered the bellwether material. But that may be changing! While there are a lot of great advantages to hardwood flooring, other materials such as cork are becoming much more popular. If you’re wondering why this is, you might be asking many of the same questions that others ask about cork flooring. Is it durable? Is it easy to install? Is cork flooring more expensive than wood? We’ll answer all these questions and more in this post.
Is Cork Flooring More Expensive Than Wood?
Generally speaking, cork flooring is cheaper than hardwood. Of course, if you compared the most expensive cork flooring to the cheapest wood you could find, the previous statement might not hold true. It’s also important to keep in mind if you’re looking at exotic hardwood species that you’ll end up paying a substantial premium. However, after all the costs are added up, cork often comes out more economical. Much of this has to do with the cost of installation. So again, generally speaking, cork flooring is cheaper than wood.
Is Cork Flooring Durable?
When it comes to durability, cork has its advantages and its disadvantages. Cork flooring is superior to hardwood when it comes to water resistance. If you consider that cork is used to plug wine bottles, you could see how it would make an excellent flooring material for kitchens and bathrooms. The honeycomb structure of cork also adds a shock-absorbing element that makes it quite durable. On the other hand, cork is much softer than hardwood which can make it somewhat more prone to scratches and gouges.
Is Cork Flooring Easy To Install?
When it comes to installation, cork is generally much easier to install than hardwood flooring. This makes it attractive to DIYers and those who consider themselves handy with making clean cuts. Hardwood flooring, on the other hand, is something that’s typically considered a ‘professionals only’ job. That said, if you don’t have the time, patience or skills to do it yourself, hiring a professional installer will alleviate the hassle and still be cheaper than having hardwood installed.
