Put Cork Underfoot

Cork has been used for flooring for over a century. Finished cork floor can have the look of textured hardwood, the soft give of carpet, and the easy maintenance of vinyl. Throw in natural insulating and sound attenuation properties, and cork is an environmentally friendly flooring option worthy of attention.

Beneficial by Nature

A cross-section of cork resembles a honeycomb with over 100 million prism-shaped cells per cubic inch. Each cell is comprised mostly of air, making cork highly elastic and naturally insulating. Cork’s inherent “give” lets it be compressed up to 40 percent and still spring back to its original form. As flooring, cork feels softer than hardwood and warm underfoot, making it an obvious alternative to carpet.

The air within the cells also acts as sound insulation, which is why it is not uncommon to find museums floored in cork to deaden the clickety-clack of so many feet falling. “We find cork is being widely used in commercial projects like school hallways and museums, where sound reduction is important,” says Robert Sawyer of Amorim, a cork manufacturing company that makes the Wicanders line of cork floors, “but it works great in a residential setting, like a TV room, where acoustics play an important role.” In a condo requiring floors of a given impact insulation class (IIC) rating or less, cork passes the test, leaving the occupants in the unit below wondering if anyone at all is living upstairs.

Cork’s benefits come naturally, which makes it a wise choice for the environmentally conscious. It is a naturally fire-resistant material, and will not release toxins if it burns. Cork also boasts anti-microbial properties, allowing it to resist mold and mildew. Cork even naturally repels invasive insects like termites.