Kitchen Cork Floor

Learn Something About Cork Flooring

Creating a kitchen cork floor may seem slightly ridiculous on first thought. After all, a floor made of the same material that stops your wine bottles? It is a little hard to imagine. However, it has been done, and is actually becoming increasingly popular due to its durability, beautiful appearance, and level of comfort on the bare feet.

Before you can appreciate cork as a flooring material you will need to understand what it actually is. Corks are made from the bark of cork oak trees, which grow in several Mediterranean countries. It has a honeycomb cellular structure that can be compressed and then returns to its normal shape. It is also very resilient (which translates to cushioned under the feet), and insulted (which translates to warmth under the feet). Thinking about these facts about cork can help you begin to see why this is a very special and popular flooring material.

There are many other benefits to a kitchen cork floor other than comfort and beauty. The same honeycomb structure that makes the cork soft and comfortable also makes it a great noise barrier. If your kitchen is above a basement room in use, this can be very beneficial for those beneath your feet.

Another benefit of a kitchen cork floor is that it is durable and easy to maintain. In fact, it cleans much the same way as laminates. Due to the resiliency of the material and the fact that it is not damaged by water (see below) it is more durable than any other type of flooring that you could put into your kitchen.

Perhaps the most important benefit of cork is that it is the healthiest and safest of all flooring materials. Suberin is a naturally occurring waxy substance within the cells of cork. This substance actually acts as an insect repellant as well as an anti-allergen. This substance also prevents the cork from rotting or becoming damaged due to moisture. It is also fire resistant, and does not let off any toxic gases when it does burn.

A kitchen cork floor is also very easy to install. The flooring comes in planks about one foot wide and three feet long. These planks have grooves similar to a tongue and groove, but are designed to fit together for a tight seal. No adhesives or nails are necessary. In fact, this is likely the easiest flooring to install in your home.

These floors have very easy maintenance and cleaning as well. Frequent sweeping or vacuuming is recommended, but you will only need to run over this surface with a damp mop about once per month. As with any flooring that uses a sealer of some type, you will want to use a pH balanced cleaner when you mop the floors, and avoid abrasive cleaners such as ammonia.

There really aren’t any disadvantages to a kitchen cork floor other than cost. This type of flooring is perhaps the most expensive that you could possibly buy and install in your home. However, the cost is worth every penny. This is a type of flooring that you will likely never need to replace, and it will add a lot of value to the resale value of your home.

In the end, this type of flooring is well worth every penny if you can afford the purchase of the materials. It is comfortable, safe, and repels insects. Kitchen cork floors are also a renewable resource, making them environmentally friendly.