Cork Floor FAQ

Curious about cork?

But don't know where to start? This list of common misconceptions, queries, and general disquietude about this latest environmental do-goodery in the home should get you on the right track to a renovation sensation.

I like my cork in wine bottles, how come it's in floors now?

The dispassionate distributor of all things material has determined that cork has a cheaper, equally effective alternative for keeping oxygen from fragile liquids like wine. Whereas, profits are to be had employing cork as a first-rate floor finish. But fear not, cautious consumer, profits are not gratuitous. Cork is easily as affordable as most wood floors, averaging around five dollars a square foot.

I am not a handy carpenter, having a cork floor installed will undoubtedly double the price. What now?

Cork is soft, the fiberboard on which it is mounted is not terribly difficult to cut, and the product is available both in planks and smaller tiles. If you are not comfortable with planks, using tiles would likely minimize the amount of cutting and the precision with which it needs to be done. Plus, you will learn a little about handling a saw, and a lot about the benefits of a cork floor.

I just bought a ton of wood flooring that I really like, but cork sounds advantageous. Is cork still an option for me?

But, of cork! Cork underlayment comes in rolls 50 feet long and four feet wide. It works just like carpet foam but better. It will gently soften under your tired feet, insulate your homes and room from unwanted sound, and save your heated or conditioned air from escaping the room. And it simply rolls out to be stapled or glued to the floor with ease.

I've heard cork is a renewable resource and an efficient one at that. Is there a chance I may turn vegetarian or purchase an electric vehicle?

Not likely, cork is being used in new construction and renovation by the smartest and most sophisticated homeowners. It is harvested from cork trees, which are not harmed in the process, leaving them to produce more cork. The product itself is sometimes made a half-inch thick, but is plenty effective at just over an eighth of an inch. Common sense products like cork flooring do not reflect political views or lifestyle choices, just good judgment.