If you don't think that cork is an attractive flooring alternative to hardwood flooring or carpeting, take a look at a few pictures of cork floors. You just might change your mind.
Cork Floor Examples
Cork is becoming an increasingly popular flooring alternative to consumers who are considering installing hardwood floors in their homes. It is less expensive, equally as durable, and the end result is just as beautiful as any hardwood floor. Unlike hardwood, no trees are harmed in the production process of cork, making the material sustainable and earth friendly.
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This medium-toned cork panel has a natural pattern that will add an interesting visual element to any room design. |
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Consider this bright white cork when your goal is to lighten up an already dark room design. |
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Choose this cork panel design when you want to add an attention-grabbing textural element to your room. |
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This highly detailed natural cork will add warmth and character to any home office or kitchen. |
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This light colored cork panel is perfect for brightening up a room while at the same time adding visual interest without overpowering the overall room design. Light-colored cork floors are perfect for playrooms or children's bedrooms that are designed around bright primary colors. |
More Pictures of Cork Floors
- Cork Floor - This website has a variety of different cork floor designs including mosaics and colored and patterned cork flooring.
- Eco Friendly Flooring - Look through the pictures of cork floors on this website dedicated to earth-friendly flooring materials. You will find examples of natural, light and dark cork flooring used in a variety of different rooms.
The Many Benefits of Cork Flooring
- It is earth friendly - Only the bark from a cork tree is harvested for the production of cork products. Once harvested, it takes around six to nine years for the bark to grow back, making cork a realistic, environmentally sustainable product.
- Cork is a natural insulator and energy efficient - Cork contains natural air pockets, making it the perfect sound and shock absorber. These natural air pockets also absorb heat, making it perfect for installing over radiant floor heating systems.
- It is extremely durable - The natural ability of cork to resist friction, scratches and denting makes it extremely durable. An additional sealant is often applied on cork floors, increasing its level of durability.
- It is anti-microbial - Cork contains the substance Suberin, a natural insect repellent. Termites cannot penetrate cork floors nor can microbial colonies survive in or on cork floors.
- Cork is hypoallergenic - Cork does not attract or absorb the common household dust particles that irritate allergies.
- It is fire resistant - Suberin, the same substance that helps cork repel insects and microbes, makes cork fire resistant. Cork flooring is very difficult to burn and will withstand higher temperatures than other types of flooring, before actually catching on fire. Additionally, cork does not release toxic chemicals into the air when burned.
The Disadvantages of Cork Flooring
There really are no disadvantages to cork flooring. There are however, a couple of issues that can lead to possible problems.
- If you are considering using cork flooring in a room with heavy furniture, use furniture pads under the legs to prevent denting.
- Although cork is naturally water resistant and a sealant is applied to further prevent water damage, don't use cork floor in a room that has any water leakage problems. A bathroom with a toilet leak or a laundry room with a hose leak would not be good places to install cork flooring.
Take a Good Look at Cork Floors
There's more than one reason to take a look at cork floors. Environmentally sustainable, energy friendly, and visually interesting, this type of flooring is going to become more common as people begin to look outside of traditional flooring options.
