Cork Vs Bamboo Flooring

If you prefer a material similar to traditional wood flooring bamboo might be right for you.

Cork vs bamboo flooring.

On average bamboo flooring is more affordable at 5 to 7 per square foot. This grass is cut at the ground level and regrows from the roots another five to seven years after each harvest. Floating and adhesive installation options are also available for bamboo flooring but bamboo can be nailed down as well. Bamboo is also vulnerable to damage from sunlight especially over a long period of time.

Cork flooring is made from wood bark so it can be harvested without killing the tree. The main pro of cork and bamboo flooring sustainability. This means that putting bamboo or cork flooring in locations where it will get a lot of sun is not a good idea which can be a significant drawback. Cork flooring is very often chosen because it is a renewable resource unlike hardwood in which trees are killed during the harvest.

Cork is the more pet friendly of. The hardness of bamboo is rated similar to hardwood according to the janka index that rates bamboo harder than oak ash and maple among others. Like bamboo cork flooring is a eco friendly material that is available in a variety of colors and designs. However it is also moisture sensitive.

Cork trees reach maturity at 25 years. Ultimately your flooring decision comes down to personal taste or lifestyle. In contrast bamboo reaches maturity in just five to seven years. Cork flooring is even more affordable.

The number one benefit that cork and bamboo have over hardwood flooring as manufactures and retailers of both products are eager to point out is their eco friendly credentials. Cork flooring can be discolored or lightened by repeated exposure to sunlight. If comfort is your priority nothing beats cork. Bamboo is made from the fibers of the bamboo grass plant which continues to grow after the stalks are cut.

Cork flooring can be installed as a floating floor or glued down. Since bamboo is more resilient than hardwood though not as cork it is considered more durable than hardwood. The average price of cork flooring is between 3 to 5 per square foot. Cork is produced from the bark of the cork tree and can be re harvested every ten years without ever damaging the tree itself.

If this virtue is important to you another flooring material to consider is bamboo. The installation methods for cork and bamboo flooring are similar except that bamboo has one more option than cork.