Cork Flooring in Kitchen

4 years ago

Hello I need some help on best option for cork flooring in a new kitchen extension.

As far as I can see there are 2 option, glue down version (cheaper) and a clip version, a bit like laminate floor boards (more expensive). The end result needs to be flush with the existing floor and I/we will be laying it ourselves to save on money. (with basic DIY skills).

Do they have the same insulation and quality feel between the two? Is it just a case of ease of installation or is there more to it than that?

Are there any special floor prep, like underlay, (I'm assuming builders will damp proof) I need to be aware of?

Thank you all in advance for your help and advice.

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i-architect
4 years ago
Hi Amy!

I love cork flooring. It's really a sustainable material and has got some great properties, like sound and heat insulation.

I don't have personal experience of using cork in kitchens, but I do have experience of using it in bathrooms. I think bathrooms are actually tougher on cork than kitchens, especially if you have little kids who enjoy a lot of splashing in the bath like I do!! Kitchen floors rarely get as wet, so hopefully my experience with bathroom floors in cork will help you.

I'm not sure I understand from your post what the floor build-up is going to be, so I would need you to clarify a bit more on that to say anything much about the underlay or floor prep needed.

What I can tell you about is my experience of both the laminate type cork flooring and the glue down cork tiles.

My parents have had glue-down cork tiles, well sealed with varnish, in their family bathroom for at least 30 years and they are still going strong, although they could do with a gentle sand down and a recoat of varnish.

I did a major renovation of my bathroom about 6 years ago and used the laminate type of click together cork flooring, which is absolutely beautiful. The only thing is that it really has not stood up to use. However, it was never sealed with anything, so possibly a coat of varnish might help. I was really careful to select a version that was supposed to be suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms, but it hasn't coped with the amount of wet that happens in my bathroom. However, this is not to say that it wouldn't be OK in a kitchen if you are the kind of people to quickly clean up spills and notice and deal with leaks.

The problem with my bathroom was that the tap was faulty and leaked from day one, and I didn't notice for a long time because it was behind the pedestal and soaked under the flooring. So now my floor is completely ruined and I need to replace it. But it did look beautiful for a couple of years and it did suffer from a lot of abuse from unseen leaks and then was finished off by very splashy kids bathtimes!

For both bathrooms, mine and my parents, the cork floor is lovely to walk around on barefoot. You don't get the same chill that you get with tiles. So I would definitely use it again. I'm planning to replace my laminate cork floor in the bathroom with a high density cork tile instead and seal it well with some kind of eco-friendly varnish, once I've found one!

Hope this helps!

Jane

www.i-architect.co.uk
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Cork Flooring in Kitchen

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