Cork Laminate Flooring

Cork & laminate flooring are both in wide use today. Cork is a “green” alternative type of flooring. It is made from a cork veneer, bearing the floor’s design, being attached to a core layer of cork. In laminate flooring, manufacturers combine a thin, see-through wear layer on top of a photographic image printed to look like hardwood planks. Follow these tips to make your choice between cork & laminate flooring:

1. Go green. Cork tiles are manufactured from the bark of the cork oak tree. Cork floors are considered to be eco-friendly since the bark is stripped every nine to ten years, and does not damage the tree. Unlike cork, laminate flooring is made with a plywood or medium density fiberboard core with a plastic laminate top layer. It is therefore a less eco-friendly choice than cork.

2. Comparison shop. You can find both cork & laminate flooring online, or you can go to your local home improvement store. When shopping, remember that less is not always best. While you may save money on less expensive laminate, it is not of the same high quality as cork, and you may end up spending more in the long run when you have to replace your floor sooner than expected.

3. Look at fringe benefits. Cork flooring is a great insulator for heat, cold and noise. It is a soft type of flooring, great for areas where you will be standing for a long time (for example as kitchen flooring). It is also resistant to mold and mildew, due to a naturally occurring substance called suberin. Another plus is cork is easy to clean; you just need to sweep and mop it regularly.

With all the benefits of cork, it’s easy to see why it beats out laminate as the fixed and floating flooring options of choice for many homeowners.