Cork is an ideal choice for many reasons. If you're wondering how much it costs, here is our cork flooring pricing guide.
Let's first explore the many benefits of cork to better understand why it's such an ideal flooring choice.
Many homeowners feel the number one benefit of cork is that it is eco-friendly. Cork is produced from the bark of the cork tree and can be re-harvested every ten years without ever damaging the tree itself.
Cork is very much like hardwood flooring and therefore is treated and maintained in the same basic ways.
Cork is slightly softer underfoot compared to hardwood, it is also quieter than most hard surface floors.
Cork’s structural makeup makes it a great choice if you want your floor to give you an added layer of insulation. Cork will help prevent both heat and cooling loss, so it's great for both summer and winter.
Cork contains a natural ingredient called suberin, this waxy substance helps keep cork moisture resistant which in turn makes it mold and mildew resistant, giving you a cleaner healthier floor.
Cork floors are naturally resistant to invasive organisms as well as mold and mildew. This product is one of the more hypoallergenic flooring options available, making it an excellent choice for allergy sufferers.
The cellular nature of cork allows it to store warmth, making it one of the warmer flooring surfaces next to carpet. It's this same cellular structure, which also enables it to act as a sound barrier and insulator in areas that used to suffer from echoes or other sounds.
All of those benefits mean that cork is good for kitchens, offices, kid's rooms, living rooms, basements, and more.
Since cork is naturally shock absorbing, dropped glasses or dishes will be less likely to break. It works wonders for those who suffer from joint conditions and acts as a cushioned play surface for young children.
From a design perspective, cork flooring has a variety of textured dark, light, warm, and cool neutral colors, giving you a better opportunity to introduce pops of your favorite colors as an accent into the rest of the space.
>> See Consider Cork Flooring For Your Home: WE Cork Serenity Collection
When applied to cork, the term 'plank' refers to a floating floor installation, where cork has been laminated to a fiberboard center core with a tongue & groove edge. This allows for several advantages:
1. Subfloor preparation is less stringent.
2. The floor 'floats' and is less visibly affected by expansion and contraction normal to wood products.
3. Plank can be installed below grade.
4. Installation is relatively quick.
5. Thicker product provides better insulation.
The most popular cork flooring options are priced similarly to quality hardwood flooring.
Cork is usually installed in a family room in styles that are plank sizes such as 12" x 36".
The average price for just the materials will run between $6.99 s/f and $9.99 s/f.
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Cork installs for the same price as a hardwood floor averaging between $3.50 s/f and $4.00 s/f.
Like many hard surface flooring options, there could be many variables that would add to the installation cost.
First and foremost the existing subfloor for which it will be installed over must be flat with no dips or humps greater than 3/16" over a 10' radius.
If the floor is not flat you will need to sand high spots and/or fill low spots.
Basic floor prep will average between $1.50 and $3.00 s/f
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You will also need to consider base molding or shoe moldings to cover the expansion joint needed when installing cork flooring as well as transitions for doorways.
Given these considerations, an average 15' x 15' family room with no floor prep will run between $2200 and $2900.
Given the information in this cork flooring pricing guide, you have a better perspective on how to budget for new floors.
We invite you to explore one of our two showroom locations in Middletown or Orange. There, you can experience cork flooring firsthand. We'll be happy to discuss your specific questions.
In the meantime, let us know of any questions in the comments or contact us.
We look forward to helping you.
Thanks for reading,
Note: We originally published this article on 04/01/2020, and have updated it.