Cork Vs Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo and cork flooring are both thought of as sustainable options that provide a great alternative to traditional wood flooring.

Cork vs bamboo flooring.

Neither bamboo nor cork are completely waterproof but both are water resistant and could work with pets as long as you are diligent about cleaning up quickly. If comfort is your priority nothing beats cork. 91 points cork flooring. Bamboo a native plant to tropical regions with heavy rainfalls grows much faster than hardwood and has a different cellular structure.

Cork is the more pet friendly of. This is true but the reality is slightly more complicated. Bamboo is not wood. 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.

The main pro of cork and bamboo flooring sustainability. While neither material innately involves destroying non renewable resources there is no requirement that any company that makes cork or bamboo flooring. If bamboo flooring is exposed to direct sunlight it can begin to lose some of its color. Cork flooringis even more affordable.

Even though both flooring types are affordable cork flooring has the edge and is the least expensive optionof the two. The installation methods for cork and bamboo flooring are similar except that bamboo has one more option than cork. Bamboo flooring cons bamboo s hardness is usually considered a strength but this feature also makes the flooring noisier than a softer pick like cork. While bamboo loses out on comfort underfoot scoring just 2 to bamboo s 10 and its lower air quality score it claws back some points on ease of installation and water resistance.

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. Floating and adhesive installation options are also available for bamboo flooring but bamboo can be nailed down as well. Cork flooring can be installed as a floating floor or glued down. The average price of cork flooring is between 3 to 5 per square foot.

Although it is commonly grouped with hardwood flooring bamboo is not actually a wood but rather a woody grass. If you re looking to minimize sound in your home you might want a different option. If you prefer a material similar to traditional wood flooring bamboo might be right for you. Cork is produced from the bark of the cork tree and can be re harvested every ten years without ever damaging the tree itself.

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