Cork Vs Bamboo Flooring

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

Cork vs bamboo flooring.

91 points cork flooring. If comfort is your priority nothing beats cork. Since bamboo is more resilient than hardwood though not as cork it is considered more durable than hardwood. Cork flooring can be installed as a floating floor or glued down.

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. Although it is commonly grouped with hardwood flooring bamboo is not actually a wood but rather a woody grass. This is true but the reality is slightly more complicated. While neither material innately involves destroying non renewable resources there is no requirement that any company that makes cork or bamboo flooring.

Cork is the more pet friendly of. The average price of cork flooring is between 3 to 5 per square foot. 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. 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.

Floating and adhesive installation options are also available for bamboo flooring but bamboo can be nailed down as well. Bamboo a native plant to tropical regions with heavy rainfalls grows much faster than hardwood and has a different cellular structure. If bamboo flooring is exposed to direct sunlight it can begin to lose some of its color. 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.

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. The final score is. Cork flooringis even more affordable. The installation methods for cork and bamboo flooring are similar except that bamboo has one more option than cork.

Even though both flooring types are affordable cork flooring has the edge and is the least expensive optionof the two. Bamboo is not wood. Ultimately your flooring decision comes down to personal taste or lifestyle. The main pro of cork and bamboo flooring sustainability.

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