Conscious Choice: Cork Tiles

October 2001 | Sensible Home

Cork Tiles

by James Dulley

Dear Jim: At a recent home show, I saw some beautiful cork floor tiles. I am remodeling my kitchen now and I hate cold floors. Will the cork tiles provide insulation and warmth and are they durable? — Lisa T.

Dear Lisa: When people think of cork, wine bottles and message boards usually pop into their minds. Cork tiles have been used as flooring for generations and are one of the best flooring materials available.

Cork tiles, available in many sizes (one-foot squares, one-by-three-foot planks, rolls), colors, and patterns, are also a good choice for other rooms in your house. Many people, particularly those with allergies, are switching from wall-to-wall carpeting to smooth, easy-to-clean flooring.

Cork not only insulates and keeps your feet warm in the winter, but it is slightly resilient for better comfort. My cousin installed cork tiles in her kitchen and at Easter dinner, a child accidentally dropped a glass. Even though the floor feels very rigid, the glass did not break.

Cork is durable (some brands have a twenty-five-year warranty) and is commonly used in high-traffic areas such as libraries and public places. The resilience and sound-absorbing qualities are noticeable, especially in a house with screaming kids. Even with a high-gloss finish, it retains much of its sound absorption.

The natural patterns in the cork are beautiful and unique. Colors can range from near-white to dark browns. These natural colors depend on how long the cork material is baked under high heat and pressure to form the tiles. Pigments can also be added to create brilliant red, blue, and green patterns.

Cork is an earth-friendly flooring material. The bark is peeled from cork oak trees, a process that is actually good for the trees and keeps them strong and healthy. The tree bark heals and every nine years, up to about 150 years, the bark is peeled again for more cork.

Each inch of cork tile contains more than 100 million tiny air cells giving it insulation and resilience. This also makes it resistant to indentations from chair and table legs. There is natural waxy compound, suberin, in cork that seals the cells and repels insects, mold, and dirt.

Cork tiles are available with several finish options: glossy urethane, matte urethane, acrylic, waxed, and unfinished. It is easy to install the cork tiles yourself using ones that are prefinished with the urethane or acrylic. Acrylic finishes are more natural but require somewhat more care.

For professional installation, unfinished tiles are ideal. When the entire floor is laid, the tiles can be finished with several coats of urethane. A natural carnauba wax finish gives the floor a rich look and enhances the textures.

Write for (or instantly download) Update Bulletin No. 981, buyer’s guide of nine cork floor tile manufacturers listing tile sizes, colors, finishes, thicknesses, features, typical patterns, and installation instructions. Please include $3.00 and a business-size SASE. James Dulley, Conscious Choice, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244.

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