What do you think of a cork floor in a kitchen?
by
Karen F
+3
6 answers
-
Karen, I don't have a strong position one way or the other. I'm commenting only because it is important to understand there is a huge difference between the cork floors of yesteryear, which were absolutely awful, and the ones of today. So if you get a negative comment, make sure they are commenting on the right stuff. Don't hesitate to contact me and I can make arrangements to have you visit a contractor-only flooring place where they will give you the straight scoop.Tim
Hewitt Remodeling Services LLC
on Jun 09, 2011
-
While cork is an attractive and comfortable floor to stand on it is one of the LEAST durable flooring products out there. Cork should be limited to bedrooms where chances of water damage are nil. Routine mopping and the rigors of "Kitchen life" will take their toll quickly on a cork floor. A few years back I had a client who had cork installed in an upper level bedroom, after the construction was done one of the guys on the cleaning crew "mopped" up. With just one careless mopping all of the edges swelled up and and floor looked like crap. It was a real drag for the home owner, because the floor was brand new...even weeks after the mopping the floor never regained its "pre-mopping" look of even and tight seams. I recommended he install solid hardwood up there, but he said he liked the look of the cork. I was the tile contractor on that project. He had a buddy install the cork. Afterwards he admitted he should have had me install a real hardwood floor.
KMS Woodworks
on Jun 09, 2011
-
So the newer cork floors do work in a kitchen?
Tina F
on Jun 09, 2011
-
Tina, I put 26 years in the navy and retired as a Captain. I realized in my later, more senior years, that when you get to that level, people have a tendency to hang on every word. So, I have learned to be somewhat careful how I say things and especially careful not to endorse people or products unless I had either experience with it myself or people I trust have and can speak intelligently on the subject. In 1985, we needed a van for a growing family so we bought a new VW vanagon. Consumer Reports tore it apart. That was the best doggone vehicle I have ever owned, shy of the Honda we own now. I learned a valuable lesson from that as well. To answer your question, I don't know enough about the new cork floors to endorse them. It would take a whole lot of convincing before I put one in the kitchen or bathroom of one of my customers because I am old-school. On the other hand, I didn't want to bad-mouth a product based on my old experiences. I said in my other response I don't have a strong position one way or the other. The more I think about it, I guess my position is pretty evident and it is not neutral. I think the reason I answered at all is because we all tend to cling to our old opinions of things, not knowing that the product or the material has changed significantly. I wanted to point out that it is not the same as the old stuff, even if it still isn't the best choice for kitchens or baths. There are a considerable number of articles on the web regarding cork floors. The problem is who do you believe. I don't mean to be cynical, but the manufacturers are the last ones I would believe. They, of course, are the ones pushing it. Here is one from ehow, which seems to be straight forward. http://www.ehow.com/facts_4798504_pros-cons-cork-flooring.html The best advice I can give you is if you are considering a new cork floor, contact me and I'll get you into a local contractor-only flooring place where no one works on commission or works for a specific manufacturer. They want to please me more than you so they aren't going to push a product in a specific application that they think I as the contractor am going to have trouble with down the road. They upset you, they lose your endorsement and the 1.2 potential leads you were going to bring. They lose my endorsement, they lose a whole bunch of "yous"... :) Tim
Hewitt Remodeling Services LLC
on Jun 09, 2011
-
@ tina...NO....This cork that got ruined was the new kind...pricy too. I always recommend tile for kitchens and baths...hardwood in living or dining and bedrooms. If you want your floor to last...and look good. You need to keep in mind the concerns for each area of the home. Wet or potentially wet = tile.
KMS Woodworks
on Jun 09, 2011
-
In MInnesota, the choice for flooring in MANY kitchens is hardwood. With the proper seal and poly, you can get a lifetime of beautiful use and the warmth of real wood. And I agree with the comment about not using cork in the kitchen.....
Kimmer
on Jun 09, 2011
Sign Up to Answer
Related Discussions
Suggested Project Book
