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Cork
Cork offers some very tangible benefits. It’s naturally water resistant and repels the development of mold and mildew because of it’s anti-microbial properties. Cork has both sound and temperature insulating properties and it’s abrasion-resistant too. Cork is obtained from the cork oak but the tree isn’t consumed in the process. Rather, the cork is from the bark of the tree which is harvested every several years making it a sustainable product choice. A broad number of cork sources provides a range of products to choose from.
Pros
- Resilient – provides cushion underfoot
- Warm surface due to its natural insulating properties
- Provides a unique look and various design styles
- Mostly a natural product (except for adhesives that bind the cork particles together) and derived from a sustainable environmental process
- Good sound insulating properties
- Durable and abrasion resistant despite its ‘softness’ due to its density
- Has anti-microbial properties and is naturally resistant to mold and moisture
Cons
- May require re-sealing periodically to restore the protective finish (depending on the type of finish used)
- Some cork products may contain urea-formaldehyde based binders which can be a health concern due to off-gassing of VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
- Will fade with exposure to light
- Despite its resiliency it will indent under consistent loads (like furniture legs, etc.)