The Reality of Cork Flooring (they're just not as durable as they claim)

I recently came across this article about cork flooring on the Atomic Ranch website...

https://www.atomic-ranch.com/architecture-design/all-about-cork-flooring

As a veteran of cork flooring, I feel a particular responsibility to let the world know the "real" story on cork floors.

I love cork flooring.  I really do.  But I think the author's claim that it's durable is really a disservice to her readers.

I laid cork flooring in my entrance and kitchen 10 years ago.  I love how warm and supple they are.  I love the color and the look.  I love that the material is a very renewable resource.  I love that dropped glasses in the kitchen *bounce* right off the floor!

However, I do not love how they have faded so drastically; the area in the entrance with south facing windows is practically white now.  I also do not love the deep scratches from our dogs (think "furrowed farm fields").  I don't love that some of the panels that got wet when our ice maker malfunctioned have shrunk and left huge cracks and separations.  I don't love the random deep craters here and there where chunks of the cork have decomposed and disappeared.

Most homeowners think of "durable" as ceramic tile, hardwood, LPV.  These are surfaces that you can take a hammer to, track mud and gravel across, and submerge in water.  That is what "durable" means to the average American homeowner.

I do think cork can be semi-durable, but to make it so takes a lot of work. You need to treat cork flooring with a protective coating often.  And I don't mean just a mild wax.  For it to hold up to  average American house hold abuse, you need to literally *polyurethane* it at least once a month.  And that means getting it *squeaky* clean before applying the poly (or you will seal dirt and other contaminates in). This is an insane amount of upkeep compared to just about any other flooring.

I have been thinking about a replacement for far too long (it's been pretty bad for a couple years now).  The decision is difficult, because I really loved the cork... when it was new.

I will likely end up going with MCM-appropriate slate in the entrance (virtually impervious to mud, water, dogs, etc.), but for the kitchen, I'm having a much harder time deciding.  I would go with tile, but I've gotten spoiled with being able to drop things on cork (not to mention how great it feels on bare feet).  I've actually considered using the rubber flooring they put down in horse stalls.  I love it's durability and springiness, but it definitely lacks in the aesthetics department.  I think LPV is a good choice, but I have yet to find any options that look the way I want in my very Midcentury Mod kitchen ("wood look" just doesn't cut it).  I've actually considered going "old school" and gluing down Marmoleum in either sheet or squares, but I really don't want to mess with prepping the floor and all that glue.

So I'm at a loss.  I yearn for the look and feel of the cork I already have, but after ten years I now know it just isn't durable enough for my household, no matter what Jickie says. ;-)


My previous two posts on cork flooring (see how I progressively grow more sad):

http://realmod.blogspot.com/2011/08/cork-flooring.html

http://realmod.blogspot.com/2014/04/cork-flooring-revisited.html

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