Cork Vs Bamboo Flooring

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

Cork vs bamboo flooring.

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. Cork is produced from the bark of the cork tree and can be re harvested every ten years without ever damaging the tree itself. Although it is commonly grouped with hardwood flooring bamboo is not actually a wood but rather a woody grass. Cork is the more pet friendly of.

Ultimately your flooring decision comes down to personal taste or lifestyle. If you re looking to minimize sound in your home you might want a different option. Bamboo and cork flooring are both thought of as sustainable options that provide a great alternative to traditional wood flooring. Since bamboo is more resilient than hardwood though not as cork it is considered more durable than hardwood.

The average price of cork flooring is between 3 to 5 per square foot. 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. Bamboo a native plant to tropical regions with heavy rainfalls grows much faster than hardwood and has a different cellular structure. This is true but the reality is slightly more complicated.

If comfort is your priority nothing beats cork. The final score is. The main pro of cork and bamboo flooring sustainability. Cork flooringis even more affordable.

Even though both flooring types are affordable cork flooring has the edge and is the least expensive optionof the two. 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. While neither material innately involves destroying non renewable resources there is no requirement that any company that makes cork or bamboo flooring. Bamboo is not wood.

91 points cork flooring. If bamboo flooring is exposed to direct sunlight it can begin to lose some of its color. 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. On average bamboo flooring is more affordable at 5 to 7 per square foot.

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.