Bamboo or Cork-The Best Green Flooring Option for Your Home

The flooring of a home is a long-term investment and everybody wants to make sure that he chooses the best flooring material for his home.

In today’s eco-conscious world, homeowners are looking for eco-friendly materials when it comes to the remodeling of their homes. Floors are no exception. For many years, hardwood was the gold standard for green flooring. However, there are more flooring materials that have made their mark: bamboo and cork. Both flooring materials are made from renewable resources. They are both attractive, durable, low maintenance, and more importantly, cost-effective. As both are great flooring options, choosing one for your home is a difficult task. We have talked with many flooring experts and evaluate the pros and cons of both flooring types to help you in making the best choice for your home.

1. Durability

Durability is the key feature to consider when you are going to choose flooring material for your home. When it comes to durability, both the flooring options have excellent damage resistance. Bamboo outmatches many types of hardwood floors on hardness. So, it is more resistant to scratches, dents, and general wear and tears. Cork’s durability is completely different from bamboo. It is a soft wood but its natural springiness enables it to bounce back from the dents. It is highly resistant to mold and mildew. It is very dense material which allows it to withstand heavy foot traffic.

2. Appearance

When you lay bamboo in planks, it looks a lot like hardwood floors. They have a sideways or vertical grain pattern and they are mostly available in rich brown tones. If you want to replicate the looks of hardwood floors then bamboo is the best choice for you. Cork floors come in a variety of textures and patterns. You can have any type of pattern with cork floor tiles in your home. With the right colors and styles, cork flooring can bring elegance and retro look to the home.

3. Moisture Resistance

Bamboo flooring is slightly more resistant to moisture than the hardwood flooring. So, if occasional spills occur, you should not be worried a lot about stains, fading, and other types of damage. However, moisture can cause problems. You can not wet mop your floors and spills should be wiped immediately. Cork is naturally water-resistant and it gives excellent protection against mold, termites, and even allergens.

4. Price

Price is another factor that plays a key role in deciding about the flooring for your home. There is not a big difference between the costs of bamboo and cork flooring. Prices normally depend upon the quality of the material, the brand name, and the area you live in. On average, bamboo costs $4 to $7 per square foot. It is quite affordable when we compare it to the hardwood flooring material. Cork flooring is even more affordable as compared to bamboo. Its average cost lies between $3 to $5 per square foot. So, both the materials are economical as compared to other flooring options.

5. Installation

When it comes to installing your floor, you can take matters into your own hand or acquire the services of professional flooring contractors. If you decide to hire flooring contractors, it can cost you $4 to $6 per square foot for bamboo and $5 to $7 per square foot for cork flooring. You can save money by deciding to take the DIY route, however, follow the instructions carefully as it is very important and any imperfection will cause you more money to get it right.

6. Maintenance

Both flooring materials are very easy to clean and maintain. Cork flooring is available in many colors and patterns which can hide dust easily. So, you don’t have to put extra efforts in cleaning. Similarly, if you properly seal your floors, it will keep moisture out for a long time. Bamboo floors are also very easy to clean and maintainable flooring option. You can use a damp mop or rag to clean the floors and regularly sweep to keep out the dirt and dust.

Both these flooring materials are highly durable, economical, and stylish. In fact, you cannot go wrong with choosing either one of them. However, you can narrow down your options by the qualities you are looking for in your flooring material.