Difference Between Cork Flooring and Bamboo Flooring

Cork Flooring

Cork flooring is very eco-friendly like bamboo flooring because it is sustainable. Hardwood flooring tends to rely on trees, many of which are cut from forests that are not replanted. Cork flooring and Bamboo flooring are sustainable and can be harvested every ten years without damaging the trees, and Bamboo is actually a grass that grows every five or ten years. Cork is highly adaptive, very easy to maintain, it has antibacterial properties and has great sound and heat insulation.

cork flooring in a bedroom
Cork flooring in a bedroom

Related: Difference between wooden floor, laminate floor and engineered floor

 

Bamboo Flooring

With Bamboo flooring, you find your floor is very easy to maintain and clean. Just like cork, it is a strong material, though bamboo is the strongest. Bamboo flooring is closer to hardwood flooring, as the material is very strong and durable, which means it will last a very long time. Aesthetically, Bamboo flooring is better looking and has a more modern feel to it when it is added to a home, whereas cork has a retro feel about it. Bamboo flooring is also easier to refinish, though it is not as easy to refinish as wood flooring. Bamboo is durable, so it will not need repairing as often as cork flooring or cheaper wood flooring will. You can also read this article about bamboo flooring facts.

bamboo floor
Bamboo floor

Bamboo flooring Vs. Cork flooring Comparison Table

The simple and raw qualities of each flooring material make them unique and infinitely valuable in their own right. So, there are differences between bamboo flooring and cork flooring. Here are a few of the qualities you can expect when you buy Bamboo or Cork flooring that is shown by a bamboo flooring vs cork flooring comparison table.

Bamboo flooring

Cork flooring

1. Both Bamboo flooring and Cork flooring are sustainable, but bamboo is a very fast-growing grass and can be regrown within five years.

1. Cork flooring is sustainable but takes around ten years for the harvested cork to grow back.

2. Bamboo flooring does not have antibacterial properties, but it more popular than Cork flooring because of the way it looks. Some find that the look of Cork flooring is not to their taste.

2. Cork flooring has antibacterial properties as it contains a wax that kills bacteria and mold. This means a cork floor is more hygienic and healthier for your home.

3. Depending on where you buy in the world, Bamboo flooring tends to be cheaper.

3. Cork flooring is often more expensive than Bamboo flooring but is often cheaper, or on par, with good quality wood flooring.

4. Bamboo flooring is less likely to suffer scratches, dents, and dings. It is on a par with good-quality wood flooring in this respect, meaning heavy traffic or moving heavy objects across it may cause damage.

4. Cork flooring is durable and tough, but in a different way to Bamboo. Cork is springy, which means it is harder to dent and scuff through constant use. However, if you leave an item on it for a long time, then it leaves an impression in the cork.

5. Bamboo flooring can be altered and finished to make it far more attractive than cork, meaning that Bamboo flooring tends to have more varieties and style choices.

5. Cork is hard to tailor into different styles, as it tends to have a single “look” about it. But, it is warmer and more comfortable than Bamboo flooring.

6. Bamboo is a harder substance, which means that it will often outlast low-quality wood flooring.

6. Cork flooring has insulation properties, meaning it keeps the heat or coolness in your home. It is also quite a good sound insulator, which makes it ideal if you are installing the flooring in your flat or apartment.

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