Bamboo vs Cork Flooring | What is Better?

July 1, 2022

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4 min read

When discussing sustainable flooring options, the two most common ones brought up are bamboo and cork. Both types of flooring are durable, made from renewable resources and cost effective. They can tolerate the moisture in kitchens, and look warm and inviting in living areas. Let’s discover how these flooring products are made, their advantages, disadvantages and whether they are truly sustainable and eco-friendly.

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo, a rapidly growing grass, can be harvested in just five years, making it a quicker renewable resource compared to hardwood trees. The process of creating bamboo flooring involves slicing the stalks, removing the outer skin and nodes, boiling the strips to remove starch and pests, drying and flattening them, and finally, laminating them under heat and pressure. Bamboo floors can have horizontal or vertical grain orientation, offering different aesthetics.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Bamboo Flooring

Solid bamboo flooring is very similar to hardwood flooring, in both appearance, construction and installation. It’s considered to be a more eco-friendly alternative. However, you need to be careful of inferior bamboo products. Some manufacturers harvest the stalks before they are fully mature, resulting in a weaker product. They may use filler between the bamboo strips to cut costs. They may also contain toxic binders that emit VOCs over time. Cheaper engineered bamboo flooring is not made of much natural bamboo. It has a thin bamboo veneer laminated on a backing layer made of MDF or medium density fiberboard.

Cork Flooring

Cork, famously used for wine stoppers, is harvested from cork oak trees without cutting them down. The bark is carefully peeled off every seven to nine years, allowing the tree to regrow. The harvested cork is then processed to create thin sheets of cork flooring, often laminated onto MDF to form planks or tiles. Cork flooring offers various textures and colors, imitating the appearance of hardwood flooring, marble, and granite.

Comparison of Bamboo and Cork Flooring

Both products are made from natural materials, but they have distinct properties and performance characteristics.

Appearance: Bamboo flooring resembles traditional hardwood floors, providing a realistic and versatile look. Cork flooring, on the other hand, has a unique and warmer appearance, but some may consider it dated.
Cost: Both bamboo and cork flooring fall within a similar price range, costing more than vinyl flooring but comparable to hardwood floors.
Installation: Both click-and-lock versions of bamboo and cork flooring are DIY-friendly, while tongue-and-groove versions require more skill.
Scratch Resistance: Bamboo flooring is harder and more scratch-resistant than cork flooring. The Janka hardness scale measures bamboo floors’ resistance, with certain products scoring higher than exotic hardwoods.
Water Resistance: Both bamboo and cork flooring are water-resistant but not waterproof, making them unsuitable for bathrooms or basements.
Durability and Care: Bamboo flooring is more durable and easier to care for than cork flooring. Solid bamboo and cork floors can be sanded down and refinished, while engineered versions cannot.
Lifespan: Bamboo has a longer lifespan of 30-50 years compared to cork’s 10-30 years.

Health Concerns

Both bamboo and cork flooring can raise concerns about indoor air quality due to the use of chemical binders. Additionally, the production of bamboo flooring can be energy-intensive, and reckless bamboo planting in Asia can lead to environmental degradation. Cork is harvested sustainably, but the adhesives used in production have high impacts. Both materials lose recyclability after being mixed with adhesives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, bamboo and cork flooring offer unique benefits and considerations. Bamboo is a cost-effective alternative to hardwood floors, while cork provides a comfortable and interesting option for small areas. Cork can also work as underlayment. Ultimately, selecting the right flooring depends on your aesthetic preferences, functional needs, and environmental concerns. S