Cork Flooring | 3 Considerations for Installing Cork Floors in Kitchens
Cork flooring is not only comfortable underfoot, but it also produces a stylish finish for any room, including your kitchen. Cooks looking for comfort and convenience will love the idea of cork flooring in kitchens, thanks to its springiness and softness, making standing for longer durations less stressful on legs, feet and backs. If you're planning to install cork flooring for your kitchen, be sure to consider these factors.
Colour Choices
The best part of choosing cork flooring is the choices you have in terms of colouring to match the existing décor of your kitchen. You can choose between natural, painted or stained cork floors for a myriad of different shades. Some homeowners prefer the natural light pale honey colour of cork, while others prefer a deeper rosewood or dark chocolate finish. You can even get every conceivable shade in between these colours. Some homeowners might prefer to have the cork flooring painted to match their kitchen walls. You can also get your cork flooring stained to colours like red, blue, green or any other colour you want. Make your colour choice based on your personal taste and preference.
Adding a Protective Coating for Enhanced Protection
Ideally, kitchen cork flooring should be sealed with protective coating to prevent food and liquids from penetrating and seeping through it. If not sealed well, cork floors can stain and get dirty. You can choose between polyurethane coatings for your cork flooring. Polyurethane coatings offer good surface protection for heavy-duty areas. This coating creates a thin, high-gloss film finish, providing an impervious layer for your floors. Polyurethane coatings dry quickly and are good solutions for high-traffic kitchens because they protect from stains, abrasions and corrosion. They are also resistant to UV rays, acids, chemicals and salts –– giving your kitchen flooring the layer of protection it needs.
Level of Thickness
When choosing cork flooring, you'll naturally want something that meets your needs and budget. Thicker cork floors naturally provide better insulation and a softer underfoot feel, making them more durable choices for kitchen flooring. Thicker cork flooring is also more resistant to scratches and dents from furniture or falling objects, so talk to your flooring experts about the level of cork thickness necessary for your specific kitchen. While thicker cork may be a tad more expensive, it is well worth the price when you consider its resilience and durability in comparison to thin cork materials.
With smart maintenance, cork flooring will remain durable and long lasting for years. Follow these considerations when installing cork floors for your kitchen. If you have any questions, consider contacting a local flooring specialist for more information.
