Cork Flooring or Bamboo Flooring, what's the better choice?
Cork and Bamboo flooring are two leading eco-friendly flooring solutions. They share many similarities and boast some of the same great selling points, but which flooring is better when compared side by side? Here we will break down the key considerations for choosing new flooring and list some of the main attributes and draw backs of both options. Â
Which flooring has better sustainability credentials?
Out of all the hard floor coverings options available today, cork and bamboo flooring boast some of the greenest, most eco-friendly credentials. The main eco claims come from the materials the products are made from and no plastic in the construction.
Cork flooring is sourced from the bark of Mediterranean Cork Oak trees, no trees are cut down, the process of removing the bark causes no damage to the trees and the bark itself regenerates every few years. Harvesting the bark will stimulate the tree to grow a new bark layer which is effectively carbon negative, taking additional CO2 out of the atmosphere. Cork trees absorb up to five times as much carbon while re-growing their bark compared to when they're not regenerating, meaning all cork products have an exceptional carbon balance.
Bamboo, which is technically a grass, is famous for its ability to grow rapidly and reach full maturity within just a few years. This makes it an extremely renewable resource for creating floor coverings with minimal impact on the environment.
All our cork flooring is grown and manufactured into flooring in Portugal, therefore it's covered by strict EU rules and regulations that manage the manufacturing process. All our Cork flooring has been awarded the highest European and American certifications for very Low VOCs so you can be sure that you're choosing a truly sustainable and low chemical product.
Most Bamboo flooring originates in China, where environmental regulations around manufacturing are far less stringent. It's important to check what VOC certification if any exists for any Bamboo flooring you're considering.   Â
Which flooring type is easier to install?
Both flooring options can be laid as a floating floor, meaning that they are not fixed directly to the substrate beneath them. Fitting floated floors is often much easier to install than fully stuck floors (such as luxury vinyl tiles like Amtico or Karndean) as the planks can be fixed together using a click, or glued tongue and groove system.
Our click cork planks come with an in-built cork underlay meaning that preparatory work required over sufficiently smooth substrates is minimal. Our cork floor coverings have a specially formulated click system ensuring a strong bond between planks, without the use of adhesives or tension straps.
Unlike our cork boards, bamboo planks are connected using a tongue and groove system which doesn’t click together, meaning that an adhesive (usually wood PVA glue) is used to bond the planks in place. Tension straps are advised for larger areas of planks to ensure the floor stays in position whilst the adhesive cures sufficiently.  Â
Which flooring has better waterproofing qualities?
Whilst both floor types are naturally resistant to water and high moisture. Cork has been used for centuries to seal bottled beverages such a wine for this very reason, and this is because of its high suberin content. Suberin is a hydrophobic material that is found in abundance in the outermost layer of the cork bark, and it is this that repels water with such efficiency.
One consideration is that Click Cork Planks contain a central core of HDF, this is what give it structure and forms the click system. HDF can sometimes swell is exposed to prolonged high humidity. For this reason, click cork can be used across most areas of the home however beware of rooms with high humidity such as bathrooms or shower rooms.
In bathrooms we recommend using a glue down cork tile like our EarthTone Elements or EarthTone Glue Down Cork Tile range. Both these options are pure cork and don't contain any material that will react to high humidity like the HDF found in the Click Cork Planks.
Like hardwoods, bamboo is not waterproof and therefore should not be left with any amount of standing surface water for prolonged periods of time. Where possible, spillages should be mopped up to avoid swelling, or discolouration of the planks. In some cases, where standing water is left for long enough unchecked, permanent damage can be caused. For this reason, bamboo isn’t recommended for bathrooms.
What is more hardwearing?
Both flooring options offer a durable and robust choice for most areas of the home, but bamboo is the hardier of the two.
Bamboo has a very hard surface and so is very resistant to heavy impacts. However it is often sealed with a varnish that can be susceptible to scratching and develop a poor appearance overtime.Â
Cork flooring is still a very durable flooring choice but is naturally softer than bamboo. It does however possess a natural elasticity which helps it to keep its shape and appeal for longer.
Larger items of furniture should have felt pads fitted to their feet and care should be taken to reduce the effects of hard objects on the floor such as stilettos or overgrown pet claws to help retain the appearance of cork flooring for longer.
Will the floor coverings retain their appearance in high UV areas?
Like any natural product, both cork and bamboo floor coverings can fade in colour and shade with intensive exposure to direct sunlight or UV. Colours that are move heavily stained and darker tones will show the effects of this more than lighter and washed-out colours. For both flooring options, it is possible to limit the effects of UV exposure in areas with a lot of direct sunlight by periodically moving furniture, covering part of the floor with a rug, shutting curtains/ blinds at peak sunlight hours, or installing a UV protective screen over your windows.
Which flooring option is cheaper?
Whilst the price of both flooring options varies depending on the style of and finish of the floor, our bamboo flooring is generally cheaper than the cork materials. However, once the additional preparatory/ installation materials for bamboo flooring have been factored in (underlay and or adhesives) this usually closes the gap between the two slightly.Â
Which flooring choice is the better insulator?
Cork flooring is a great thermal insulator due to its structural make up. Thousands or small air pockets within the cork help to provide insulation that can even rival some carpets! Bamboo flooring however, shares many of the same traits as engineered wood flooring including its relatively low thermic properties.
How to maintain your Cork or Bamboo flooring?
Both floors require minimal maintenance to keep them looking at their best for years to come and the general upkeep routines are similar for both. Regularly remove loose dirt and grit using a soft brush or vacuum cleaner. When using a vacuum cleaner, remember to use the “bare floor” setting and disengage the beater bar to avoid damaging the floor.
If a more thorough clean is required, you can use a damp cloth or mop ensuring you make efforts to dry any excess moisture left on the floor. You can gently wash both floors using a gentle non abrasive cleaner but do not use detergents or abrasive cleaners with high levels of ammonia as these may damage the floor finish.
Bamboo flooring can be sanded down and re-lacquered if required if the floor is particularly worn, however this is usually best done by a professional floor finisher. Similarly cork floor coverings can be re-sealed/polished to keep them looking at their very best.
What do both flooring options feel like underfoot?
Due to the slightly softer, more elastic properties of cork flooring it has a fantastic feel underfoot, this makes it a hugely popular choice for areas of the home where the sensation of comfort is key. Areas such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens.
Bamboo feels very much like other natural hard floor coverings such as engineered wood, or laminates.
What has a better choice of finish?
Our bestselling range of Montano cork flooring comes in a single plank size (910mm x 300mm) and 12 different colourways that represent natural cork, however we have access to much many more ranges including wood effect finishes that are not currently on our website. For anything that is not shown on our website, please get in touch and we will be happy to send out samples to better complement your project.
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If cork is the right choice for your home, our Montano Cork Flooring and EarthTone Click Cork Flooring are our most popular click ranges. For a fully stuck option, the EarthTone Glue Down Cork Tiles offer a beautiful, stable finish. Browse the full cork flooring range or order a sample to see the colours in your space.