Can Cork Flooring Be Installed in A Bathroom?

By Blake Lockwood | Curated by Blake Lockwood | Reviewed by Blake Lockwood

Blake Lockwood, the seasoned interior designer behind Decor Snob, has made a name for himself with over 30 years of industry experience. As a member of esteemed associations such as the NCIDQ, CIDA, NAAB, and CCIDC, he upholds high standards in his work.  His content is always people-first, reliable, and engaging.

Can Cork Flooring Be Installed in A Bathroom

Cork flooring can be installed in a bathroom. Cork is safe to use in bathrooms. It is very durable and highly recommended for many rooms in the home. Are you thinking of remodeling your bathroom floor?  What about cork flooring though? Let’s check it out and see why cork is suitable for bathroom floors.

What Is Cork Flooring?

APC Cork Bark Floating TileTo better understand if cork flooring can be installed in a bathroom, it is important to know exactly what it is. Cork flooring is a material that is made from bark. Particularly the bark of the cork oak tree.

This is found inside of the ground. Once harvested it is then processed into sheets of cork and so onto o be used as flooring.

Is Cork Flooring Able to Get Wet?

The most common question is if the cork flooring can get wet. Being that you are wondering if it is good for bathrooms makes this a much-needed asked question to be answered. The answer is, yes! Cork flooring can indeed get wet. That is to clean the flooring, if something spills, or if water flows from the shower or sink. The cork flooring is safe.

Is Cork Flooring Able to Get Wet

This makes cork flooring great for bathrooms being that so much plumbing and water happens in there. What about mold and mildew though and how resistant are they?

Are Cork Floorings Mold and Mildew Resistant?

APC Cork Avenue TileWe know that cork flooring holds up against the test of water, but what about mold and mildew. A lot of homes can get inundated with mold and mildew. In turn, it can cost health problems and lots of money to have it removed. Will mold or mildew be a problem with cork flooring? Absolutely not!

Cork flooring is resistant to mold and mildew. This is what makes it such a great choice for bathrooms. Mold and mildew like to grow in moist and damp areas. Cork flooring fights against that and is actually a better choice for the living environment as a whole.

Do Cork Tiles Need A Sealant or Top Coat?

You may be wondering if cork tiles need to have a sealant or top coat when installed in a bathroom or any area with plumbing. If you are to purchase the right cork tiles, then no sealant is needed to make them water resistant and mold resistant.

Bathroom Flooring cork tiles 14

Please note that real cork tiles do not absorb water or moisture into them. If you have cork tiles that do, then they may not be the same material. However, it is very important to put caulk around the edges of the cork because water can get in between the wall and the cork causing problems.

What About Pets?

Some people have to put little furry ones in a safe place if they leave for a little bit of time. Locking a pet in a kennel is not recommended for long periods of time so pet parents sometimes put their pups in a bathroom. Is cork flooring safe around pets? Yes. The cork flooring is safe for the environment and can actually stand up against the scratches their paws may make.

Natural cork flooring - Leather 8mm cork tiles (18sf)

Always make sure that your dog is not one that scratches at the floor to get out. This will mess up the most expensive floorings.

What Does Cork Flooring Cost?

Cork flooring can range from $3 to $8 per square foot. This all does depend on the design and some other factors. That is just the price of the cork flooring though. For a bathroom, the total should not come out very high. To have cork flooring installed is about $1 per square foot. To make math simple when adding how much it would cost you can simply just add a dollar to the price of the cork flooring.

Bathroom Flooring cork tiles

You can find more information on prices of all different types of flooring including cork flooring at https://www.homeflooringpros.com.

Are There Special Cleaning Instructions?

Most of the time cork flooring is cleaned as usual flooring. If there is a certain finish on the flooring, then this should be included in the care instructions when purchased. For the most part, cork flooring should be swept of mopped regularly. A damp mop can remove any smudges that happen in everyday life. And clean products should be very mild.+

Line Art Cork Click Lock Floor (Sample)

Cork flooring is not at all hard to clean. Some things may vary. You can find the best ways to clean cork flooring at https://www.builddirect.com.

Before You Go to Purchase You, Cork Flooring Read This!

You can find out more information about cork flooring in this YouTube video. Hopefully, all the information above was useful to you.

Photo: Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
Photo: APC Cork Bark Floating Tile
Photo: Silver Maple Construction LLC
Photo: APC Cork Avenue Tile
Photo: Bathroom Flooring cork tiles 14
Photo: Natural cork flooring – Leather 8mm cork tiles (18sf)
Photo: Bathroom Flooring cork tiles
Photo: Try a sample

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