Cork Flooring
The resilient surface of cork flooring allows the floor to "give" or bounce back upon contact. While this "give" is
slight, you
would notice a marked difference between standing on concrete all day verses standing on cork. This can make walking easier
by reducing the pain in your
joints, legs, feet and back. This characteristic can also help cushion falls and minimize body injury upon impact better than
less–forgiving floors
such as some stone and tile types. Cork also has hypoallergenic characteristics which can
help reduce the triggers of typical household allergies and
respiratory problems.
Pros
- Comfortable surface
- Impact absorbency or resiliency can help make standing and walking less painful for aching joints
- Reduces sound transmission
- Has natural hypoallergenic and antimicrobial qualities (resistant to mold and dust)
- Antistatic
- Naturally contains Suberin, an insect repellant
Cons
- Resilient surface can make wheelchair travel difficult
- Can contract and warp with changes in humidity
- Wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches may create permanent indentations in floor surface
Disability–Friendly Flooring Tips
- Try to clean up spills right after they occur
- Protect the subfloor with a moisture barrier or underlayment such as cork or foam rubber
- Put rubber foot protectors on furniture legs to minimize indentations
