When people think about flooring, they often recall hardwood, stone or ceramic tiles, laminate, but often cork is not considered. It might seem a strange option at first glance, but the truth is that the material is gaining more and more popularity. As better manufacturing processes move cork into the 21st century, now not only is it great for residential homes but is highly suitable for hotel flooring and basement flooring. There are some great flooring products on the market, take the time to understand each one, pros and cons, so you can make the best decision based on your needs and budget. Get the best floor for you.

Why Hotel Flooring Matters

Hotels are busy establishments, with of plenty foot traffic. These are places that need to make their guests feel welcomed and comfortable during their stay. This means that hotel flooring has a direct impact on customer satisfaction and on how the establishment is perceived. Floors need to be highly durable, water-resistant, and at the same time highly aesthetic. Most flooring materials meet the mentioned criteria, but fail on the one factor most consumers have given up on. Comfort.

Cork flooring is the only solid flooring that can compete with carpet in terms of comfort. Carpet floors are easier on the body, cork is too. It offers a ‘cushion’ feeling when walking or standing on the surface, it feels soft and highly pleasing. Just think how much this matters in hotels and how guests will appreciate the comfort. In addition, it is beneficial for employees, as they spend many hours standing. Being shock absorbent, cork flooring also provides a safer environment to fall on. You’ll be less likely to get a serious injury. Should something made of glass fall on the floor, it probably will not break or cause a loud impact sound.

How to Choose Basement Flooring

Believe it or not, cork is also suitable for  basement flooring . In its floating floor design, this floor will bring thermal and sound insulation into a space that can really benefit from it. Basements don’t need to be only storage spaces, you can design them into functional living spaces and spend time there; relax, play, study, and more. Cork is a natural thermal and acoustic insulator and for many years, it has been used to sound dampen rooms inside the house. Floating cork planks offer the same properties as their glue-down counterparts and once placed on the floor, help prevent sound transfer and cut down on energy costs. Wow a comfortable living space in the basement.

Another great advantage is that cork floors can be renewed and refinished. With proper installation, sealant, and upkeep, a cork floor will go for decades. However, over time, wear and tear cause damage. Because it is subjected to foot traffic, scratches and damages, a cork floor will not look the same anymore. The best part is that you don’t necessarily need to change the floor and invest in a new one, sanding and a couple of new coats of sealant will bring back the natural and great original look. As cork is elastic, the material can bounce back and any most surface dents will fade in time. For a  hotel flooring , this is highly beneficial.

Another attribute that makes cork a winner is that it is naturally antimicrobial and hypoallergenic. With so many allergens in the air nowadays, it is quite a relief to be able to find a material that does not contribute to allergy development. A cork flooring surface does not collect dust, mites and other allergens, and this helps to improve air quality too.

No matter where you install a cork floor— in commercial spaces, at home as basement flooring— it is good to know you are choosing an environmentally friendly product. The raw material comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. The bark is able to regrow after it has been harvested. The tree does not have to be cut down, which means the eco-system supporting a cork forest is not adversely affected. These days, it is important to think about the impact on the environment and choose sustainable products.

In case people have radiant heating systems throughout the house, including in the basement flooring, some manufacturers of cork floors have created flooring products that work with such a system. Speak with a distributor or agent today to get to know more about their options. Many manufacturers have researched and created great solutions to accommodate consumers wants and needs, so it makes sense to check all possibilities when investing in a new floor.

Cork flooring is generally an easy to install product, especially floating floors. Basement flooring installation can be done by professionals or by property owners, as it is a simple tongue and grove click together system. Most sellers/distributors offer tutorials, be they videos or how-to articles.

In public establishments, such as hotels, it is crucial to obtain a pleasing visual look. Many guests judge hotels based on its aesthetic appeal, cleanliness and customer service. The functionality of cork floors has been described above, but it is important to know the visual impact it creates too. Cork flooring comes in a variety of colors, patterns and textures. Providers offer amazing collections, for every taste and style, no matter if you like a classic look, or want to combine tiles to create something unique. A natural look can be achieved by focusing on classic colors, tones resembling wood, while darker shades create a more exotic appearance. The key is finding a look and feel you want to make a part of your decor. Hotel flooring is indeed more demanding so take the time to shop around and study not only the classic go-to materials, but lesser known ones that have quickly made their presence known.