Linoleum's decent, but cork flooring actually surprised me more. We put cork in our entryway—lots of foot traffic, muddy boots, you name it—and it's held up surprisingly well. Plus, it's comfy underfoot... something bamboo doesn't quite match, IMO.
We went with cork in our kitchen a couple years back—honestly wasn't expecting much, but it's been great. Dropped dishes haven't shattered (yet...), and standing while cooking feels way easier on the feet than our old bamboo did. Only downside is it fades a bit near sunny windows.
Interesting to hear cork's been working out for you—I never really considered it for kitchens. A friend of mine used cork flooring in their home office, and they mentioned the same fading issue near windows. Makes me wonder if there's a way to treat or seal cork to reduce UV damage without introducing those sneaky VOCs we're all trying to avoid. Has anyone found a good low-VOC solution for protecting cork floors from sunlight?
I've dealt with cork flooring in a couple of projects, and honestly, the fading issue near windows is pretty common. UV rays are tough on most natural materials, cork included. I've tried a few low-VOC sealers that claim UV protection, but the results were mixed at best. One thing that did help was installing UV-blocking window films—sounds a bit extra, I know, but it genuinely made a noticeable difference without adding chemicals to the floor itself.
Another practical tip: rearrange furniture or use area rugs strategically to minimize direct sunlight exposure. It's not a perfect solution, but it buys you some time and keeps things looking fresh longer. Cork's great for comfort and sustainability, but it does need a bit of extra thought when it comes to sunlight. Just my two cents...
Had a similar experience with cork flooring a while back—client loved the sustainability angle, but we ran into fading issues pretty quickly. Tried those UV sealers too, and honestly, wasn't impressed. Ended up using window films like you mentioned, and yeah, they did help noticeably. Still, it's something I'd caution clients about upfront—natural materials are great, but there's always a trade-off somewhere...
