Cork flooring definitely has its perks, especially comfort-wise. But from experience, it can be a bit sensitive to moisture and heavy furniture dents. Had a client who loved the feel of cork initially, but after a couple years, they weren't thrilled with how it held up in their kitchen area—especially around the sink and fridge. It absorbed spills more than expected, and the surface started looking worn pretty quickly.
On the flip side, plywood floors can actually age pretty gracefully if they're sealed properly. I worked on a project a few years back where we used plywood flooring in a loft-style space. We sanded it down thoroughly, applied multiple coats of polyurethane, and honestly, it still looks great today. Sure, there are some imperfections and wear marks now, but they blend into the overall aesthetic nicely—kind of like a patina effect.
I guess it really depends on the space and how much traffic or moisture you're expecting. Have you considered how the flooring choice might impact resale value down the line? Sometimes what feels budget-friendly upfront can end up costing more later if buyers aren't into it...
"Sometimes what feels budget-friendly upfront can end up costing more later if buyers aren't into it..."
Yeah, that's a fair point. I remember when my brother-in-law went with cork flooring in his basement to save money. It felt great underfoot at first, but after one minor flooding incident, it was pretty much toast. Ended up costing him double to replace everything. Makes me wonder—has anyone tried vinyl plank flooring as a middle-ground option? Curious how that holds up over time...
"Makes me wonder—has anyone tried vinyl plank flooring as a middle-ground option?"
Vinyl plank can actually be a pretty solid choice, especially in basements or areas prone to moisture. I've installed it in several homes now, and the feedback's been mostly positive. The key is prepping the subfloor correctly—make sure it's level and dry before laying anything down. Also, go for thicker planks with a good wear layer; cheaper ones can scratch or dent easily. But overall, it's held up surprisingly well...even with kids and pets running wild.
Vinyl plank worked out pretty well for us too, especially in our laundry room where moisture was a concern. Agree 100% about prepping the subfloor—learned that lesson the hard way after dealing with some annoying gaps. But once we got that sorted, it's been smooth sailing. Even dropped a hammer once (oops...) and was relieved it didn't leave a noticeable dent. Definitely feels like a good compromise between cost and durability.
Yeah, vinyl plank's been solid for us too, especially in high-traffic spots. Had a similar hammer-dropping incident myself—thought for sure I'd be staring at a dent forever, but nope, barely noticeable. You're spot-on about the subfloor prep though; skipped it once thinking it'd save time... ended up costing me double the hassle later. Glad you got yours sorted out—definitely worth the extra effort upfront.
