You’re searching for a new flooring option, but you’re stuck on what to purchase. You may want a more sustainable product, or maybe you want an option that’s comfortable and not ice cold on your feet when you wake up in the morning. Enter cork – a relatively new flooring material that’s popping up in homes and businesses around the world from brands like APC Cork Flooring.
APC Cork is a brand that specializes in creating eco-friendly flooring that looks great and lasts for years. Since 2000, the company has prided itself on creating products that reduce the impact on our planet while adding beauty to homes and businesses. To date, the company has sold over 70,000 square feet of its cork flooring products.
If you’re shopping for new flooring, what the manufacturer says could heavily influence your purchase decision. But we’ve taken things a step further by getting the real deal on APC Cork Flooring. The manufacturer makes a lot of promises, but how do consumers really feel about these products?
In this guide, we’re going to take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of APC Cork Flooring. Before you crack open your wallet, it’s important to know all of the facts to make the most informed purchase decision. We’ll take a look at several important factors, from pricing to self-installation, to help you make the best choice for your home or business.
Does APC Cork Flooring Come In Many Colors & Styles?
You wouldn’t buy a new rug that didn’t match your current interior, so why would you spend a fortune on new flooring that doesn’t perfectly complement your style? While some flooring brands are available in just a few select shades and styles, APC Cork flooring is different. That’s because it’s available in 87 different styles.
If you think “cork” and simply think of the light brown material stuck in a wine bottle, you’ve never seen the beauty of cork flooring. APC Cork offers several collections to choose from.
For floating floor installation, choose from APC Cork’s floating planks in collections including Truly Green, Gem, and Olympian. If you’d prefer tiles, APC Cork also carries lines for residential and commercial uses. The brand also carries a line of low-maintenance vinyl cork products.
You’ll have your choice of colors from cream to ebony and everything in between. You can also choose from colors like Titan Brown, which looks similar to hardwood flooring, or the aptly named “Natural,” which simply looks like natural cork. No matter what style or color you prefer, there’s an option available for you.
Will APC Cork Flooring Withstand Damage?
APC Cork flooring is extremely durable. It’s even preferred over other bare flooring types like hardwood because of the many benefits that it offers. However, this flooring can still be damaged, so it’s important to understand what could happen to your floors and how to prevent damage from occurring.
One of the major benefits of APC Cork is that you can use it in kitchens and bathrooms, unlike bamboo or hardwood floors. While you should not use floating floors in bathrooms, it is perfectly fine to use the company’s glue-down tiles. It is also important to never saturate floors, as excessive water can cause damage.
You can apply a sealer to your floors to help prevent damage from moisture. In below-grade rooms like basements, a floating floor with foam film underlayment can be used.
Denting may occur with your cork floors under heavy furniture or appliances. However, cork is very dense and has “memory” that allows it to go back to its original shape in most circumstances. Moving your furniture around often or using furniture coasters can help prevent this damage.
One drawback of APC Cork flooring is that sharp objects can puncture it. Avoid wearing high heels or sports cleats on your floor, and use leg protectors on your furniture to prevent punctures.
If you have pets, you can breathe easy because APC Cork flooring is a great choice for your home. Even though the matte varnish can be scratched by pets, keeping claws short can help with this problem. You can also apply urethanes or polishes to get rid of any scratches made by your pets.
APC Cork flooring also fades over time. This is completely normal. However, large pieces of furniture or areas with excessive exposure to light may cause uneven fading, but you can prevent this from happening by moving your furniture around or using window treatments to block out UV light.
APC Cork flooring always comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. Products come with a limited lifetime wear warranty that covers wear caused by a manufacturer’s defect. Commercial installations are protected for 10 years.
Is APC Cork Flooring Expensive?
The pricing of your APC Cork flooring varies based on the type of flooring you select. However, APC Cork is very budget-friendly, especially when you compare it to other hard flooring like hardwoods and bamboo.
On average, you should expect to pay around $4 to $5 per square foot for your new flooring. Of course, price differences may occur based on the retailer you purchase from, so this is just an average.
Cork flooring costs an average of $3 to $8 per square foot. Compared to other brands, APC Cork has a very competitive price.
How Do I Care For APC Cork Flooring?
Caring for APC Cork flooring couldn’t be any easier. Sweeping or running a hardwood vacuum over your floors at least once a week can remove dirt and grit that scratches your floor. If you use a vacuum, make sure to use one without a beater bar, which can damage your floors.
For extra cork cleaning power, use a damp mop. Never oversaturate your floors, and wipe up any excess water or liquid as quickly as possible. For heavier cleaning, the manufacturer Bona products.
Products that you shouldn’t use include abrasive or alkaline cleaners. You should not use Murphy Oil Soap on these floors.
Do I Have To Pay A Professional To Install My Floors?
If you’re looking to save money on the installation of your floors, you’re in luck. Installing APC Cork flooring isn’t difficult at all, and the company provides many installation tips to make it easy for anyone to install their floors, even if they have no prior experience.
Choosing cork planks and installing as a floating floor is one of the easiest installation methods. With this method, you install it over other flooring including hardwood, laminate, tile, and vinyl.
APC provides step-by-step instructions for installing your cork floors. Guides are available on the company’s website for adhered tile and floating plank installation. All you need is time, patience, and the right tools to do the job yourself, potentially savings thousands on professional installation costs.
Final Verdict
APC Flooring truly delivers when it comes to its cork products. It is a budget-friendly option that’s available in many styles and colors that are perfect for any residential or commercial installation.
APC Cork flooring is also much easier to install than other flooring types like ceramic tile or hardwoods, so you can save even more by taking on the project yourself. Once you have installed your floors, daily care and upkeep is a breeze, so you can rest easy knowing that your floors will look their best for years to come.
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