Put a cork in it. Why not?

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Published Date 5/7/2024

It may just be one of the best-kept secrets around when it comes to renovating or redecorating your house. It’s great for soundproofing, heat-proofing, waterproofing, and more — all while being sustainable as well as affordable. Cork.

Once you get that next bottle of wine off your mind, read on for a few ways cork can come to your rescue, as suggested by Realtor.com’s Arlyn Hernandez. First off, think of cork as a noise-abater, especially if you have a high-traffic home. Cork flooring is soundproof, heatproof, water resistant, antimicrobial — all the merits you’d ever want for a bustling family home. “It comes in tile or plank form, but, for anyone who might not love the muddled, organic look of cork, some options can look like travertine, concrete, and even wood,” says Hernandez. “Costs are typically in the ballpark of $3 to $10 per square foot.”

Like to blast those ‘80s rock tunes or ward off complaints from the neighbors about your kid’s drum practice? Hernandez points out that when it comes to soundproofing, cork has a noise reduction coefficient of .7. That means it absorbs up to 70% of nearby sound, depending on its thickness. The absolute best time to incorporate cork anything is when you’re in the building stages of your home. Consider talking to your contractor about using it in the building structure. If you’ve passed that point, however, you can still apply rolled cork or even adhesive cork tiles to the walls of the room you want to soundproof—say, a baby’s nursery or a kid’s music room.

Remember when you had a cork pinboard in your bedroom for all those teenage selfies you took? Cork boards are not a revolutionary idea. But don’t dismiss them just because you grew up. “A large cork board on the walls plays two roles: It provides some sound insulation (key if you’re sharing a home with another person who has a calendar full of Zoom meetings) and it’s a great spot for inspiration,” says Hernandez. “To-do lists, photos and more can be a welcome break from all that blue light from your screens.”

Cork comes in handy for even the smallest jobs, however. Think trivets in the kitchen and coasters in your living areas. “Whether you have stone, quartz, or laminate countertops (or something else), you’ll want to protect them from anything hot from the oven,” adds Hernandez. “The same goes for a dining table if you’re the type to set out still-hot serving dishes. And why stop there? Cork coasters and even placemats are neutral and affordable picks.”

Realtor, TBWS

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