Cork floor insulation

[mjc55]

Was watching an old GD (The Street) last night and the couple used cork insulation under the floor.  They were building on a budget the assumption would be that it wouldn't be mega expensive!

 

Just had a look to see prices and the first site I saw selling cork insulation was getting on for £100 per sq. m. (this was for 3 pieces at 300 x 500 x 1000). I would assume that price would come down a lot for bulk buying.  Compare to £16 per sheet of celotex (2400 x 1200 x 50) - so around £5.55 per sq. m. - then the prices just don't compare.  

 

I haven't looked anywhere else so those prices may well be outliers, but it would still seem that cork is way, way more (too) expensive.  Have things changed since 2017 (when the GD was filmed) or were they just so keen on "eco" insulation that they weren't concerned re the prices?

[Redbeard]

I have only used a few m2 of cork, but I have used a lot of rigid (and latterly some flexible) Wood fibre. I *know* it is a great deal more expensive than plastic but I do not want to use plastic (and I hate even handling rock-candy-floss) so I 'invest in my preferences'. I don't try to stop anyone using what they want to use, but I like what I like. I have not bought PIR since 2020 so I am out of touch as to the differential, but I usually sit down a long time after I get the quote.

[Mike]

I've used 20mm thick cork for selected areas on my current refurb where there wasn't space for hemp, and it is expensive. However it does have properties that are unmatched by any other insulation I can think of. In addition to excellent eco-credentials it is / has:

• lightweight
• good weight resistance
• good thermal resistance
• good acoustic resistance
• good fire resistance
• slow burning & self extinguishing
• produces only low levels of non-toxic smoke
• water repellent
• rot proof even in high-humidity environments
• vapour permeable
• releases no volatile organic compounds (unless processed)
• dimensionally stable
• doesn't deteriorate even over very long periods of time
• has some elasticity
• insect resistant
• anti-static
• good visual appearance if exposed
• good repairability if exposed
• pleasant to use
• easily cut
• easily fixed
• reusable (subject to fixing method)
• recyclable
• and probably a few more I've forgotten...

So there are many reasons why you might choose it, cost permitting.

[Iceverge]

Has anyone used cork flooring recently?