In a great design scheme, builders consistently place the family room, often referred to as the game room, directly above the family room or master bedroom. This means that the sound of running feet, blaring movies, and incessant beeping from video games travel through the thin floorboards and into rooms where adults are trying to watch TV or enjoy something akin to peace and quiet.

Of course, the vast majority of playrooms are carpeted, offering some sound and noise insulation, but there are even better options for parents looking to quiet the pounding of little feet up high: cork flooring. .

Naturally Insulating

Cork is one of nature’s perfect designs. Cork is actually made up of interlocking chambers with tough walls that surround air pockets. This design makes the material fluffy but durable. It is also naturally insulating and moisture resistant. Cork has been used in wine bottles for millennia and in more recent centuries it has also been used to create floor tiles.

cork flooring

Cork flooring is easy to install, attractive with its unique texture and finish, and best of all, a smooth surface to cushion footsteps and block out a lot of noise. This is perfect for game rooms and arcades. Cork flooring is not only great for the peace and quiet parents seek, but it’s also easier to clean than carpet and just as comfortable for lounging and running on.

Cork floors have a natural elasticity that does not cake or get dirty over time. It’s also finished and sealed, so any spills clean up quickly and easily, which is always a plus in rooms that children frequent. And if cork tiles on the floor aren’t soundproofing enough, you can also use them on the walls to create a calm yet attractively unusual look in your room.

Cork flooring installation

Installing cork flooring is no more complicated than installing laminate flooring. It’s perhaps even easier since cork flooring tiles come in squares rather than long strips, which can mean less cutting and trimming during installation.

Pull up the carpet and remove any nails or tacks from the subfloor. The simplest cork flooring tiles to install interlock in the same way as laminate flooring, but some tiles require adhesive. If you are going to install cork flooring yourself, opt for interlocking tiles. Design tiles in advance if you’re not sure how the finished product will fit together, especially if you’re using alternating colors or patterns.

Once you are sure how the tiles will be laid, start installing them in one corner of the room and work steadily until you have completely left the room. Be sure to include a vapor barrier in the form of plastic sheeting under the tiles. You can secure the tiles by seam-joining them according to the manufacturer’s instructions and carefully cut or trim the tiles to fit the corners or edges of the room.