The short answer: traditional glue-down cork is water-resistant, not waterproof, but modern rigid-core cork boards (like our Classic Cork) are built on a 100% waterproof core, making them suitable for bathrooms, kitchens and other wet areas.
If you’re looking for the product itself, see our waterproof cork flooring range, rigid-core Classic Cork with a 100% waterproof core.
Cork, explained
Is cork flooring waterproof?
For years the honest answer was no, cork was water-resistant, not waterproof. With the new Classic Cork rigid-core board, that has changed: it is now genuinely waterproof, and we can prove it.
Traditional cork: water-resistant, not waterproof
Classic glue-down cork tiles handle everyday life well, a sealed surface shrugs off spills if you wipe them up, and cork is naturally resistant to mould and moisture. But it was never truly waterproof. Standing water, a flooded bathroom or a leaking appliance could find its way through the seams and into the backing, so cork came with caveats in wet rooms. That is why, historically, most suppliers stopped short of recommending cork for bathrooms.
The new rigid-core board changes the answer
The latest Classic Cork is built differently. Instead of a glue-down backing it uses a PVC-free cork rigid core, with a sealed wear surface and a precision click-locking joint. That combination keeps water out at every point, surface, core and, critically, the joints between planks.
The waterproofing is independently tested, not asserted: locking joints show no leakage after 24 hours of water exposure (ISO 4760:2022, Annex D), with thickness swelling under 1% (EN 317) and water resistance to ISO 4760. That is a genuine waterproof specification.
What “waterproof” should mean when you buy
A quick buyer’s tip: surface water-resistance is not the same as a waterproof floor. Water almost always gets in at the joints, not through the middle of a plank. So when a supplier says “waterproof,” ask for the joint-leakage and swelling test results, exactly the evidence behind our board. If they cannot show it, treat the claim with caution.
So, can you use cork in a bathroom or kitchen?
With the new rigid-core board, yes, confidently. It is rated for domestic and Class 33 commercial use, and suits bathrooms, ensuites, kitchens, utility rooms and wet-prone hallways, while keeping everything cork is loved for: warm and quiet underfoot, PVC-free and carbon-negative. See waterproof cork flooring, or our guides to cork in bathrooms and cork in kitchens.
For more on specifying low-impact floors, see our guide to eco-friendly flooring in London, or explore the Classic Cork Collection.
Ready to see it in person? Order free samples of our waterproof cork flooring.
Is cork flooring waterproof?
Does water damage cork flooring?
Cork flooring is water-resistant, not fully waterproof. Sealed cork easily handles everyday spills that are wiped up quickly, but water left standing or seeping into the seams can cause swelling, lifting or discolouration, and floating click planks with a fibreboard core are most at risk. For wet areas, The Floor Gallery’s waterproof cork is built on a waterproof rigid core suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. See our waterproof cork flooring.