With so many options of flooring on the market today, cork flooring is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the leading alternative types of flooring. Why? Mainly it’s because cork is an environmentally sound material that has a wealth of natural features that appeals to today’s homeowner. On top of this, many believe that a floor made from this wonder material serves to provide style and sophistication to any home that it is installed in.

Unlike hardwood flooring, produced from felled trees, cork flooring comes only from the bark of the tree. The bark is harvested every nine years, and then amazingly grows back with no harm to the tree itself. This is why many "green" conscience people are looking to cork flooring today. Cork flooring is made by grinding the bark into small pieces, which are coated with a non-toxic resin binder. It’s manufactured as tiles or planks in various thicknesses and hues.

Surprisingly, cork flooring doesn’t resemble the bulletin board, wine bottle topper material we initially think of at all. Because it’s processed from tiny pieces, manufacturers are able to achieve an amazing array of patterns and textures that are suited to many tastes. Colors also vary but not from the typical stains or dyes. During the manufacturing process, cork is baked in ovens and the longer it bakes, the darker it becomes. Unfinished cork can be painted or stained as well.

One of the greatest benefits of cork flooring is the environmental impact - because it’s made from bark, the cork trees are simply peeled instead of being harvested and cut down. Also, because of its unique cellular make-up, cork flooring is quite resilient and extremely quiet. The reason it’s so quiet is because it’s a great insulator with many air pockets. Fifty percent of the volume of material is in air, which acts a natural sound absorber; hence the cork absorbs more sound. Other benefits to cork flooring include: cleanliness, insulation, durability and the vast array of design choices available.

There are concerns, or drawbacks to cork flooring though. Softness is a legitimate worry for cork floor owners. Heavy furniture can permanently dent the flooring. Luckily you can prevent problems by using furniture pads beneath table or furniture legs. In addition, as with any wood floor, water can be damaging. Thus, cork flooring should not be used in basements or bathrooms that might have seepage or flooding problems.

Regardless of these few concerns, cork flooring is a viable option for flooring today. Cork flooring is comparable to the cost of wood flooring and is quite durable. Durability is such a strong trait of cork flooring that is has been used in libraries, churches, and other public buildings since 1898. If you’re looking for an environmentally conscience flooring, you may want to check out the benefits to cork flooring.