It is not uncommon these days for homeowners to choose to use materials for their home that are environmentally friendly. That doesn't mean that consumers are willing to sacrifice style for the sake of the environment. In the flooring world, your options are practically limitless, and so is the range of prices. Among your options is to use cork for your flooring. Cork is not only an environmental material, it is affordable and extremely attractive.
Manufacturing hardwood flooring requires that entire trees be cut down. Harvesting of these trees for hardwood flooring takes place in forests all around the world. You really can't know if a wood flooring manufacturer is harvesting wood in an environmentally friendly manner, even if it says it is. The cork that is used to make cork flooring is actually the bark from the cork tree. Removing the bark does not harm the tree and it will grow back to maturity within ten years. Most of the cork used in flooring comes from either Spain or Portugal, and both countries have strict regulations governing the harvesting of cork in their forests.
Cork can be used in any room of your home. Bathrooms and kitchens are not off limit. Mildew, mold and moisture are not problems if the floor has been sealed. This is an advantage over hardwood flooring, which is sensitive to moisture. When it comes to color selection, your options in hardwoods are either brown, dark brown, or another shade of brown. With cork flooring, you have a much wider array of possible colors and textures. Although you can certainly go conservative and pick a neutral type of color, you can also go crazy and use whatever color you like.
While both hardwood and cork flooring tend to be durable, cork flooring has some unique qualities. Cork is a very comfortable surface to walk on. Cork has a springy feel to it, cushioning your feet as you walk or stand. Cork is a great choice for those don't like cold feet; it is a good insulator and holds heat so you can walk around barefooted, even in the winter. Cork also helps you cut down on dust so you won't see as many dustballs or hairballs rolling along the floor.
Hardwood can certainly be beautiful and functional, but a strong argument could be made that cork flooring is superior.
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