Are you looking for a rich, unique flooring … something akin to hardwood floors, but not hardwood. You want something different from what everyone else has. Maybe what you’re looking for is just a champagne bottle away.

The flooring I’m talking about is cork floors. Of course, I’m just teasing you about using a champagne cork. Cork flooring is an amazing rich swirl of dark and light colors mixed in unique patterns that when all laid out together make one of the most beautifully unique floors available.

Cork is considered a renewable resource, and that is a big plus in a world that’s concerned with global warming and environmental impacts that something as seemingly insignificant as flooring can have. Many people are choosing cork floors as a means of helping to save the environment.

As a flooring choice, cork is not as hard as hardwoods. For some, that’s a good thing. Many people choose cork because it is softer to walk on and more comfortable than hardwoods. Others choose cork for it’s natural warmth and sound-deadening insulation qualities.

And who would have guessed, but cork is antimicrobial. That means that your cork floor is resistant to mold and mildew … makes sense when you think about why it’s used to bottle up champagne. Hey, if it’s good enough for Dom Pérignon, then it’s good enough for serious consideration as your next flooring choice.

Cork floors are varied and versatile, offered in a big variety of colors, and comes in both planks and floor tiles. It used to be that cork was only available in the glue-down forms, but with today’s technologies … you can even get cork in glueless inter-locking styles for faster installation without all the mess of glue.

Cork flooring can be installed right over the top of other flooring or subflooring, so you don’t have all the hassle of removing the previous flooring as long as it’s not rotted and in need of repair.

One downside to cork is that it does fade in direct sunlight. So, you’d want to use it in a room where the flooring won’t get exposure to direct sunlight. Cork, by it’s very nature, will tend to yellow a little over time. It also will interact with climatic conditions.

So, you might find your cork flooring the bathroom gets a just a little spongier after you’ve taken a hot shower. The changes are very subtle, but it’s good to know that cork does have it’s own personality.

So, why do people choose cork floors. Well, for one they’re truly beautiful. No two floors are exactly alike. The price point for installing a cork floor is less than if you choose hardwood, and for many folks that’s a big perk. Cork floors last a good long time, especially in a slightly moist environment. Cork flooring is simply an excellent value for your dollar when considering it as your next new flooring.