Cork Flooring When choosing the flooring for your new home design or your home redesign, you may wish to consider cork. There are a variety of options in cork flooring including floating cork flooring, natural cork flooring, and bamboo cork flooring. The raw material used for the cork floor is a tree product. Basically, it is the bark shed by the tree every 9 to 15 years. Cork flooring is a green product and environmentally friendly (since only the bark that is shed is used). As an added benefit, cork flooring has anti-bacterial properties. A preferred quality is it’s resistance to mold, mildew, and even termites. In kitchens, baths, and basements, rooms where there are high chances of water seeping under the flooring and making it moist, using cork flooring is a wise choice. The cork flooring is springy and soft under your feet (which may be a pro to some and a con to others.). Cork flooring offers insulation properties. It prevents the heat of the home from escaping and seeping through the flooring. During the cold months of winter, and if you live in a cold climate area, cork flooring is an energy efficient choice. The insulating properties offer sound and noise insulation as well. Cork flooring requires very low maintenance compared to hardwood flooring and other types of flooring. To clean and maintain your cork floor, simply sweep or vacuum, and then use an only slightly water dampened mop. Be certain to check with your professional installer for a complete guide to cleaning and maintaining your cork flooring. It is extremely durable, but it is necessary to refinish the cork flooring with a polyurethane coat every 5-10 years depending on the amount of traffic and wear and tear. Cork flooring is available in many natural shades and tones. There are even artificially manufactured colors to perfectly complete your home’s décor. A few flip-side notes: Cork flooring is generally 3/16 of an inch thick and sanding and refinishing is not an easy task. With that thickness, there are a limited number of times that sanding and refinishing is possible as the flooring will crumble. Also, if you have pets, you will want to research the best cork option with an expert. Thirdly, if a chunk of the cork flooring is missing, this remains permanent. Lastly, never use a soaking mop nor harsh cleaners as these will permanently damage the cork flooring. As you select your perfect dream home plan, you may consider the innovative, green option of cork for your flooring.