Throughout history, people have used this versatile material for everything from sandals to bottle stoppers. Of course, flooring manufacturers have put the spongy substance to good use in the manufacture tiles, planks and sheets. Although cork may not be an obvious choice for many consumers, this renewable natural resource can provide seemingly endless benefits in both residential and commercial flooring installations.
“The No. 1 benefit of cork flooring is that it’s natural. Cork flooring is environmentally-friendly because we only use the bark; we don’t cut down the whole tree,” says Philippe Eramuzpe, president of Augusta, Ga.-based cork flooring manufacturer Natural Cork.