(NC)-Be honest. The first time you heard about cork floors you thought about a wine bottle or perhaps a bulletin board. But a floor?

The truth is that cork floors have been around for centuries. They are well-known in European homes for their stunning designs and durability, and for natural air-cushioning that adds warmth and comfort to any room.

And now cork floors have been "rediscovered" in North America. With good reason.

Cork is an entirely renewable resource and cork floors are made without destroying a single cork oak tree. Cork is grown in managed forests in Portugal and Spain, where the bark is carefully harvested, once every nine years, in a centuries-old tradition with hand tools.

Everything related to cork harvesting is done responsibly to ensure that entire forests remain undamaged. It is not unusual to have a 200 year-old tree still producing cork bark.

The eco-friendly nature of cork is catching on with Canadians. People who have discovered cork floors rave about them - the quiet, the warmth, the resilience and great looks.

Cork floors now come in a wide range of colours and styles, in tiles or planks. It is a good idea to look for a floor with a high-quality joint like Uniclic, so your floor can be installed without messy glues, dust, fumes, or nails of any kind. All pigments and varnishes should be water-based, solvent-free and have no VOCs.

Some flooring companies see the popularity of cork and are just now adding it to their product lines. As you begin your research, you will find that very few companies can match a Canadian company for design experience and product selection, TORLYS Smart Floors (torlys.com).

Tip

Take off your shoes and walk on a cork floor sample. The comfort and warmth is a pleasant surprise. Cork maintains a comfortable ambient temperature, never too hot or too cool.

Popular in kitchens, cork flooring is a durable, air-cushioned alternative to hard ceramic. It is warm and comfortable underfoot, quiet and hypo-allergenic.

- News Canada