Flooring Materials Buying Guide

What it is
A natural material consisting of the ground bark of the cork oak tree, cork is molded, baked, cut, and varnished to create tiles and planks. Its airy structure causes the flooring to naturally reduce sound, retain heat, and absorb shock from extended standing time, such as when you're at the range while cooking.

Style pointers
Cork flooring goes beyond basic tan speckles. Decorative patterns include wine cork flooring, with cross sections of wine bottle corks; mosaic cork flooring that features pieces in an array of shapes and colors; and burled cork, a mottled pattern similar to burled wood.

What it costs
Cork flooring generally ranges in price from $3 to $6 per square foot. The more complex patterns fall on the high end, while the basic flecked variety runs about $3 per square foot, making it an economical flooring option for the kitchen.