Cork flooring is quite unique. First of all, it is a completely renewable resource, harvested from the bark of living cork trees. Collecting the cork does not destroy the tree. In about nine years, the bark grows back and is ready for another harvest.

Cork is a porous material, with a honeycomb type of structure. Unlike other real wood floors, cork flooring is relatively soft, but still durable. It retains warmth, absorbs sound and vibrations, and resists insects and mold. In addition, it helps to maintain temperatures and provides a degree of thermal insulation.

Cork flooring is not produced in long planks like most real wood flooring. Instead it is available in a wide range of square and rectangle tiles. These tiles are available either as a floating floor, in which the cork is already glued to interlocking tiles of wood, or as individual pieces of cork that can be glued directly to an existing subfloor.

Selecting Cork Flooring

Cork flooring is available in a wide range of colors and styles. Since it typically comes in tiles, you can really get creative with patterns and colors, giving your room a very unique look. Cork is great for living rooms and family rooms since it absorbs sounds and is reasonably soft under foot.

If you plan an installation in a potentially wet area, such as a kitchen or bathroom, you will want to go with a glue-down tiles rather than floating floor tiles. The interlocking tiles of a floating floor are not waterproof, and any water that gets between the tiles and under the floor can do damage. Once cork flooring the tiles are glued down, however, a protective finish is applied over top that seals the floor from water.

Quick Look at Cork Flooring

• Renewable and sustainable real wood flooring, since it does not require killing the tree when harvesting
• Absorbs sound and vibrations
• Is relatively soft under foot
• Provides a measure of thermal insulation
• Available in a wide variety of colored tiles that allow you to get very creative with your cork flooring design

Solid oak flooring is a popular choice among homeowners. It is durable and works well in a variety of stains and finishes. It typically has tight, straight grain lines with undulating waves, almost like concentric mountains, though this can change depending on the cut of the wood.

White Oak is probably the most popular solid oak flooring in America. It has a relatively neutral color. Red Oak, which is another popular species, has a slightly reddish tint to it.

The Janka scale that is used to measure the hardness of a wood indicates that most oak species are reasonably resistant to wear. Keep in mind that the finish place on the wood will also affect its durability. Norther Red Oak, which is the species typically used to compare to all other wood species has a Janka rating of 1,290. Tasmanian Oak  and White Oak, two other popular oak species, have a Janka rating of 1,350 and 1,360 respectively.

Selecting Solid Oak Flooring

For high traffic areas, or areas that will contain heavy furniture, you'll want to go with the White Oak flooring since it has a higher Janka rating than Northern Red Oak.  If you like the reddish hue of the Red Oak species, simply select a stain that has a reddish hue and apply it to a White Oak Flooring.

Quick Look at Solid Oak Flooring

• Very popular choice among homeowners
• Available in White Oak, Tasmanian Oak and Northern Red Oak species
• Red Oak flooring has a slightly redder tint to it than White Oak
• Norther Red Oak is used as the comparison for all other species on the Janka scale
• Janka rating from 1,290 to 1,360 depending on species

Walnut flooring has a wonderfully unique character and richness to it. It has a dark chocolate coloring that is a beautiful addition to any home whether it is left in its natural color or stained. The grain of walnut hardwood flooring is primarily straight, but can also present a swirling pattern. Walnut is one species of real wood flooring that gives an elegant look to any home.

The Janka scales measures the hardness of a wood with higher numbers indicating that a particular species is more resistance to wear. The Janka rating for Ipe Brazilian walnut is 3,684. North American walnut, also known as Black Walnut, has a Janka rating of 1,010.

Selecting Walnut Flooring

When selecting walnut flooring, consider the location where it will be installed. In a high traffic area, or an area with a lot of heavy furniture, you will want to get one of the harder species in order to ensure it’s durability. In low traffic areas, or areas with light furniture, you can opt for one of the softer varieties. For reference, oak wood, which is commonly used for wood flooring, has a Janka rating of 1,290 to 1,360 (depending on the variety).

If you do opt for one of the softer varieties in a high traffic area, consider using area rugs to protect your investment.

As with all real wood flooring, walnut hardwood flooring will vary greatly in price, so it will be in your best interest to shop around for the best deals.

A Quick Look at Walnut Flooring

• Rich chocolate color
• Mostly straight grain, but may have swirling patterns as well
• Available in Brazilian Walnut, Carribean Walnut, Peruvian Walnut and North American Walnut species
• Janka rating from 1,010 to 3,684 depending on species