Ours is from Durodesign and we like it very much! Quiet, soft underfoot, just enough contrast with fir cabinetry, easy to maintain. After six months we don't see signs of wear -- ask us again in twenty years. The cork flooring replaces 100-year-old fir flooring that was scarred and pieced (because of changes in the footprint) beyond recovery, or we would have kept that.
Lynn

No experience yet. Just had mine installed yesterday. Durodesign for me as well. I LOVE the look and the cushiony feel. After reading many reviews and much research, I went with glue down, not floating. On the 3rd coat of sealer. One more tomorrow am. FWIW my contractor stopped by today to check it out and he loves it too. Although he did say it was different from "normal" tile or hardwood options. For me at least it works well with the design There are other folks here who love it and have had it installed for longer. Perhaps they will chime in here.

We LOVE our cork floor! NaturalFloors by USFloors for us - floating. We have over 1000 square feet of it, over subfloor and concrete (both ground level). We didn't want the glue-down, but couldn't have gone that route anyway, as the concrete wasn't perfectly level. It's warm, cushiony, and after six months, doesn't show any wear despite tons of traffic from the garage and yard with shoes still on, and three dogs (two large) all with pretty long nails. I can damp mop it without any issues, and it vacuums beautifully as well. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Ours is glue-down Durodesign, exactly the same as Muspic's. I chose it in part because it looked great years after it was installed in a public library that I know. And I was influenced in the choice of cork by my parents' experience: in 1954 they built a new ranch house and installed a natural cork floor, which my mother waxed periodically. That was a pretty floor for the rest of their lives and through generations of bird dogs. My sister renovated that same house a couple of years ago and had to replace the cork floor because of water damage from a leaking roof. She chose Durodesign floating cork tiles! We'll probably use the same material when we renovate a basement laundry room.
Lynn

Ours is from a company called QCork. It's click. We love it. Easy to clean. Soft. Warm. Quiet. We have a CRAZZZZZZZY dog though and she has scratched it in a couple of places. I would NOT avoid it if you have dogs just because of my statement. Our normal dog has not caused any damage. Our "damaged dog" has caused some scratches because she becomes startled and she "peels out" in a panic. Normal dogs would not be a problem. We love our cork.

Ne

Thanks for all of the feedback! I too have problems with my back and knees and wanted something soft that would blend with all the red oak floors in my house. I was trying to avoid putting wood floors in the kitchen. It would have meant stripping my whole house. Huge expense and not worth it to me. The wood floors are in fine condition.
So, now that I know I can damp mop and vacuum and my Chihuahua won't damage the floor. It's cork for me!!!!!

This is great info. I am totally intrigued by cork but don't know anyone around here with cork floors that I could see in person. Phase II of our renovation involves finishing our basement that previously held two old apartments, and we had planned on putting hardwoods down there (we have original 1920 hardwoods throughout the other two stories of our home), but I do like the idea of cork. Any thoughts on cork for a basement application (our basement is actually above ground on 3 levels) and cost compared to hardwoods? Our basement will hold a family/media room that leads out to a new screened porch, mudroom, laundry room, guest bedroom & bath. Would like to use bluestone in mudroom & laundry room but haven't priced that out yet and wonder how it would pair with the cork??

I am told that "floating' cork floors are best for basements, but don't yet have direct experience with that. I'll bet the Durodesign folks (in Canada) would gladly advise you.
Lynn

I have not seen them in person. I have some pictures and
I too have been thinking about cork. Not for the kitchen
but for the upstairs hallway and possibly two bedrooms.
I have similar questions about durability, and have read
postive reviews.

Here are some pictures and links...

Get with green
http://www.getwithgreen.com/2008/10/20/10-things-you-must-know-about-cork-flooring-informative-cork-sites/

Reviews of cork floors
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/good-questions/can-you-give-reviews-or-feedback-on-cork-flooring-good-questions-149718

Corkoleaum

Wow, Boxer, those are some nice pix.... I'll try the new names you posted.
I requested a sample that I liked, but was hoping to find a second color that works with it. The one I found was a mottled black, and I'd like to find a nice gray with it, but have not found any so far. I wonder if I can mix using 2 brands....hmmmm?

We have had our glue-down cork for two years. Ours is the cheapo natural cork from Lumber Liquidators. It has worn really well, although furniture does leave indentations. I would warn against fading, however. Ours is in rooms with floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall glass with no UV protection on the glass. So this is probably the harshest light condition that cork would face, and we knew that. Heck, any flooring that we would have chosen would likely have suffered from fading.

So consider your installation location and whether the particular product offers any protection against fading.

Good to hear these reports on cork flooring; it's what I want if/when we get to change the kitchen floor, but I don't know anyone IRL who has it so I wasn't sure how it would wear.

I have had cork flooring for 12 years and really like it. I would suggest buying a quality brand. It really makes a difference. The plank floor, verses the gluedown, is a much better alternative. Less likely to have problems down the road. Very easy to care for and durable from my perspective. There are photos of my kitchen at the bottom of the link page below showing the cork flooring.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cork flooring in kitchen

We have the Durodesign glue down cork, and we love it. I'm not sure why drachiele thinks that plank is less likely to have problems down the road other than it was the better alternative for her. I think both products are good. Our one concern with the planks is that like with a floating laminate floor, pooling water might be a problem with the seams. This isn't an issue with the glue down cork tile that we used. Nobody plans to have a flood, or pooling water, but life is messy and so are my kids. YMMV.

An old and somewhat blurry pic of my floors. I really need to take some new pics.

I'm torn.

I have it, love it. It's warm, and comfortable. Looks great. My only issue is that I have older kids who really are driving me nuts. My 19yo son is at that unfortunate age where he questions every purchase we make..."why do you need a new floor? What's wrong with this one?", "why are you redoing the kitchen?", etc. So, he really doesn't want to obey simple care suggestions, like, DON'T DRAG HEAVY STUFF ACROSS IT OR IT WILL SCRATCH. I have found that stain pens for wood fix those problems. (when it is scratched, the color is really only on the top, so the lighter color below shows, the surface is variegated so, you can't see anything when colored in with stain pen) If I didn't have any kids that I felt were trying to sabatoge me, I would use cork in the next house. But, I'm frightened because of stuff like this. He's the kid who when I say, "Hey, you scratched the floor", his response is along the lines of "well, why did you buy something that needed special care?". I truly believe he doesn't do this on purpose, but really, he is a "genius" and he can't remember that he shouldn't drag stuff across the floor? Please.

He's the one I'm not giving the new address to when we move. I know he will "grow up" soon.

Mine is by USFloors, floating floor. New Dimensions, color: corte.

Not sure how I missed this a couple weeks ago because I'm also looking for the right kitchen floor.

Beekeeperswife, thank you for posting your floor. It is gorgeous!!! I've been looking at bamboo but haven't found one that I love the look of. BTW, it looks like you have the backsplash tile I'm thinking of getting. Plus, I have a son I may not give the new address to (although he's only 14 so there may be legal obligations here.) Beautiful kitchen!

Another cork-lover here! (Apologies to the ol' SNL skit). I did have a problem with the installation on the glue-down tiles however. I ordered the rectangular glue-down from Duro Design. The installers my GC hired did not properly prepare the subfloor, so after the poly was applied, every flaw telegraphed through to the surface. REALLY ugly. The installers were honorable though & completely covered the cost of the new material (floated from Duro) as well as the re-installation. Now it's great! (Took an extra 2 months though!)

A few mentioned durodesign. Here we are in 2025 and I'm considering durodesign glue down. For those who have it, how has it held up all these years later?

Forty years ago we could not give away a cork floor. Now I'm more concerned with running out of cork (just kidding).

It is resilient and so easy on the back, really Eco-friendly as opposed go green-washed like so may supposedly "green" products. It is very durable, easy to repair if it does get damaged (but keep a few extra tiles in the garage just in case), and easy to maintain. Sweep and forget.

For more information on cork and other kitchen flooring, see Flooring Options for Kitchens and Baths (with ratings)