Alternative Floorings

Exotic Wood Flooring

• Traditional hardwood flooring usually presents a uniform color with small variations in wood grain. Tropical hardwoods such as tigerwood present a more exotic look, thanks to its rich orange color with wide contrasting veins of chocolate brown. Another eye-pleasing alternative is reclaimed lumber flooring made from antique barn walls, 19th century warehouse floors, or retired wine barrels. Reclaimed lumber flooring often takes shape as wide planks with a slightly uneven worn surface. These hardwoods are often harder and more wear resistant than conventional floors.

Cork Flooring

• Cork flooring is made from the bark of the same Mediterranean tree that provides material for bottle stoppers. Cork flooring has actually been around since the late 19th century, but its popularity increased in recent years when a much greater variety of colors became available to complement its natural tan coloration. Cork feels warm and resilient underfoot, making it an excellent choice for kitchen work areas and other locations where people might be standing for extended periods of time. Most cork flooring is installed with a polyurethane finish for easy cleaning.

Leather Floor Tiles

• Leather flooring present a rich, luxurious appearance in all the familiar colors and finishes you've seen in shoes, saddles, and other tanned leather materials. It is supplied in glue-down square or rectangular tiles as well as plank-width strips, and it can be installed with uniform colors and shapes, or in a more colorful patchwork array. Leather flooring is also available as click-together panels that do not need to be glued in place, which means apartment renters can take their leather floor with them when they move.

Recycled Rubber Flooring

• Recycled rubber flooring was originally confined to gyms and workout rooms, where they became popular because they were resilient underfoot, sound absorbing and easy to clean. In addition, they softened the impact of dropping barbells to the floor beneath. Initially supplied only in black, today's rubber flooring is available as interlocking tiles in a variety of colors. That makes recycled rubber a smart choice for home workout rooms, kid's play areas, and even home theaters and entertainment centers.