How long has cork flooring been used?

I know that Frank Lloyd Wright used it for his falling water house in the 30's but how long has it been around prior to that? thanks in advance :)

Public Comments

1. I wish i could tell you. But i do know it is a great investment. I have it in my kitchen. It is very easy to clean. It withstands allot of the everyday where and tare. I love it.
2. Cork flooring was first used popularly at the end of the 19 th century. By the early 20 th century, Frank Lloyd Wright was incorporating cork flooring in some of the public buildings he designed. Many of these buildings still feature these original cork floors.
3. Cork flooring was popular by the end of the 19th century.The reason cork has been used for so long is because of how simple the process of making it is - by grinding the bark of the cork oak tree, boiling it, and making it into sheets. These days, cork flooring is looked to as a great "green" building material. The cork oak tree is not harmed when its bark is harvested, a process which is done by hand in strictly observed cycles.