Cork flooring is rugged material, ready for the kind of traffic which is normally associated with that of residences and commercial spaces. And it has a distinctive look that adds refinement to any space.
Cork flooring is the product of an innovative industry, known for its efficient use of natural resources. The centre of the industry is in southern Europe, more specifically in Portugal. The prime product in the cork industry is for the production of wine corks, an industry which has relied upon cork from the region for centuries.
Decorative Cork Flooring
Cork flooring surprises many who are not familiar with its unique beauty. Cork is known for its golden-to-brown color spectrum, adding a warm and earthy feel to every interior. There are choices to be considered as far as patterning on each cork floor as well.
Some cork retains the impressions of the wine corks from which it is derived. Other choices in cork flooring present a more uniform, yet interestingly speckled surface in natural flooring.
How Cork is Harvested
Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak, hand-harvested under strictly controlled circumstances in an effort to protect the species. The careful harvesting process is a big part of why cork flooring is considered to be green building materials.
The bark of the cork oak is:
- removed using hand-held tools
- harvested while doing no harm to the cork oaks
- taken from individual cork oaks that are no younger than 25 years old
- regenerative, growing back over a relatively short period
- not harvested from individual cork oaks in less than a 9 year interval.
Cork flooring is harvested under very environmentally-conscious conditions, with the protection of the species, and individual cork oaks, as a priority. This is what makes cork flooring such a good example of green building materials.
How Cork Flooring is Made
After harvesting, the bark of the cork oak is boiled and is punched in order to make wine corks – the primary product of cork. The remainder undergoes a process which prepares the cork for use as flooring. It is:
- molded into large blocks
- baked at high temperatures to increase its durability,
- cut into standardized sizes
- sorted by color sealed with polyurethane for further protection
The result is a sturdy, decorative, and practical choice in flooring; versatile, “green”, and known to last for decades without a lot of maintenance.
Cork Flooring Is a Natural Insulator
Cork flooring is popular for many reasons, a fixture in areas where sound and impact dampening are priorities. Cork is known to excel in these areas largely due to its molecular makeup; it is made up of billions of tiny, 14-sided cells that act as miniscule air pockets that serve a number of purposes:
- as insulators to keep in warmth
- as sound dampening elements
- to promote a comfortable walking surface that absorbs the impact of footfalls
- to resist the impact of falling objects
For children’s areas, residences for the elderly, and in areas that require a minimum amount of noise, like libraries and recording studios, cork flooring is a popular choice.
Cork flooring is suitable for all kinds of settings and décor; a simple, practical, and durable variety of flooring.