Cork

CORK FLOORING

A cork floor provides a comfortable cushion underfoot because it “gives” when compressed. Cork is also a natural thermal and acoustic insulator, which means rooms with cork flooring are naturally warm and quiet. Aesthetically versatile, cork flooring is available in tiles and planks in many styles, colors and sizes.

Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber) which are native to Spain, Portugal and Tunisia, and is periodically harvested from the living trees in plantations planted for commercial purposes. The harvesting practices are sustainable, for one thing. A tree must be at least 25 years old before its bark can be harvested; after that, cork can be harvested every 8-14 years without killing the tree. Cork trees can live up to 800 years, but the typical life span is 150 to 200 years. Therefore, cork is a completely natural, recurring, and easily replenishable material. To create flooring products, cork is ground up, compressed, and formed into sheets bonded with resins.

Cork is also biodegradable and will break down into the environment at the end of its life cycle.

Cork flooring has many merits, to be sure, and its trendy popularity has led to cork installation almost everywhere in the home. But this flooring is not as durable as some other flooring materials, and it is susceptible to several forms of damage, such as cat/dog nail scratches, high humidity can cause cork to curl or plump, which my lead tiles to pop up or buckle