CORK

There is a very special oak tree (Quercus Suber) that is very common in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, especially in Spain and Portugal. The tree can live for hundreds of years and grows a thick, wonderful bark which is made of millions of tiny air cells, each lined with alternating layers of cellulose and a waxy substance called suberin.

This unique bark can be harvested every nine to fourteen years with absolutely no harm to the tree. The tree is never cut down to produce cork products. After the bark is harvested, it is drilled for wine bottle corks. What is left is reclaimed and ground up to make other products such as flooring. The ground up cork granules are placed into large heat presses. The high pressure and heat causes the cork to fuse together and become a large block of agglomerated cork. This block can then be cut into cork flooring or cork underlayment, depending on density.

DURABILITY

Cork is remarkably resistant to wear, as it is less affected by impact and friction than other hard surfaces because of its cellular composition.

RESILIENCY

When cork is subjected to pressure, the gas in the cells is compressed and volume reduces considerably. When released from pressure, cork recovers very rapidly to its original shape.

INSULATION

Because 90% of the tissue consists of gaseous matter, the density of cork is extremely low, giving the material wonderful insulating properties, thermal as well as acoustical. Cork is warm and quiet.

IMPERMEABILITY

The presence of Suberin, the inherent waxy substance found in Cork, renders cork impervious to both liquid and gases. As a result, Cork does not rot and may therefore be considered the best seal available.

HYPOALLERGENIC

Cork does not absorb dust and consequently does not cause allergies. Cork is anti-bacterial and anti-microbial.

FIRE RETARDANT

A natural fire retardant, Cork does not spread flames and does not release toxic gases during combustion.