Cork

Cork is actually the outer bark of a species of tree that grows in the Mediterranean. Cork oak forests cover approximately 5.4 million acres amongst the seven primary cork producing countries. The main producer of cork is Portugal at 30% of supply. Algeria produces 21%, Spain 20%, Morocco 16%, France 5% and 4% comes from Italy. Cork can be used as a flooring surface, an underlayment for flooring, or even on walls and ceilings. In some instances, cork has been formed into baseboards and moldings as well. In residential applications, cork is most successfully used in living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and hallways. Cork flooring has actually been naturally enriching interiors for over 100 years. It has been in use in schools, hospitals, churches, museums, libraries and hotels. It's warm honey-toned appearance and ability to soften acoustics often goes unnoticed by those of us who would not otherwise recognize it.

Cork's impact on the environment is quite low due to the sustainable harvesting practices and almost zero waste from the manufacturing process. Producing nations regulate how frequently cork can be harvested in order to minimize damage to the trees. The trees survive the debarking process although they are more susceptible to injury until the protective bark is regenerated. Luckily, the producing countries are well aware of this, so they take special precaution to protect the tree as best as possible from impending damage.

Cork bark is typically harvested every nine or ten years. After the slabs of cork bark are harvested, they are cleaned, boiled and stripped of the rough outer surface. Pieces of cork are ground into small granules, mixed with a binder, molded into large blocks and baked in specialized ovens - making use of every scrap of cork bark.

Cork's remarkable properties are derived from its cellular structure of hollow cells with extremely strong yet flexible cell walls. The cell are waterproof and airtight. Joined together in a honeycomb like fashion, cork cells produce a very low-density, compressible insulating material. Often overlooked, cork is resistant to moisture damage and decay and is easy to clean. Cork does not offgas or shed microfibers and is naturally rot resistant. Most cork tiles will require a protective coating.

You can finish cork floors with either wax or polyurethane sealants, and if you choose wax, you can use any paste wax that is recommended for wood floors. Some retailers and manufacturers recommend using a natural wax that has a beeswax base as this will be low in VOC's. It is also recommended by one manufacturer that you do not start the finishing process for at least 5 days after installation. A light sanding may be necessary if you have any uneven areas.