Natural Cork is enjoying a resurgence in popularity today. From television design shows to shelter magazines, Natural Cork is seemingly everywhere and ostensibly the “hottest new product” on the market.

Many people think of cork as a relatively new and possibly unreliable option particularly as a surface flooring material. And yet, there are examples of Natural Cork floors in public buildings that were installed over 100 years ago and are still in use today. The Library of Congress in Washington, DC is one excellent case.

The Natural Cork Tree

A member of the beech family, Quercus Suber or the cork oak tree grows in coastal regions of the Mediterranean. Seven countries comprise the bulk of the area where cork oak will grow: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia — with the majority of production occurring in Portugal and Spain. Relatively slow growing, cork trees survive harsh conditions in depleted soil that will often support little else of value. There are examples of cork oak trees that are 400 to 500 years old, though the average life expectancy is 120 to 200 years.

Unlike most trees where primary value is derived from the lumber of the trunk, Natural Cork is obtained from the bark. This unusually thick bark is made up of millions of tiny prism-shaped air pockets which create a resilient, cushiony surface. Natural Cork is a natural fire inhibitor so the bark provides protection from wildfires common to the region. An inherent waxy substance, suberin, serves as an insect repellant. And the bark is regenerative — its protective properties will grow back if damaged in any way.

A Proud History

Natural Cork has a long and distinguished history as an agricultural product. In ancient times, cork bark was used to form sandal soles, food storage vessels, and floats for fishing nets. There are mentions of cork and its uses in ancient documents surviving from as far back as 400 BC.

Seventeenth century French monk Dom Perignon is credited with being the first to recognise the ability of cork to contain sparkling wines — establishing cork bottle-stopper production into the important industry it is today. Rulers in Portugal were quick to recognise cork’s economic value. By the 14th century, ownership, growth, harvest, and sale of cork was closely regulated. Many of these restrictions are still in place and can be credited with the strength of Portuguese cork production in the world economy. Portugal leads corkwood farming at more than 50% of global production.

Natural Cork Agriculture

Grown on farms and harvested every 9 to 11 years, the financial benefit lies not in felling these trees but in keeping them alive and in production for generations. Regulations necessitate that a cork tree may not be harvested until it is 20 to 25 years old. The material from this first harvest is known as “virgin” cork. After the first two layers, subsequent harvests produce “amadia” — the optimum production material. At maturity a typical tree can produce upwards of 450 pounds of cork per harvest. Starting a cork tree farm is an investment in future generations.

Natural Cork is still harvested by hand in the traditional method leaving the habitat intact and with minimal impact on the overall environment. Removal of the bark, known as “stripping”, must be done during the active growing season, June through August. Using hand tools, a series of cuts are made in the bark; the loosened bark is then pried off in large sheets where possible. Sheets of cork are stacked and left for days to dry in the sun before being sent to factory.

The Flooring Option

The ability to use cork in flooring applications was discovered in the 19th century when American John Smith discovered agglomerated cork. Today, cork flooring is created from the post-industrial by-product of the bottle-stopper industry. This ‘waste’ material is ground up and formed into sheets using minimal amounts of adhesive to bind the particles together under high pressure. The size, quantity, and type of cork granule in conjunction with varying degrees of pressure determine suitability for flooring applications.

New finishing techniques and improved technologies have revived interest in cork over the past decade. What does cork have to offer that sets it apart from other flooring choices? In fact, no other floor covering can match the combined benefits of cork.

Comparison Chart

Natural Cork floors combine the best characteristics of hard surface and soft surface flooring. No other flooring option compares.

Product Selection

The basis for Natural Cork flooring is agglomerated sheet material produced mainly in Portugal and Spain. In order to achieve a different appearance, a thin veneer layer of cork is laminated on top of this core material. There are many patterns to choose from, everything from those that favour bamboo to those that mimic marble and much in-between.

What to Look For

Maintenance

Lasting beauty can be achieved through purchasing top quality material and providing proper ongoing maintenance. Two key properties of cork to remember: its ability to fade with exposure to light, and the fact that it will react to heat and humidity.

Natural Cork contains organic pigments and will fade over time. It should never be exposed directly to sunlight — use drapes or other systems to protect your floor. Rotate furnishings periodically to avoid uneven ageing.

Sweep or vacuum regularly to avoid build-up of abrasive particles. Use cleaners specified for pre-finished hardwood, misted over the surface and damp-mopped. Avoid the old “bucket and mop” method. In the kitchen, use a non-rubber backed rug in front of working areas. Furniture should have proper protectors under feet, and office chairs should use wide-caster protective mats.

Refinishing Options

Other Natural Cork Products

Natural Cork has an amazing number of uses in home decoration. Natural Cork wall tile is available in a variety of interesting patterns and colours, glued onto a prepared wall using contact cement. This product is protected with a wax film that repels dust and stains. Rolled sheet cork can also be painted or stained and used to cover walls.

Cork wallpaper features an astonishing range of colours, patterns, and composite blends including straw and seagrass. These exotic room finishes can evoke a look similar to everything from lizard skin to metallic streaked marble.

Background courtesy of USFloors