Cork Board Floors and Wall Tiles
The eco friendly cork oak tree is the focus of attention of builders worried about the emission of green house gases from industrial conglomerates.
The simple cork tree is the source of the cork bark which is harvested without the use of any gas guzzling machines.
The cork oak tree can only be harvested once it reaches the age of twenty five.
Then trained men with simple axes take off the bark from the trunk of the cork oak tree.
No harm is done to the trees which soon start regenerating a new bark which can only be harvested after nine years.
These trees grow in seven countries around the Mediterranean namely Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria and are protected by law.
Portugal is the biggest producer of cork and Cork Board in the world.
It has laws to protect the cork oak trees which go back to 1209.
The unique resin inside the cork is heated and this helps to bind the cork into sheets and tiles of corkboard.
The cork oak is found in other countries like China, Japan and South Korea but there it is regarded more as an ornamental tree.
Fifty percent of the world's cork comes from Portugal.
Traditionally cork board sheets and tiles have been used as flooring and wall covering in theaters and recording studios because of the excellent sound absorbing qualities of cork.
Cork Board floor tiles are also used in hospitals where they act as a sound dampener in corridors and halls.
The other benefit of cork flooring in medical institutions is that it acts as a gentle shock absorber for the feet and legs of nurses and doctors who have to stand for long periods of time during their duty hours.
Corkboard is hypo allergic Today builders and architects are returning to corkboards as a material for interiors.
Artistic designs using planks and tiles are visible in the foyers and lobbies of new buildings.
In Seattle, USA corkboard has been used as flooring in the Adobe Photoshop building.
Cork mixed with cement has been used as a flooring material for some time.
Corkboards are being recommended by doctors for use in children's play areas.
Cork Board does not emit any chemical pollutants after it is used on walls.
It also does not release any micro fibers which might pollute the atmosphere.
Corkboard is hypo allergic and thus the perfect material for rooms used by children who have allergies.
It is the ideal flooring material for old age homes because of its shock absorbing nature and anti skid properties.
It is being used in machine rooms to dampen vibrations and on the decks of yachts and ships to prevent slipping.
The anti static properties of Cork Board make it an excellent flooring material for workshops where sparks can lead to fire.
Interior designers love this malleable material which they are using increasingly in combination with other earth friendly raw materials.
Cork Boards sheets and tiles are as enduring as the cork oak tree which lasts for centuries.
No wonder it is being seen again as a construction material for the future.