cork flooring a sustainable choice alicia westgerdes hcia 302 professor matthew ziff march 2, 2009
TRANSCRIPT
CORK FLOORINGa sustainable choice
Alicia Westgerdes
HCIA 302
Professor Matthew Ziff
March 2, 2009
What is cork?
• Cork is the outer bark of the trunk of cork oak trees, which typically live for 200 years
• Cork is often used for wine bottle stoppers, a fairly lucrative industry; the cast-offs make up sheets of cork used in flooring
What are the characteristics of cork flooring?
• Cork is durable, light, elastic, and has low conductivity
• Cork can be installed on almost any floor
• Cork is easy to clean, requiring only damp mopping
What are the benefits of cork flooring?
• Cork is naturally hypoallergenic• Cork is naturally mold-resistant• Cork contains a naturally-occurring
waxy substance called suberin, which repels insects, mold, and fire
• Cork is soft and more comfortable to stand/walk on than other flooring choices
What are the benefits of cork flooring?
• The air trapped inside the cellular structure of cork provides natural noise reduction and thermal insulation
What are the benefits of cork flooring?
• Cork is 100% biodegradable
• Once installed, cork lasts for decades
• Cork is naturally flame-retardant and non-combustible
How is cork harvested?
• Cork is harvested from cork oak trees, usually growing in the Mediterranean, without killing them
• The outer bark can be harvested and will grow back every nine years
How is cork harvested?
• Environmentally-managed cork oak forests aid in soil conservation, reduce desertification and water table recharge
• Cork oak trees are immune to forest fires
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Where is cork harvested?
• Cork oak trees only grow in a very specific microclimate in Portugal, southern France and Spain
• Attempts to grow cork elsewhere, including North America, have been unsuccessful
What design choices do cork provide?
• Cork can be produced to appear fine-grained, marbleized, or wood grained
• Various shades and colors are available, from light honey to dark walnut; some manufacturers even offer brightly colored-cork
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What design choices do cork provide?
• A variety of patterns can be created with colored or natural cork tiles
What design choice do cork provide?
• Jelinek Cork Group sells cork mosaic “tiles”, made from recycled wine corks, cut into discs, then glued down and grouted
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Other benefits of cork
• The cork industry, a true cottage industry, provides financial viability for countless families in small villages in Portugal, Spain, and southern France
• Colorings and adhesives are water-based, and therefore healthier for humans and the environment
• Specifying cork flooring can be an easy way to accrue LEED certification points
Installation
• Cork can be installed as a floating floor, in sheets, or as adhesive-backed tiles
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Works cited
• www.corkfloor.com
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cork
• www.naturalcork.com
• www.jelinek.com