Cork: Green Building Material of the Month
Cork, commonly known for its use as a wine bottle stopper, is also a fantastic green building material. Cork is made from the outer bark of the cork oak tree which can be found in the Mediterranean region. A typical tree produces several hundred kilograms of cork at each harvesting and will survive for many generations. Cork is harvested on a sustainable basis. Unlike other trees, stripping the cork bark from the tree does not harm the tree, in fact a cork oak tree can be safely harvested 20 times during its life cycle. This rapidly renewable resources makes cork an ideal sustainable building material.
This by-prouct of wine corks is a recycled material that can have many building applications. Cork is naturally fire retardant, impermeable, hypoallergenic and resistant to wear. The value of cork is further enhance by its low conductivity of heat, sound and vibration making great flooring applications for rooms with cold floors or reducing sound transfers on second story additions. In addition to cork flooring there is also cork roofing, exterior walls, interior walls, insulation and ceiling. One of our favorite cork material producers is ThermaCork. Visit their website for more information.