Cork is commonly used as an underlayment for hardwood and ceramic floors. It is also used under wall coverings, in ceilings, and around pipes. This is mainly because of its amazing resilience and acoustical benefits. It has the bonuses of not deteriorating over the years, repelling insects with the inherent substance suberin, being fairly waterproof because of that same substance, and being resistant to mold and mildew.

Cork forests are threatened with the decline in demand for natural cork bottle stoppers. With that threat comes threats to the already-endangered species: the Iberian Lynx, Barbary Deer, and Imperial Iberian Eagle. The cork industry employs 30,000 people in various jobs, and it would be economically detrimental in the extreme if the industry were to shrink. In some places cork forests are being replaced by the more lucrative, less sustainable, more nutrient-demanding eucalyptus. This is a very hazardous change as the soil will be much more prone to erosion, and will make it very difficult to establish native plants there in the future.

For more information visit the following sites:

• Simply Cork Flooring

• Cork Quality Council

• Cork Institute of America

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Cork, in all its various forms, is derived from the Cork Oak (Quercus suber) tree which is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa. Half of all cork production is done in Portugal. The bark of the cork oak is harvested entirely by hand with the first cut being when the tree is about 25 years old. Harvesting can continue after that every 6-12 years, and is only done by local craftsmen. The trees live 150-250 years, and there are usually 12-15 cuts per tree throughout its lifetime.

Granules of cork can be mixed into cement to increase energy absorption, low thermal conductivity, and low density. It has been used in rocket technology because of its fire resistance, and it can also be made into bricks for the outer walls of houses.

Cork use in building has declined in the past 20 years. This is mainly because of a change in fashions since the ’70s, some difficulty with building regulations, and poor quality cork sold in the ’80s and ’90s. Cork marketing is changing however, and we may soon see a revival of cork use everywhere. Cork flooring is already readily available, and it is possible to obtain cork insulating boards.

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