Choose natural cork for your home
Morphological structure of natural cork
Natural cork is a material obtained from the bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber). It is a unique material that is used for many purposes, including wine corks, cork flooring, insulation and much more. Below I present the morphological and internal structure of natural cork:
Cork sheets in your home
Cork sheets are a material made of natural cork, which is unique due to its insulating, acoustic and thermal properties. They are increasingly used in various applications inside homes due to their durability and comfort of use. Here are some uses for cork boards at home:
Cork flooring: cork sheets can be used as flooring material. Cork floors are soft, flexible and warm to the touch. They provide excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, which makes them an excellent choice for bedrooms, living rooms and children's rooms. They are also resistant to mold and fungi.
Cork walls: cork sheets can be used as a wall finishing material. Cork on walls can help improve the soundproofing of rooms, as well as add character and aesthetics.
Cork on the ceiling: cork can also be used on the ceiling, both in the form of boards and as cork coffers. This is an unusual but effective way to improve the sound insulation in a room and give it a warm look.
How is cork oak bark prepared for use?
Preparing the bark of a cork oak tree (Quercus suber) for use is a complicated process that requires care and precision to obtain high-quality natural cork. Here is the general process for preparing cork oak bark for use:
Bark harvesting: The process begins with stripping the bark from cork oak trees. This bark is harvested periodically, usually every 9-12 years, so as not to damage the tree or harm its health. Removing the bark is manual and requires the skills of specialists called "korkus".
Removing the outer layer of cork: After obtaining the bark, the outer layer is removed, which is too rough and is not suitable for the production of cork products. This outer layer is often used for other purposes, such as the production of cork granules.
Slicing into sheets: The bark of the cork oak is cut into sheets of specific sizes. These sheets are usually thicker than the final cork product, which allows for further processing.
Firing: The cork sheets are baked, i.e. exposed to fire, to remove any residual resin and other contaminants. This process helps clean the cork and give it the desired properties.
Sorting and Calibration: Corks are graded for quality and calibrated to match various cork products. At this stage, corks of appropriate quality are selected for the production of wine corks, insulating corks, cork flooring, etc.
Hewing and Stamping: Plugs are hewn and stamped to obtain the final shape and size for the product. For example, corks for wine bottles are hewn, and corks used in cork flooring can be stamped.
It is worth noting that the process of preparing natural cork is carefully regulated and controlled, and cork production respects the principles of sustainable development and protection of cork oak trees, which are key to preserving ecosystems in the areas where these trees grow.