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CORK FLOORING
Cork is harvested
from the bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus Suber)
that is indigenous to Western Mediterranean region,
mainly Portugal and Spain. Its documented use ironically
goes back to ancient Egypt; considering the distance
from where cork oak naturally grow, where tombs dating
back thousands of years were found to contain ceramic
jugs with cork stoppers. In the 18th century, Dom
Pierre Perignon recognized the ability of cork to
contain champagne and wine, which is one of the most
significant discoveries leading toward the development
of a modern cork industry. Today, cork is used in
the manufacture of stoppers, floor coverings, facings
for wall and ceilings, footwear, fishing equipment
etc.
CORK FLOORING MANUFACTURING PROCESS:
Cork is the soft tissue composed of dead cells found
in the inner bark of the cork oak tree with a honeycomb
structure that has 100 million air-cells per cubic
inch. Trees must be 25 years old before the first
harvesting (virgin cork) of cork can occur. Average
life span of the cork oak tree is 150-200 years. The
older the tree is the better quality of cork it can
produce. Every 9 to 10 years, the bark of the cork
tree is stripped from its trunks. Then the planks
are sorted and stacked in the forest for 6 months.
Exposure to air, sun, rain and wind triggers chemical
transformations that improve the cork’s quality.
The virgin cork is then taken into the factory to
ground into granules and compressed with special glues
at high pressure into sheets. Baking the cork prior
to compression and varying the granule size allows
for different shades and patterns to be created. All
Nova Cork floorings are coated with a water-based
polyurethane.
BENEFITS
OF CORK FLOORING
Durability:
It is cork’s gaseous composition that makes
the cork both compressible and elastic and allows
it to return to its original shape after being subjected
to pressure. This is the reason why cork floors are
extremely durable. When the cork is subjected to strong
pressure the air in the cells is compressed and reduces
in volume, when released from pressure the cork immediately
recovers back from indentation. Nova Distinctive Floors’
factory finish of water-based polyurethane also adds
durability for your floors to last long.
Low Conductivity:
It is the same reason that cork is a perfect sound
and thermal insulator which is why cork floors are
used in many places like churches, libraries, museums,
art galleries and in homes for perfect comfort and
warmth.
Anti-static, Hypo-allergic:
Cork floors do not absorb dust and because of that
the maintenance of cork floors are easy and, therefore,
do not cause allergies or create a risk to people
who suffer from asthma or other respiratory diseases.
Impermeability:
The presence of Suberin in cork makes it impermeable
to both liquids and gas. Consequently, it is not subject
to grow moldy.
Fire Retardant:
Cork is a natural fire inhibitor and will not spread
flame. Cork is also non-toxic and does not off-gas.
Nova Distinctive Floors' products meet the highest
standards in the industry.
Environmentally Friendly:
Even though cork comes from a renewable resource and
also recyclable, Nova Distinctive Floors takes it
one step forward in its manufacturing process by recycling
100% of our manufacturing by-products for our facility’s
heating system. We are dedicated to protect our environment
by using renewable resources to manufacture cork floors
and provide a unique flooring system for your design
needs.
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