Cork

February 6th, 2009 11:44 am

The best thing about cork is that it is natural! Used in various industries from fashion (shoes, accessories) through beverage (cork stops, place mats, coasters) to residential applications like cork message boards, flooring, wall and ceiling tiles, insulation, furniture and more. As an interior designer, I have always been interested in cork’s various home applications for its numerous benefits, unique look and environmental aspects. Below is my personal product evaluation which includes cork’s green story, pros and cons, and links to interesting website. GREEN STORY:

Cork is a natural resource; it comes from the bark of the cork oak, which is mainly grown in Portugal, Spain and Italy. Only 20-year-old cork trees or older are used for cork processing and it takes another 8-10 years before the same tree can be stripped of its bark again. The first layer of cork is too rough to be used in wine cork production, but is used for other products. Only at the third harvest, when the tree is close to 45 years old, the quality of bark is good enough for wine cork production.

ADVANTAGES:

  • 100% reusable and recyclable
  • light weight
  • noise insulator
  • heat conductor
  • rot resistant, if sealed properly
  • impermeability to liquids and gas, if sealed properly
  • hypoallergenic properties
  • provides give/softness under foot
  • helps enhance indoor air quality (IAQ)
  • durability
  • longevity
  • unique beauty and character

DISADVANTAGES:

  • porous material/must be sealed
  • may stain without proper sealant
  • may fade without proper sealant
  • easily damaged by strong solvents
  • easily gouged/dented under pressure (heavy furniture, heels)
  • not recommended for basement/front entrance application for its porous nature

LINKS:

VIDEO

Interested in seeing samples of cork flooring, and where to get it locally?


CORK from Aga Artka on Vimeo.

3 Responses to “Cork”

  1. Neville Hamil says:

    Hi nice post, i have come across your site once before when searching for something so i was just wondering something. I love your theme, would it happen to be a free one i can download, or is it a custom one you had made? In a few weeks i will be launching my own site, i’m not great with designs but i really like the style of your site so it would be cool if i could find (or pay for) something with a similar look. :) Thanks!

    March 15, 2009 at 3:18 am

  2. aga says:

    Hi Neville,

    Yes, this is a custom design. There is only one Aga Artka – the design is unique and reflects my personality :)

    Good luck with your website launch. I’d love to take a look when it’s LIVE.

    March 16, 2009 at 4:20 pm

  3. Delilah Harper says:

    Glad to see that this site works well on my Droid , everything I want to do is functional. Thanks for keeping it up to date with the latest.

    January 31, 2010 at 12:28 am

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