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Product Overview

Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork oak tree (quercus suber 1n.). This bark is stripped from the cork tree every nine years inflicting no damage upon the tree.

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Approved by Subject Editors on August 11, 2004

Reviewed by Marian Keeler
Renewable resource: Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork oak tree which is stripped from the cork tree every nine years. Chemicals are rarely if ever used in the production of the cork trees either for pest control or fertilizer. Recycled content: waste cork from wine cork production is used, waste generated from floor tile production is then granulated and used to power the ovens that bake the floor tile (although energy is recovered, combustion produces emissions). The negative factor in cork pertains to its embodied transportation energy: most cork sources are found in the Mediterranean: among them, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Tunisia, Algeria and France; thus, there is a large transportation energy load involving the shipment of the product to the West Coast of the U.S. Point of final assembly is Parkesburg, Pennsylvania.

No formaldehyde added, but concerns similar to those of linoleum are paralleled with cork products. 'Cork is now frequently used as a building product for floor coverings, because the material is often regarded as "natural" and "healthy". However, industrial cork products may contain a number of artificial ingredients and the quality, especially the emission behavior, will strongly depend on the type of additives and the manufacturing process. Several researchers have reported high emissions of formaldehyde, phenol, furfural, acetic acid and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from composite cork.

Installations have been recorded ranging up to 60-80 years.

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GreenHomeGuide Community Reviews

Peter Kellner on November 10, 2005
I've installed the Expanko Cork flooring in two homes recently. This is a great product! It is a floating floor system so it does not get physically attached at any point to the subfloor. This makes for a very easy installation. The caveats to this are that for kitchen areas you cannot install cabinets over the top of the flooring so it does take some careful craftsmanship to install either under kicks or up to them. Also, you need to either remove and replace baseboard, or install an added 1/4 round trim to cover the expansion joint around the perimiter. Both of these are relatively minor issues when you consider the ease with which the flooring is installed and how worry free the finished product is. Also, the product comes pre-finished, which is vey convenient, although I reccoment going ahead with an additional coat of their finish after you have laid the floor down.

Manufacturer Information

www.expanko.com/

Expanko
3135 Lower Valley Road
Parkesburg, PA 19365
Toll-free: 800-345-6202

Expanko, a third generation family run company, located in Parkesburg, PA, supplies all types of cork products as well as a large selection of innovative resilient floor coverings. Since 1945, Expanko has served the international market assuring the highest quality, selection and service our customers require.