Cork board

What’s So Special About Cork Board?
Cork boards are made from natural cork grains, which are derived from the cork oak
tree. Over 50% of the earth’s cork oak trees are found in Portugal. The cork is
harvested in a sustainable way by stripping the bark from the tree, and during its
lifetime, a cork oak tree can safely be harvested 20 times.
Cork has a variety of unique characteristics that make it ideal for certain applications
and the material is eco-friendly. Since cork boards are derived from this unique material,
they retain most of its beneficial qualities. Furthermore, due to various grain sizes, cork
comes in different grades and appearances, so finding a style that fits shouldn’t be
difficult.
Benefits of Natural Cork
There is no other material on earth with all of the characteristics of natural cork. Most of
the benefits of cork are derived from its honeycomb cellular structure, which allows the
material to be lightweight. It is also extremely durable and very resilient. Here’s a quick
list of all of cork’s natural qualities:
Thermal Insulation
Sound & Vibration Reduction
Buoyant
Impermeable
Fire Retardant
Insect Resistant
Rot Resistant
Hypoallergenic
Lightweight
Given these qualities and its high durability, cork board is suitable for a variety of
applications that have long life cycles.
The Uses
Given its light weight and flexible structure, cork is the ideal material for products such
as
bulletin boards
gaskets
flooring
wall coverings
insulation material

tack boards
underlays
shelf liners
hot pads
Coaster
Bottle Stoppers
Dart Boards
Because of its beneficial traits, cork has also been used in mechanical applications such
as car engines, dams and airport runways. The material has even been used as a
thermal insulator in space shuttles.
Grades of Cork Rolls
BB13 - These rolls are primarily used as economically priced bulletin board material. It
is also suitable for gaskets, shipping and spacer pads, and protective backing.
BB14 - This is a higher end material that is suited for bulletin boards and wall coverings.
It is also suitable for certain silk screening applications.
QuietCork – This type of cork comes in roll and sheet form. It is widely used as a sound
deadening underlayment beneath ceramic and hardwood flooring. It is also suitable for
spacers, gaskets, insoles, and base material.
Linocork – This grade represents a fine grained cork material that has excellent
durability and holds color well. The material is washable, self-healing, and resistant to
bacteria. It is commonly used for decorative bulletin board applications, and can
typically be found in schools, offices, meeting rooms, kindergartens, hospitals, and
homes.
Grades of Cork Sheets
CR117 – A fine grain cork suitable for bulletin boards, coasters and gaskets. Also
suitable for certain silk screening applications.
Self-Expanding – This highly technical cork will expand when it gets in contact with
water to provide a perfect seal. It is suitable for jointing material in water retaining
structures such as dams, reservoirs, sewers, sea walls and swimming pools.
Semi Rigid Expanded Insulation – This grade of cork sheet is the most environmentally
friendly building insulation option available. While this material is excellent for heat/cold
insulation, it is also suitable for wall/ceiling tiles and tack boards.

Conclusion
Whether you’re building a cork board wall or trying to add eco-friendly building materials
to your home or office, cork is the perfect solution. It is light yet very durable, and finding
a material with similar benefits is basically impossible. Not only will cork add character
and warmth to its environment, but you will also have all of the benefits of raw cork
grains. Given its durability and versatility, you can’t go wrong by choosing to use cork in
your next project.