Cork is the outer bark of the cork oak tree, Quercus Suber, which grows mainly in the Mediterranean region. The bark is a vegetal tissue composed of an agglomeration of cells filled with a gaseous mixture similar to air and lined with alternating layers of cellulose and suberin. Cork's elasticity, combined with its near-impermeability, makes it the perfect material for making bottle stoppers, floor tiles, insulation sheets, bulletin boards and other similar products. Because of its remarkable qualities, cork is used in high-tech applications including car engines, dam mechanisms and airport runways. The aeronautics has used cork as a thermal insulator in space shuttles.

Cork oak forests cover approximately 2.5 million hectares across the Mediterranean region and most of them are located in seven countries: Portugal, Algeria, Spain, Morocco, France, Italy and Tunisia. The tree has a life span of 250-350 years. Each cork tree must be 20 to 25 years old before it can provide its first harvest of cork bark. This cork is known as virgin and has a hard and irregular structure. After the virgin cork has been stripped, a new layer of cork begins to grow. The first of these layers, harvested after nine years, is called secondary cork; cork harvested after this second stripping is known by the Portuguese word: amadia.

Cork is harvested on a sustainable basis and the stripping of the bark does not harm the tree in any way. The bark grows back completely, taking on a smoother texture after each harvest. A cork oak tree can be safely harvested up to 20 times during its life cycle, making cork a truly inexhaustible natural resource.

New plantations of cork oak trees are planted each year to ensure the level of cork production is maintained. Cork oak trees cannot be felled or removed without government authorization, which is rarely granted.
Portugal, which produces more than 50% of the world’s cork, has been particularly careful to safeguard this valuable resource. The first Portuguese laws protecting cork oak trees date back to the 14th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, it became illegal to cut down cork oak trees, except for essential thinning or the removal of old, non-productive trees.

In a context of increasing concern for the environment, cork remains the only tree whose bark can regenerate itself after each harvest - leaving the tree unharmed. It is truly a renewable, environment

 

Wicanders Insight

Cork Oak is currently one of the most fashionable new flooring trends used by internationally renowned interior designers, and is quickly becoming a favorite option for environmentally conscientious builders today. The remarkable properties of sustainable Cork Oak have been well cherished in the Mediterranean for centuries. Take a minute to behold the amazing natural insulating, silencing, and health benefits of beautiful Cork Oak Floors.

Amorim, based in Portugal, has been the world leader in Cork Oak for over 130 years, and is proudly introducing Wicanders brand of naturally unique Cork Oak Flooring. Years of research and development performed exclusively for Wicanders have produced patented Noise Reduction Technology (NRT), Wear Resistance Technology (WRT) and High Performance Surface (HPS) which dramatically enhance the remarkable natural benefits of beautiful Cork Oak Floors. Wicanders is the only brand that extends decades of attentive dedication to each Cork Oak Floor, from seedling to installation and preservation. Behold the beautiful benefits of Cork Oak Floors for yourself. An array of innovative, alluring collections are presently being unveiled across the globe.

The WicCork and WicWood Collections represent stories collected from generations dwelling deep within the Mediterranean forestland. Nurturing, innovation, and creative design are themes ingrained within each of Wicanders Collections. Combined with the hottest international interior designers, WicCork and WicWood Collections define the latest in timelessly fashionable, timelessly functional flooring.   The richly textured WicCork Originals Collection with names such as Rhapsody, Accent, Symphony, Harmony, and Dawn, deeply draw you to their astonishing striking beauty. Nightshade, Cool Crimson, Caramel, and Champagne define the smooth elegance of WicCork’s Personality Collection. The Vintage and Classics Collections of WicWood in shades of Cherry, Beech Plank, Maple and Mahogany are as breathtaking as the forests from which they are born. Unlike other floor brands, Amorim’s Wicanders Collections of Cork Oak Floors truly are nurtured from seedling.

 

As tradition, they will tend to the daily needs of each individual evergreen Cork Oak, nurturing them from seed. This includes tilling the earth on the forest floor, watering, and careful pruning so that its boughs may grow wide and strong. Come mid-May, the season of harvest will again begin   Every nine years, mature evergreen Cork Oaks are carefully shorn of their collected bark by hand. Each majestic tree remains absolutely unharmed, as the outer bark soon regenerates and the Cork Oak continues to flourish. Being a sustainable crop, Cork Oak trees provide an average of 16 bountiful harvests over an impressive 150-200 year lifespan. After each season bears blankets of raw harvest, they are then gently aged and purified. These harvested sheaths are so very light, remarkably warm, and resilient

 

Like the peaceful forests from which they have descended, WicCork and WicWood Collections naturally offer an amazingly dramatic reduction of noise and vibration. It is the unique structure of the Cork’s cells that make Wicanders Floors special. Cork cells are intricately shaped as hexagonal prisms and tightly woven in a honeycomb structure. A single cubic centimeter of Cork bark contains nearly 40 million cells. The intricate natural shape of the Cork cell has proved impossible to be synthetically replicated or manufactured in any way. With all of the accomplishments of modern science, Noise Reduction Technology (NRT) has found no other flo oring material as naturally safe and successful as WicCork and WicWood. So naturally, the silence of these seaside Cork Oak forests will ripple throughout your home.
Vibration noise is considerably decreased because of Corks naturally cushioned structure. Excellent for use in apartment buildings and condominiums, Wicanders’ Cork Oak Floors are also being utilized in specialty rooms such as libraries, conference areas, and theatres because of their silencing property. Even the floors of the Library of Congress are laid with natural Cork Oak.

In the field of Noise Reduction Technology, Amorim’s Research and Development teams have far surpassed test results of any other conventional flooring marketed towards acoustic diminishment. The recently developed Acousticork® NRT utilizes revolutionary technology as well as a natural cushion of Cork and rubber to dramatically reduce sound and vibration. As far as step sound, WicCork and WicWood Collections reduce the drum sound effect by up to 10 decibels more than any other conventional floor covering. In impact sound reduction, (the noise your downstairs neighbors hear) the structural composition of natural Cork Oak Floors can reduce sound from up to 20 to 24 decibels. This dampening could make the frantic, hurried clacking of heeled shoes pounding a cold surface, sound like bare toes skimming fresh grass. Finally… some peace and quiet. Using nature to their advantage, the dedicated Research and Development teams of Amorim achieve the highest levels of Noise Reduction Technology in both step sound and impact sound in one truly unique, truly quiet floor.

 

 

Mediterranean families have known the wonderful qualities of Cork Oak Flooring for generations. Peace, beauty, warmth… and some very persuasive health benefits as well. It is again the unique cell structure of this natural wonder that make WicCork and WicWood Floors such an obviously healthy choice for your family. Cork cells are infusible; they are absolutely impenetrable to moisture, insects, and even to gas. Think of what this means for dirt: Ground in carpets can hide all sorts of unhealthy particles and organisms. WicCork and WicWood Floors are easily cleaned by vacuum or mop. Cork Oak Flooring is also naturally anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-static, and anti-allergenic. These values are so important when considering the health and cleanliness of your environment. Cork cells provide an unyielding barrier of protection for you and your living space. Wicanders Cork Oak Floors are obviously the healthy choice, and a safe choice...

Cork Oak Floors are remarkably resilient. The shapes of cork cells allow it to pocket 89.7% of air within its structure. This distinct structure boosts Wicanders Cork Oak Floors to the forefront as a natural leader in Wear Resistance Technology (WRT) and High Performance Surface (HPS). In addition to Cork’s natural durability, years of WRT and HPS research and development at Wicanders have produced the ultimate protection from scuffmarks, scratches or scoring. The everlasting nature of Wicanders Wear Resistance Technology and High Performance Surface ensure the value of your WicCork and WicWood for years to come. While incredibly strong, WRT and HPS protect and retain the natural give that Cork Oak Floors offer.

Cork Oak’s cellular form displays an elastic memory, making Wicanders incredibly durable, safe, and forgiving for tired toes and bouncing children alike. Cork is the only natural material that can be pressed in one direction without decreasing in another. When compressed, Cork will consistently return to its original shape, posing as both gently giving and amazingly durable for the well tread surfaces of your busy life.

Wicanders Cork Oak Floors are safe for your family… and for their families! By choosing WicCork and WicWood Collections you are supporting an environmentally friendly, renewable, recyclable, sustainable material whose source will prosper throughout generations to come. In fact, because the Montados, the Cork Oak forests of the Mediterranean, are protected natural treasures, the harvesting of Amorim’s Cork Oak bark is strictly regulated and in no way harms the growing tree. The harvesting, which takes place only every nine years actually helps to support the vast vegetative growth and wildlife of the forest area. The Montados support natural biodiversity, and are home to wildlife such as nesting black storks, owls, Iberian lynxes, Imperial eagles, and wild boars. Cork Oak forests are also an ideal winter habitat for millions of migratory birds. Naturally hardy, Cork forests survive without any use of synthetic or chemical herbicides, fertilizers or irrigation. It is especially important to Amorim that each single piece of precious cork bark is utilized to its fullest potential. At Amorim, nothing from the cork tree is ever wasted. Any unused cork, even cork dust, is compressed and agglomerated for use in insulation and construction materials. Because of the care Amorim extends, amazingly, Wicanders Cork Oak Floors truly are nurtured from seedlings. Wicanders is the only brand whose individualized care ranges decades, from seedling to the actual installation process and beyond, to preservation of your natural Cork Oak Floors. This attentive integrity is yet another reason so many builders and designers choose Wicanders.

Many internationally known architects and designers have been inspired by Cork’s distinctive properties, striking beauty, and environmental sustainability. Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous residential project, Fallingwater, incorporated Cork Oak as part of the home’s awardwinning architectural design. More recently, a trendy residential high-rise in Manhattan, The Solaire, was named to the American Institute of Architects’ 2004 Top 10 list of environmentally friendly buildings.

The Solaire was chosen, in part, because of the breathtaking lobby, vastly sheathed in rich mahogany shades of natural Cork Oak Floors. See for yourself the latest in timelessly fashionable flooring. Wicanders is the only brand of flooring exclusively created by a team of internationally renowned designers. In fact, Andreas Dotzauer, one of the world’s most talented interior designers, was intensely inspired by the textural patterns of natural Cork Oak to create the recently unveiled Nuances Collection. WicCork and WicWood Collections come in an astounding fresh breadth of options, each as texturally unique and individually stunning as the varied stories collected by years of existence in the Mediterranean forestland.

As many trend-setting designers have come to appreciate: the flexibility of design with Wicanders Cork Oak is lush with opportunity. Think of Mediterranean flavor, the azure seascape, and the rich earth against dancing sunlit leaves… Think of the possibilities opened by the lavish depth and intriguing textures of naturally alluring Cork Oak Floors. Sheaths of WicCork and WicWood Collections are offered in an array of color and styles. Each unique pattern and style of the Wicanders Collection represents a treasured story collected from deep within the Mediterranean. The stunning beauty of Cork Oak Flooring is so dramatic, so different, so unexpected…yet so welcome.		The ingrained values of individual care and dedication provided by Amorim spans decades from seedling, and extends to the installation of Wicanders Cork Oak Floors. This can be said of no other Cork Flooring company. Amorim, the world leader in the Cork industry for over 130 years, is proud to bring the most trusted, environmentally conscientious, innovative, and inspiring designs right to your floor step.!

Intense beauty, peaceful silence, warmth, health, and sustainability make Wicanders Cork Oak Flooring the natural choice for your home. Nurtured from seedling, Amorim’s Wicanders Collection makes Cork Oak the natural choice for your world. Wicanders Cork Oak Flooring: Born of Nature, Fashioned for Living™.