Best Green Building Products: Get Floored with NYC's Globus Cork Floor Tiles
Wow! Wow!! Wow!!! is all New York Green Advocate can say about Bronx- based Globus Cork, pioneers in the development of colored cork flooring.
Cork is a sustainable material to begin with as the cork oak tree is not destroyed in the harvesting process, requiring replanting. Rather, the bark is trimmed from the tree every 9 years, leaving the tree and the forest undamaged. But, Globas Cork flooring is even more sustainable in that it is made from the waste of the cork wine stopper manufacturing process. Thus, Globus Cork flooring is especially green as it is made with recycled waste. Not to mention, the pigments, varnishes and adhesives that Globus Cork uses in producing its tiles are water-based, solvent-free and have no VOCs.
Cork is one of the best building products around: it's super durable and reduces the transmission of sound and vibration. Cork is also a great thermal insulator, reducing heat loss in rooms. When cork is used as a floor tile, it even reduces body heat loss through the feet.
Bugs, mold, mites and even termites are repelled by cork due to a naturally occurring substance in cork called Suberin. This waxy substance also prevents cork from rotting even when completely submerged under water for long periods of time.
Suberin also makes cork a natural fire inhibitor. And, fire resistant cork does not release any toxic gases on combustion.
Globus Cork offers many design options. Nearly any design that can be executed in ceramic tiles can now be accomplished in cork. Globus Cork is unique in its tile size and shape offerings. There are 20 tile sizes available, as well as custom designs and colors.
