Cork insulation · Rubner Haus

Cork is a purely natural insulating material that is acquired from the bark of the cork oak. It possesses numerous natural capabilities that are hard to find in other insulating materials. Cork features no diffusion barrier and is therefore purely made up of cells that are sealed by the air. Cork weighs hardly anything as a result of this, although it still features a high level of dimensional stability, even under extreme pressure. Cork is thermally inert since it consists almost entirely of cells filled with air, making it the perfect insulating material. Its capabilities are rounded off by its impermeability to water and resistance to pests and heat.

It is hardly surprising that cork is such a perfect insulating material when you consider that it has all these features. And it has also been proven that cork is one of the most sustainable natural materials.

The raw material cork is processed into pressed corkboard without using any artificial adhesives. The resin that it naturally contains is enough to act as a "glue".

Cork is one of the most durable materials and is 100% recyclable. Cork also of course binds the greenhouse gas CO2 – and even does this repeatedly through multiple harvests in the life of one tree.

Cork is a poor heat conductor and therefore an ideal insulating material thanks to its composition. This saves you heating costs and energy.

Cork is very light and flexible, has no diffusion barrier, is able to withstand pressure, and is also dimensionally-stable, decay-resistant and weather-resistant. It is earthquake resistant and impervious to water, many acids and other substances.

Cork is also not combustible even in extreme heat as a result of its thermal inertia. No harmful gases escape.

Cork is able to absorb loud noises perfectly and therefore provides ideal sound insulation values.

The cork oak has a feature that distinguishes it significantly from other plants: its bark forms quickly and at a thickness seen in no other tree. To avoid harming the tree, the bark is stripped by hand and then processed to make cord boards as insulating material.

The bark is crushed first of all in order to make ready-for-use insulating material from the cork bark harvested from the tree approx. every 10 years. The crushed cork is then roasted, and the waxy elements in the bark bind together. The organic polymer suberin found in the cell walls melts under pressure to form a natural paste. This is how the cork boards are produced with their typical brown colour. The blocks are then cut to size, calibrated and the dust is removed. This results in completely oblong level boards with different diameters that are very easy to install in the outer walls.

Cork as the ideal insulating material

Benefits of cork as an insulating material

Pressed corkboard production

Other natural construction materials