Residential and commercial building owners in Texas are primarily concerned with two questions: Will the building function properly? Will the building look aesthetically appealing? With ThermaShield’s sprayed cork wall and roof coatings, the answer to both is a resounding “Yes!” ThermaShield’s proprietary cork spray products are the environmentally friendly answer to modern building challenges. Comprised of 80% cork and 20% resin, our cork spray is lightweight enough to work as a roof coating. You can also apply it to interior and exterior walls to add a protective layer that seals out moisture and inhibits heat transfer. This remarkable natural material has been studied by material scientists for many years.
The Harvesting Process
Environmental sustainability is more than just a current trend. It’s a necessity. ThermaShield is on a mission to protect the planet for future generations, and introducing sprayed cork products instead of traditional building materials will make a significant impact over time. One of the many eco-friendly benefits of cork is the way it’s sourced.
Much of the world’s cork supply comes from Portugal, which has nationally-protected cork oak forests that thrive in this Mediterranean climate. Each cork oak tree can be harvested for the first time when it reaches maturity—about 25 years of age. Thereafter, harvesting can take place again every eight to nine years. Each time a cork oak tree harvested, the cork improves in quality. The harvesting is done by hand by specially trained professionals, and the process never harms or kills the tree. Regular harvesting encourages cork oak trees to live for well over 200 years.
Cellular Structure and Chemical Composition
This natural material evolved to protect the cork oak tree against potential threats, like temperature fluctuations, fire, water loss, and biological attack. In order to accomplish these feats, cork has a unique cellular structure and chemical composition.
Cellular Structure
The tissue of cork is compact. It’s a dense, foam-like material with closed cells that lack intercellular voids. The cells feature a honeycomb arrangement, with air-filled interiors.
Chemical Composition
Some of the main components of cork include cellulose, hemicellulose, suberin, and extractives. Suberin, which is a waxy macromolecule, exists in the cell walls.
The remarkable structure and composition of cork are what gives the material its characteristic properties. These include:
- Buoyancy and lightness
- High impermeability to water and gas
- Ability to bend and compress without breaking
- Ability to absorb impact
- Thermal regulation
These characteristics are why sprayed cork products by ThermaShield offer superior functionality when compared to other building materials.