Cork Flooring

Debookkeeper

Has anyone had any experience with this flooring? I heard about it today for the first time. I think it would look horrible, other than for a playroom or porch of some sort. I guess it is most popular in the south right now.
http://www.ifloor.com/cat_12/cork-flooring.html

Teetorbilt

You may want to look around in here http://www.naturalcork.com/main.html before coming to any quick conclusions. We use it a lot on yachts and it can last for many(20+) yrs.

A few years ago we restored a 1964 Burger that still had the original cork flooring. In the marine environment, that's a pretty good testament to durability. We used the Cleopatra in the classic series, it's on the site.

Tell me what you think.

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Cole

I love it, it looks fantastic!

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Debookkeeper

Teetor -
I Looked at the photos to that link, and it looks beautiful! I guess in my head I was thinking of like a cork tile look (the 12"x12") that you can buy to install on a wall, and I am not fond of the smell. With a finish it looks awesome! I am assuming with the 5-6 coats of finish it can be sanded and refinished. Pretty neat! How is the cost vs hardwood flooring? I like different things, so I just might consider it if the cost is reasonable when it comes time to replace my old maple flooring!

B-MAN

I installed cork flooring in my kitchen 2 years ago, its really neat stuff. Once I dropped a cast iron pan and it left a big dent and within days it disappeared. I would recommend this stuff to anyone. Sorry no pictures (I also dropped my camera)

J DoubleD FLoor

It seems that Cork and Bamboo are becoming ever more popular. Just yet another product to be able to offer the HO to fit their style and makes you look even more of a professional than what you arlready are (hopefully) .... but you might want to learn how to install it ... that seems to be a big selling point for some reason or another

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Grainywood

Check out

www.flooringalternatives.com

Cork comes in floating style planks, glue down tile. You can even create decorative elements using different colors and sizes in the glue down, not unlike marmoleum.

Oh and if it's glue down tile, use a contact cement glue like dritac 6200 and follow the directions carefully.

oacllc

I have used it many times. Just don't use it in damp or wet areas.

Teetorbilt

That particular flooring was $6 a sq.ft. It comes finished but we added 2 coats of water based poly to seal the seams and give it some added longevity. We were only going to do it at the lower helm station because it is Grand Central in terms of use and can see heavy water/sand exposure. It looked so good that we finished out the rest of the boat, plus folks are always leaving ports/hatches open when they should know better.

I bought that at Carpet One which is a national chain that I also happen to sub to.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

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Floorwizard

Smart man.

There is Cork in the library of congress that has been there over 100 years.

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Floorwizard

Actually it is a buying group, but I forgive you

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"in 20 years you will regret more what you did not do than what you did"

MattCoops

It's a little retro, but coming back in style.
Looks great in kitchen.
I seen it on walls and ceilings in old historic home in Rhode Island. Over 100yrs old, no mold or crud.

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Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
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Teetorbilt

Sorry Flor. I see them cross country and assumed that it was a franchise. I guess that it's more like Ace Hardware? That might explain Karl.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Scott Young

I love cork. there was and is one in my schools library. it was hit by katrina so a new cork floor was installed. the old one was absolutely beautiful. i love the feel and look of it. it had the warmest tones.

J DoubleD FLoor

Cork = Shag carpeting ... maybe ... or maybe not ... just another fade. I just hope I don't ever pull up a cork floor and see a beautiful hardwood under it like with shag

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Quality is not expensive ... It's PRICELESS !!!
www.neoflooringco.com

MattCoops

that be cool if you could pop up the cork and be a big pool of wine to dive into

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

BKA

dont forget cork will fade if you dont have e-glass. It is not UV stable in most cases. Archs dont want to believe it and then we get lots of complaints.

Also I'd be careful about buying that sort of cork right now. Major supply problems if you need any large amount. But for a little residential room it is a good option.

fast pasquale

j double d.. where in ohio do you work??

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Chris Frate
Pasquale Floors

Backroad

Just found this site while searching for cork info. I have a customer who wants cork flooring in their bathroom for warmth and ease on feet. They are actually thinking of using it throughout the house. I keep reading that it should not go in damp areas but I just read here that it was put in a boat.

The corks they are considering are prefinished planks with acrylic, polyurethane, lacquer, UV cured acrylic, or waterbased urethane finishes.
Any opinions on which type would be the best to use?
How many additional coats of finish would be enough to seal the joints, assuming that is where the moisture would damage the floor?
And would the extra coats of finish need to be the same type as what is originally on the floor?
AND would a floating floor be as good as gluing it down?
Lots of questions. Thanks in advance.

Teetorbilt

I use 2 coats min. of whatever finish the manufacturer reccomends. Naturalcork said waterbased poly.

In a bath, I would seal the cork first and then caulk around all of the base, cabinets, fixtures, etc. Cork will stain from the edges from long term water exposure.

I've always glued down, couldn't tell you about floating.

Cork is also considered a 'green' material, a sales tool in today's 'green' world.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein