Cork Flooring Questions.... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

SBI · 12-12-2008, 08:56 AM

I have never installed Cork Flooring before but my wife and I are about to build a house for ourselves and she is very interested in the Cork flooring. I've got a supplier and installer that I can use, and will be asking them questions within the next couple of days but also wanted opinions/experiences from here as well.

My questions are as follows:

1. How does the durability of cork compare to hardwood?
2. Does the cork flooring fade at all or any faster than another flooring?
3. Advantages / Disadvantages basically of cork, especially when compared to hardwood.
4. Anything special needed or not needed to clean Cork?
5. Recommendations for anything at all with it?

Thanks.

rbsremodeling · 12-12-2008, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBI

I have never installed Cork Flooring before but my wife and I are about to build a house for ourselves and she is very interested in the Cork flooring. I've got a supplier and installer that I can use, and will be asking them questions within the next couple of days but also wanted opinions/experiences from here as well.

My questions are as follows:

1. How does the durability of cork compare to hardwood?

It is actually very durable if laid right

2. Does the cork flooring fade at all or any faster than another flooring?

no it does not

3. Advantages / Disadvantages basically of cork, especially when compared to hardwood.

red wine stains it for life, high heels or sharp objects are its worse enemy

4. Anything special needed or not needed to clean Cork?

most manufactures sell a cleaning product for it

5. Recommendations for anything at all with it?

make sure it is laid right or the ends curl up use the glue spec'd by the company.

Use a darker shade as a border around the room and it will really make the floor pop.

Thanks.

Thats all I got

silvertree · 12-12-2008, 10:06 AM

I did a cork entry followed by engineered maple plank for a HO with dogs. 5 years now, maple looks rough, cork looks new.
I have cork flooring in my kitchen display truck. I like it.

**Floorwizard** · 12-12-2008, 04:18 PM

1. How does the durability of cork compare to hardwood?

It is actually very durable if laid right
(the question has to do with comparison. Cork is softer than wood.)
2. Does the cork flooring fade at all or any faster than another flooring?

no it does not
(it does not fade? or does not fade faster? well maybe not faster, but it will fade.)

3. Advantages / Disadvantages basically of cork, especially when compared to hardwood.

red wine stains it for life, high heels or sharp objects are its worse enemy
(Just like Vinyl or hardwood. I did not hear any advantages....Advantage: Warmer and quieter and better for the earth. Disadvantage: softer)
4. Anything special needed or not needed to clean Cork?

most manufactures sell a cleaning product for it (agreed, but remember to use a terry cloth too)
5. Recommendations for anything at all with it?

make sure it is laid right or the ends curl up use the glue spec'd by the company.
(what if they are looking at the floating floor? but I agree to lay whatever you get correctly)

Use a darker shade as a border around the room and it will really make the floor pop.
(sounds good)