Cork tiles for flooring? - Ceramic Tile Advice Forums

shkessler · 04-05-2002, 11:30 AM

Hi everyone:

Does anyone have any experience with cork for flooring? I understand they come in 12-inch-square tiles and are supposed to be great, but I don't know anything more than that.

How do you install them? How do they wear? What's the upkeep?

I'm looking for options for an entire first floor (living, dining, hall, small foyer, large kitchen--about 1,000 square feet total).

Thanks!
Sandra

Cami A · 04-05-2002, 12:06 PM

Hi Sandra- can't help you with the installation, but here's some basic info on cork:

Care and feeding is similar to hardwood- it needs to be sealed, and it can be refinished multiple times. Lots and lots of color and pattern options. Cork also comes in planks. I'm finding the uninstalled cost is running from $6-10 per sq ft.

I have a sample board that I've let my three year old son use as a mat for pounding, eating, etc. It's holding up nicely to the abuse.

Here's a few links:
http://www.corkstore.com/
http://www.thewoodfloorcompany.com/

shkessler · 04-05-2002, 05:23 PM

Hi Cami:

Thanks for the links (I've done some Web surfing myself on the subject today! ;-)

One question for the gallery, I guess, is whether I can install cork over a cement slab (which is what's under my yucky carpet and peel 'n' stick tiles). Hardwood has a problem here, so if this requires the same "care and feeding" as oak, it may not be an option, either.

What's attractive to me about cork is that it's supposed to be really resilient, comfortable to stand on. I spend a LOT of time in my kitchen, and my legs ache constantly.

Here's hoping for some more info!

John Bridge · 04-05-2002, 05:30 PM

Cork belongs stuffed in a wine bottle.

Seriously, I don't no anything at all about cork flooring. Just wanted to add a hit to this thread.

chip · 04-06-2002, 06:51 AM

Don't use the cork word around here, John is very touchy.

Seriously, go to http://www.wecork.com and drop Ann Wickander a message, she is very helpfull.

My concern is the peel and stick flooring and the residue left from it.

Ann will be able to make recomendations though, I'm sure.

Chip

Thomas N Tucson · 04-10-2002, 12:46 PM

Sandra---You can install cork if you have some tallent...But you also have a 6 month service on this type of product...It is like a mop on applacation.They make cork flooring in a glued app. or glueless....lol....Thomas

shkessler · 04-10-2002, 02:11 PM

Hi all:

Thomas: A 6-month service? I'm not sure I understand what that means.

Also--what do you mean that it's like a mop on application? That it soaks up a lot of the contact cement you're supposed to use to install it?

CHIP: I've emailed Ann Wickander (no response yet), and that site looks pretty good.

Any more ideas about cork flooring out there?

John Bridge · 04-10-2002, 05:35 PM

How about a ceramic that simulates cork?

Thomas N Tucson · 04-10-2002, 08:24 PM

Shkessler---You are sapose to recoat the product every 6 months.It is a mop on app..Just like you would sponge mop the floor but you use a type on finnish.....

stullis · 04-10-2002, 10:26 PM

It is very comfortable to stand on. You do need to be careful about moisture emission issues. There are products than can be installed with a floating floor type installation. This is the same type of installation that is used to install laminates and some hardwood floors. Works nice when installing over concrete subfloors.

I don't think the maintenance requirements are as much as Tom is suggesting but each product has their specific requirements that you may want to consider.

Arcobel is another company to check out.

One thing to be concerned about is indentations caused from bar stools, chairs, or even heeled shoes. Take a sample and place a chair on it. Sit down and rock back. Check the piece for indentations and how long, if ever, that it takes for the indentations to disappear. You may not want to use it in your dining area or where you use bar stools.

Beautiful products though that should help with the pain and fatigue in your legs as compared to other harder surfaces.

Bud Cline · 04-10-2002, 10:51 PM

How on earth could you have or move furniture on THAT stuff?

What's the point if it's that delicate?

stullis · 04-10-2002, 11:15 PM

Just want them to get and have realistic expectations. I am not an expert in cork flooring but I was going to recommend some to a friend once for their dining and kitchen area. It just so happened that the dealer had some stools that I used to test it. Now I am not a big guy and I left marks in the samples that are there to this day.

Perhaps other cork products work better? I would just suggest trying the chair test out.

They are warm and comfortable to stand on though. I can see why people like them for those reasons as well as the unique look.

Bud Cline · 04-10-2002, 11:25 PM

I'm sure it's great looking stuff but how about my side-by-side refrigerator? Can I roll it into place without damaging the floor.

What about my five year old when he spills his cherry Kool-aid on it?

How do you clean it routinely?

stullis · 04-11-2002, 08:59 AM

No harder to clean than hardwood or laminate flooring.

When moving appliances or anything heavy across any resilient or hardwood floor the use of floor protection is always recommended. Masonite or 1/4" plywood works good.

The concern is with point loads that can cause permenant indentations. This can happen on vinyl or hardwood flooring as well as cork.

Even when moving appliances on tile it is still a good idea to put down floor protectors. Doesn't happen often but better safe than sorry.

AzFred · 04-12-2002, 12:02 AM

Besides being a county in Ireland...... Cork offers excellent insulation of sound, temperature, static electricity, and it floats. You could say waterproof but I won't. Bud worries about indentations and rightfully so. Cork is a material with a relatively soft surface . A chair or refrigerator will cause an indentation, BUT the dent will usually not remain after the object that caused the dent is removed. If the indentation cuts, slices or otherwise violates the cork surface the dent changes to break, cut, slice or some other awful thing. Cork is available in a tile (35-53/64" X 11-13/16")and several colors for glueless installation using the Uniclic assembly system or a glue down in random sizes. The Uniclic version has an HDF core with 1/4" cork top and a fine cork attached underlay. The tiles are a total of 27/64" thick. Cleaning is similar to hardwood or laminate as are the exclusions. Warrantee is a realistic 5 years and felt protectors for legs are suggested. A UV topcoat finish has some aluminum oxide to resist wear. FWIW, cork is a natural wood product that is in short supply, grown in an area of southern Europe and no tree has to be cut down to harvest the stuff. The cork is removed similar to removing tree bark and it grows back in a period of several years.

[Edited by AzFred on 04-12-2002 at 01:26 AM]