Simply Cork Flooring

Archive for the ‘Installing it yourself’ Category

Cork can be installed in most rooms of a home or office with the exception of heavily wet areas such as bathrooms, laundry rooms or other areas, which are routinely wet including pool areas. Even though there are several manufacturers who insist that their cork flooring can go in wet area, it is strongly suggested that you do not install cork in these rooms. Cork will expand and contract with the least amount of humidity, now imagine the cork saturated with water from an overflowed toilet’the cork will be ruined. Oh, and if you read the warranty provided by most of these manufactures who insist that you can install their cork flooring in wet areas—their warranty does not cover damage caused by water, this includes standing water, water from leaking pipes, faucets, household appliances, etc. In addition, the warranty is voided if there is any evidence of water damage on the cork flooring.

Cork, however is an excellent choice for flooring in a kitchen, especially if you love to cook and are on your feet for long durations such as preparing a holiday meal. At this point, many of you are saying that kitchens have an abundance of water’and this is very true, however, for most kitchen areas, by simply adding an extra finishing topcoat to the cork floor should protect it from any spills.

Other rooms where cork flooring would be perfect include: Foyer Living Room Dining Room Family Room Play Rooms Bedrooms Media Rooms Dens Basement (providing that it is above grade)

Cork isn’t just for homes, but also for businesses. If you have a business, such as a stores, book store, museums, gift shop, yoga or dance studios, or even a coffee shop or deli, cork floors would be perfect, and your employees would thank you for it.

When cork is properly maintained it will stand up in commercial applications including the busy traffic of a library or museum. The cork will need to be cleaned by sweeping or vacuuming daily and damp mopping, then every few years the cork itself will need to be recoated. This is not a major undertaking. In addition, you cannot apply floor wax to cork floors, as this will also ruin them. If you have any doubts about the longevity of cork floors, the First Congressional Church in Chicago installed cork floors in 1890; the floors are still in use. In 1912, the Mayo Clinic and Plummer Building installed cork floors. In 1930, the U.S. Library of Congress and the Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania installed cork floors. These are only a small sample of the cork floors that are still in use today.

To install it yourself you will require the following tools and supplies:

Chalk Line with Chalk 25′ Tape Measure Framing Square Utility Knife Pack of Extra Blades for Utility Knife Rubber Mallet Painters Stick Deep Dish Paint Pan 4″ Utility Paint Brush 9″ Paint Roller Handle 9″ Wide – 3/8″ (med.) Nap Foam Paint Roller 9″ Shurline-style Paint Pad (for finish)

It is important to let the cork tiles properly acclimate for a minimal of 72 hours before you install tem. Therefore, open the boxes in the room or area where you are going to install the tiles and remove them from the boxes. To prevent accidentally cutting any tiles, carefully cut down opposite corners of the boxes, then lift out the tiles, carefully as not to break the corners. So that you will have a more blended look, you should shuffle or blend the tiles. If for any reason the tiles do not look right to you or if you any concerns about them, do not install the tiles. Once you have installed the tile, this signifies acceptance of them.

Before you begin, the substrate (subfloor) must be smooth and free of dirt, waxes, polish, old adhesives, paint, and cracks, holes, and voids as well as any bumps and seams as these will telegraph through the tiles. Do not apply cork tiles over gypsum-based surfaces, patches, or underlayment. Gypsum-based materials have a low compression strength and will deteriorate under when exposure to moisture, water, and vapor. To properly level or patch the subfloor, we recommend that you use self-leveling cement.

Your next step is to layout your pattern, using a chalk line for your guide. Then apply the adhesive around the perimeter of the room using the 4″ utility paint brush, making sure that you brush the adhesive close to the inside corner. Don’t worry if you should hit the wall with some adhesive as you can simply wipe it off with a moist towel or rag if it is still wet. If the adhesive is dry then simply rub off. Never use any thinners or removers.

Next using the 9″ paint roller handle and 9″ wide – 3/8″ (med.) nap foam paint roller, apply the adhesive to the substrate. Do not worry about covering your chalk lines, as the adhesive will dry clear.

Depending on the humidity, the adhesive will be within a half hour. The adhesive will turn clear and be tacky to the touch. Make sure that the adhesive has reached this state before continuing. When the adhesive has dried, carefully position the first tile edge against the chalk line.

NOTE: Once the tiles come into contact with the adhesive, the tiles will adhere to the substrate. If you’ve made a mistake or positioned the tile incorrectly, carefully and slowly peel up the cork tile. You may need the aid of a putty knife to cut the adhesive free from the substrate and or tile. Once you have removed the tile, you will need to reapply the adhesive to this area.

After you have the first cork tile in place, align the next tile to the edges of the first tile and firmly press the tile. It is vital that you pay close attention to how you place the tiles as not to get your alignment off. It may be necessary to compression fit each tile, in order to stay in alignment. As you progress, you will have to knock the tile in place using the rubber mallet to ensure contact, predominantly around the edges and corners of the tiles. You will also have to ‘hammer’ the tiles with the mallet to guarantee for positive contact with the substrate and tile. When you get close to the edge or around corners, you can cut the tiles using the utility knife.

NOTE: Change the blades often. Never place a tile on top of another tile to cut.

Do not walk on the dry adhesive as this will coat the adhesive with dirt and inhibit it from effectively holding the tiles.

Finishing:

After you have installed all of the tiles, the next step is to apply the topcoat. Carefully vacuum all of the tiles and seams, clean each tile and seam with a very dry sponge, or mop ensuring that you remove all adhesive, which has overflowed in the seams. The purpose of the final topcoat is to protect the underlying adhesive from water.

Apply the finish with a 3/8″ foam roller. However, for the best results, you should use a pull foam applicator, which will prevent the formation of air bubbles. A Shureline 9″ applicator pad works very well for this process.

1.Apply a thick coat of finish using a single pass motion. DO NOT apply the finish in a back and forth motion. Always apply the finish in the same direction.

2.Allow the finish to dry for a minimal of 4 hours before walking on it WITHOUT shoes. Allow a minimal of 24 hours before you walk on the tiles with shoes. Do not walk on the tiles for approximately 1 week with rubber-soled shoes such as tennis shoes as this may cause smudging. The topcoat takes approximately 8 day to achieve final hardness depending on humidity.

3.You must wait at least 2-weeks before washing the floor. Tips on Cork: To minimize the effects of the cork tiles contracting, which is normal, use a water-based stain and stain the subfloor similar to the color of the tiles. DO NOT PAINT the subfloor and DO NOT use an oil-based stain.

Because cork is a natural wood product, you will have a slight variation in shades and pattern. Therefore, before you begin shuffle the tiles to guarantee that the color variations are randomly placed throughout the floor.

Never use an abrasive, oil, or ammonia-based cleaning product on your cork floors, as these items will ruin your flooring.

Regularly vacuum, sweep, dry or damp mop your cork floors. Never wet mop your cork floors.

If you must clean your cork floors, use a ph-balanced detergent such as Liquid Joy or another mild soap and then damp mop only to remove stubborn dirt for the surface.

Reapply a fresh coat of topcoat every 9-12 months, however, frequency depends on the amount of traffic.

When installing you have to read and understand the instructions completely before starting your installation project. You an attach cork wall tiles to drywall, plywood, particleboard, and cured dry concrete. However, do not attempt to attach cork wall tiles directly over wallpaper.

Because cork will expand and contract with changes in humidity and heat, it is important for cork to acclimate. Therefore, all cork wall tiles should be removed from their packaging and placed in the room or area where they will be installed a minimum of 72-hours prior to installation. During this time, keep the temperature and relative humidity level set at the conditions of when the room or areas are occupied and in use. Improper acclimation means that the tiles will expand or contract excessively after installation.

Cork is a natural product and will expand during periods of high humidity and contract during periods of low humidity. This is normal. To minimize the visible signs of expansion and contraction, stabilize the room with temperature and humidity control, and you can also prime the substrate (wall board) with a compatible color to match the cork wall tiles.

Priming Substrate: 1.The substrate must be clean, smooth, and free of moisture.

2.Prime the substrate by painting it with a color that matches the color of the cork wall tiles that you have chosen. Allow the paint to completely dry. 3.Spot test an area for adhesion prior to installation.

4.If the wall tiles are not the peel and stick type, then wall tile adhesive must be used to adhere the wall tiles to the substrate.

5.If the cork wall tiles are the peel and stick design, then remove the paper barrier from the back of each tile and press the cork tiles over the primed substrate. Do not apply too much pressure that the tiles can be repositioned if necessary. We strongly suggest that you stagger the wall tiles for the best visual effect. Begin on the bottom row with a full-size tile, the next or second row you will use half-sized tile, and so on. Once you have the tiles how and where you want them, firmly press the tiles to set them permanently.

6.After you have installed all the tiles, use a wall roller and roll the cork to remove all air bubbles and to guarantee that they have a proper bond. You want to roll the tiles several times in all four directions. After the tiles have been on the walls a minimum of 12 hours roll the tiles again.

Cork wall tiles should come from the manufacture already with a wax finish and should not require finishing.

How durable and beautiful your cork tile flooring will be, depends on their proper installation. Problems with cork flooring are not due to the product itself but instead because of improper installation, such as using inferior adhesives or polyurethanes, poorly prepared subfloor or, unfortunately, the most common cause of cork flooring problems is due installers not following the manufacturer’s instructions. Cutting corners to save a few pennies on installation will only cost you more money later when problems arise.

Never install cork tiles in any areas that have excessive subfloor moisture. This would include below grade basements, freshly poured concrete, or leveling compounds until they have completely cured. When installing cork tiles, you have to ensure that you test the area for excessive moisture. Many leveling compounds have drying times of only a few hours, however to ensure that the compounds have completely cured they should be allowed to dry 24 hours or more. This is one reason why it is vital to completely read and understand the manufacturer’s instructions.

Color Variations:

Cork flooring tiles and planking are constructed of high quality, natural materials. As with all natural materials, there will be some variation in shade, which is an attractive characteristic of cork tiles. With prolong exposures to sunlight natural materials such as cork flooring will tend to fade while other woods have a tendency to darken/mellow. However, this does not take way from the beauty of the cork flooring. It should also be pointed out that with under normal wear and with proper installation and maintenance, cork flooring could last well beyond 30 years or use. In fact, there are cork floors, which were installed over 100 years ago and are still in use today in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

Adhesives:

Water-based contact cement that has been specially formulated for use with cork flooring has proven to be the best adhesive for installing Cork floor tiles. The reason is cork’s unique porous material allows the water in the adhesive to evaporate, thus creating a stronger bond than other adhesives. Do not attempt to cut corners by trying to use regular household contact cement as some have tried. This will hold the tiles in place, however over time the tiles loosen. There are several brands of water-based contact cement, which are available through your tile supplier and retailer as well as through the Internet.

Subfloor Preparation:

1.Proper subfloor preparation is the key to any successful cork flooring installation. This includes removing all old paint, wax, adhesives, and any substance including dirt, debris, and grease, which will prevent the cork tiles from properly adhering to the subfloor. The subfloors must be level, completely dry, and clean. When installing cork over an existing wood floor, use paint or varnish remover to remove all of the polyurethanes and floor polish, and then scrub the floors with tri-sodium phosphate, or use a machine sander on the floor. Once the polyurethane has been stripped away and the floor sanded, wash and rinse the floor then allow it to completely dry for at least 24 hours.

2.The next step is to make sure the floor is leveled and all cracks have been filled in with wood filler, followed by sanding the floor again to ensure uniformity. If the floors are too uneven or if the existing subfloor is in too poor condition, you can use 3/8′ or ‘ plywood to cover the floor. However, both sides of the plywood must be finished, and then the plywood has to be anchored securely to the subfloor.

3.When installing cork flooring over concrete, the concrete must first be leveled and all cracks filled in using latex filler. Once the latex filler has completely cured according to its manufacture’s instructions, the concrete then has to be coated with a standard concrete primer. NOTE: Even though cork is water proof, it is not recommend to install cork flooring on or below grade, unless however, the concrete has first been guaranteed to have a moisture barrier in place and that moisture will not penetrate through to the subfloor.

4.Do not install cork tiles over existing vinyl or other smooth surfaces. These coverings should be removed and the subfloor prepared according to whether it is concrete or wood. Many individuals will cut corners and install cork tiles over existing vinyl. The problem here is when the old vinyl begins to peel away from the subfloor; this will create problems for the cork tiles.

Installation:

1.Prior to installation, you want to remove the cork tiles or planking from their packaging and place them in the room where they will be installed for approximately 48 hours prior to installation. This will allow them to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels in the room. When installing cork the temperature should be between 60F and 80F.

2.Always read and follow the manufacturer’s laying and installation. Make sure that you fully understand their instructions for applying the adhesives. If the adhesive requires a trowel for application, ensure that you have purchased and use the proper size trowel size to guarantee the correct amount of adhesive is applied.

3.Using a chalk line, find the center of the room and work your way out from the center when installing the tiles. This will ensure uniformity of your pattern. For installing tiles around doorframes, and for trimming corners, the tiles can be cut using a sharp linoleum or utility knife.

4.Tiles should be rolled carefully with a standard 100 or 150 pound roller a minimum of four times in each direction. Ensure that you clean all excess adhesive from the tiles after installations. If the adhesive is wet, you want to use a damp cloth if the adhesive is dry then use mineral spirits, unless the manufacturer’s instructions call for another cleaner to be used.

5.Once you have installed the tiles, restrict all heavy traffic for a minimal of 24 hours, or more depending on the recommended time stated on the adhesive you used.

6.For unfinished cork tiles and planks, immediately coat them using urethane or flooring wax. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

These directions are a general outline for installing cork flooring and not the complete instructions required for the project. When installing cork flooring, schedule enough time for the project, allowing a manual of 3 to 4 days depending on the size of the area and the condition of the subfloor. To ensure that your cork floors will last for many decades, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the appropriate tools, and adhesives. In addition, it is vital that you allow the proper drying and cure times based on the environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) at the time of installation according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

It is possible the most environmentally friendly flooring option available and is the only product that is actually made from reclaimed waste of other manufactured cork products. Reclaimed cork products include cork underlayment, cork planks, cork tiles, and cork sheet goods in both unfinished and prefinshed products.

In the past 20 years, the availability has increased, but not as much as it has in the last few years. This is due to the fact that many architects and designers are singing the praises of cork flooring. With several installing soft, luxurious, and beautiful flooring in the homes they design, as well as throughout entire subdivisions. When installed correctly and maintained properly will last a lifetime. Cork can be described in one word—resilient, as it possesses a unique ability to hold up under the highest traffic. Proof of this is the cork tiles, which were installed over 100 years ago and are still in use today in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

The simplest to install is the tongue and groove planks or tiles, which can be installed as a ‘floating’ floor. Floating floors are the fastest and easiest method of installing any flooring system as they are not adhered to the subfloor, but simply float above it. The boards or tiles are held together either with an adhesive or they simply lock together like a puzzle. A pad or vapor barrier is placed between the cork floor and the subfloor, which will protect against moisture. Because the floating floors are not attached to the subfloor, they can be installed over nearly any surface.

There are several manufacturers which offer a wide range of colors as well as products suitable for installation for commercial and industrial projects as well as walls residential. If you are considering flooring for your home or office that is environmentally friendly, fire resistant, comfortable to walk on, quite, durable, warm, and has a luxurious appear about it, then consider natural cork flooring.