anybody do much with cork flooring?

[Chris Hughes]

  I've got a new customer that I'm in the process of completing a kitchen design.  We are looking at cork flooring as an option for a wide range of properties it provides.  Has anyone worked with this flooring?  I hear that it is used in Europe quite a bit.  Chris

 

[poto]

My parents used cork tile in both their bathrooms and kitchen. It's held up remarkably well (over 25 years in the bathroom). I'm afraid I don't have information about the type of cork or flooring - I might be able to get it for you. I also had a cork floor in the entrance way of a house I lived in in Denmark. Pretty indestructible stuff. Showed the dust like a wood floor, but was easy to clean, waterproof, and had a pleasing color and texture.

 

[monte]

I've done work for the Houston's Restaurant chain in the past.
I believe their Santa Monica location has cork flooring in some areas if memory serves me right,
they have a lot of traffic and they are very picky clients. I'm sure they used the top grade.
(of course this is only beneficial for you to look at if your in the L.A. area) 

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Chris,
I'm glad you asked this question, because I'm going to replace my kitchen floor this spring/summer.  My wife and I are seriously looking at cork, and I'm beginning to get information about it.  I'd be very interested to hear from others here about choices, what it's like to work with cork, and longevity.

I'm thinking Festool will come in at some point in the project.

Matthew

 

[Chris Hughes]

  I've seen cork flooring in a house that was at least 40 years old and it was in great shape but it didn't look like the modern colors or patterns.  My concern is the "floating" application in a kitchen area.  Some of the sale persons and lit. advise against selflocking tiles where water is a concern.  I found a product that is a glue down which is the "old" way they applied cork.  I guess I don't have a problem with a glue down but you have to apply a sealer coat after install is finished to protect the adhesive and sub-floor.  My experience is in hardwood and tile like most US builders, However I would like to expand my horizons.  Chris

 

[iggy07]

We are just getting ready to sell our old house after moving a year ago and remodeling. (Don't ask why it took so long.)

On the advice of our real estate agent, we installed a cork floor in the kitchen. She had one growing up in Denmark, and really liked the warmth and cushioning it provides. However, her main concern was to create value and increase the desirability of the house, so I don't feel like we did this to bring back her childhood.

This was my first Festool project, using the TS-55 and MFT 1080. I did install snap-together panels. The pattern on them looks like small cork 'bricks' of random lengths, almost, but not 100%, hiding any seams. I was very happy with the results -- it looks fantastic, and the tools were perfect for the job. There was no recommendation to seal the seams, and I did not. I can't comment on long-term durability, but it looks and feels great. As is often the case, the house now has the kitchen we would have liked 10 years ago.

I'd do it again, and would probably consider it in our new house when it comes time to replace the vinyl.

iggy

 

[Dane]

I have used cork in a few applications.  Two kitchens, one office.  Both kitchens are holding up great, we did lay a coat of poly on top to seal the seams however.  Feels great on the feet and is really easy to install.  I have only used the clik-lock stuff, I haven't noticed any problems, the seams stay together well.  Only comment is that the darker colored stuff tends to show dirt and dings.

 

[Eli]

I've ripped up the old style apps, and it's a mother to get up, or the one I did was. But I like the look, it's a sustainable resource, and it's supposed to be tough.

 

[Chris Hughes]

    Eli, was the cork difficult to get up because of its resiliency or the adhesive?  Chris

 

[Eli]

Well, I guess it could be classified as an adhesive issue, but what happened was the glue held fast so often you end up tearing apart the floor in a levular (new word, means at all levels) fashion. Some places the whole thickness of cork stuck, some spots the glue gave up, and some spots the bottom of the cork held while the top ripped off. Hard to get level, but just took a lot of scraping. No harder than seven layers of old lino.  ;D