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How to Install Cork Flooring Tiles

Installing cork flooring tiles provides a number of benefits such as excellent soundproofing, static resistence, great floor surface insulation and exquisite looks and visual appearence. In addition, cork flooring is a natural, environmentally friendly, renewable and easy recyclable product.

Steps to Installing Cork Flooring Tiles

Unpack and let the cork to adjust to the humidity and the temperature of the room for about 4 days
Fill in any low spots and sand down high spots in the underlayment
Thoroughly clean the surface using a broom or a shop vacuum cleaner
Measure and mark the middle of each wall
Draw a line between each opposed walls
Dry run a row of cork tiles from the center to each row
Adjust the lines to minimize cuts in the last row and if the last row is less than 1/4 of the tile
Apply adhesive onto the underlayment using a paint roller or a trowel begining at the center of the floor
Let the adhesive dry until become tacky - typically 30 minutes
Lay the cork tiles one quadrat at a time begining from the center
Make sure all the tiles are set firmly in place
Vaccum the surface and roll a 150 pound floor roller over the entire floor
Clean the surface again
Apply the recommended sealer for your cork floor
Allow the sealer to cure for at least 24 hours
Install the basebords.

Tips for Installing Cork Flooring Tiles

Mix cork tile baches and shuffle the tiles to get a more uniform look of the floor
Place colour variations randomly throughout the floor area
Leave 1/4″ expansion gap around all edges
Make sure the underlayment is clean and dry before installing the cork tiles
To fit a tile around a fixed object such as a pipe use a paper template of the size of a tile
Level the underlayment to no more than 1/8″ over 10 feet
Install expansion joints for floors exceeding 30 feets in any direction
Apply a cork sealer to greatly increase the life and enhance the look and feel of the cork floor
Stain the subfloor with a colour similar to the tiles to conceal any gaps between the tiles.
avoid installing cork flooring tiles in basements due to potential moisture problems

Maintening Cork Flooring

Vacuum the cork flooring regularly to keep the surface free of grit or sand
Damp mop the cork flooring regularly using a mild soap or detergent
Refresh the finish of the cork tiles every year by applying a compatible cork finish or cork dressing product
Do not flood water on cork floors
Do not steam clean cork flooring
Never use abrasive cleaning products
Never apply oil or ammonia-based products on cork fooring