How to Install Cork Floating Flooring
When traditional floorings such as vinyl, ceramic tiles or linoleum are used in offices and in homes, they require a lot of upkeep and maintenance so that they stay good-looking. However, with cork the maintenance is minimal. Cork flooring has a coating of urethane over the surface that acts as a protective shield and helps the cork maintain its glossy veneerfor a longer period of time. This eliminates regular polishing and other heavy restoration processes. Because of its stamina and ease of maintenance, more and more people are choosing to install floors of cork.
There is of course, one more major influencing factor behind the huge popularity of cork floors. And that is the ease of installation, especially if you choose cork floating flooring.
What you ask isfloating flooring exactly?
Cork floating flooring is all-natural planks or tiles manufactured according to the highest standards of quality. They come in a wide range of colors and patterns that allow ease of blend with different types of home décor styles. Floating flooring has a distinct feature that is different from all other flooring panels. Each of these panels are produced with a ridge and a groove edging along the length so they can interlock with one another. This makes installation super easy as you just lock the pieces together in a tongue and groove type interlocking system. Eliminated is the extra hassle of having to glue them down to the sub floor with adhesive.
If you are planning on installing your own cork floor at home, here are some of the tools you will need to keep handy: measuring tape, chisel, ruler, wedges, carpenters wood glue, wooden battens, saw and crowbar.
Tips for Installing
Measure the floor area very carefully so that you can buy the correct quantity on the onset itself. Buying less can be frustrating as you will have to try and find something that is a perfect match. Buying more is a waste of money.
Ensure that the substratum is flat and dry. If there is moisture, it will cause the cork floor to warp after a while, which is such a waste of time and money. Spending a little while to check out that the sub floor is dry and even is well worth it.
Use a complete panel when beginning each row. The panels should never be placed touching the wall. There should be a gap of at least eight to ten millimeters between the wall and the panel. The tongues and grooves of adjacent rows should be facing each other so they can be interlocked. Continue placing the panels in rows till you have covered the entire surface. You may need to cut the panels of the last row along the length so as to make them fit into the space.
Avoid walking on a newly laid cork floor for at least twelve hours.
Cork floating flooring is easy to install. Most manufacturers will provide full instructions and tips on the correct technique to be used when you purchase their product.
cork floating flooring is reasonably priced and easy to install for any enthusiast DIYer. Check out the Cork Floor selection available at iCork Floor today.
cork floating flooring, Cork Floor