Cork Floor in the Basement
Installing cork flooring in the basement can be an optimal choice. This is because cork has several properties that make it a desirable option for basement flooring. Firstly, cork flooring is resistant to moldso using it in a cool or damp area is no problem, secondly, it’s cell structure insulates against the cold floor beneath it and leaves its surface warm underfoot. Cork is also sound insulating as well as naturally fire resistant and skid resistant. Research shows that cork stands as the best basement flooring.
Homeowners have the option of either glue-down cork tiles or floating planks.
Most often, homeowners find that it is easier to use a floating floor system. This line and click application is easy enough for a first-time “do it yourselfers”, and eliminates all the steps a glue-down process takes.
Homeowners who choose to go with glue-down tiles need to make sure they research and follow instructions carefully. Once the tile is glued down and dried, mistakes will add more time and cost.
To install cork glue-down tile, homeowners will need to test the basement floor for moisture. Please check the link to find how to test the moisture. https://www.icorkfloor.com/Moisture_test_concrete_for_moisture_before_pu_cork_flooring.htm Excessive moisture can be controlled and brought within acceptable levels simply with a plastic vapor barrier sheet or special applied coatings.
For trouble-free installation of Forna cork glue-down tile in your basement, first off, determine if the floor is going to be glued to a wooden subfloor or directly to the cement pad. The latter is the most common application in the basement as well as the bathroom. If the tiles are being applied to a wooden subfloor, then go ahead and glue them down according to our manufacturer’s instructions (water based contact cement, apply adhesive to subfloor and back of tiles and then seal the floor in two coats of water based polyurethane and you are done).
If you are applying the cork flooring to a cement pad you will need to do the following:
1) Clean/scrape/sand the subfloor to the point there is no foreign matter attached to the cement. If there is a lot of debris, you may find that you need to do this procedure twice to get it fully cleaned.
2) Seal the cement pad with a roll on or a spray on cement sealant. Always follow the instructions on the container of the sealant and always wear protective mask or goggles to protect your face and eyes
3) Apply a universal primer designed for cement floors. Here too, always follow the instructions and always wear protective mask/goggles and ensure excellent ventilation
4) Once all applications are dry, you may then go ahead and begin gluing your tiles to the prepared cement pad
The reason for all this fuss: water-based contact cements (which are required for the installation of our tiles) are sensitive to ground salts found in unsealed cement pads. Newer built homes (last 2-3 years) normally have a water barrier built into the pad as it was being poured. In older homes this practice was much less common. Keep costs down by doing it right from the start.
There is no way around the “water based adhesive”. Our tiles only accept this type of adhesive. Any other form of adhesive will “dissolve” our tiles and you would end up with a horrible, unusable mess.
Forna Cork Flooring recommends the installation of cork floating floors in basements. Due to a risk of moisture migration from the concrete slab, floating floors should be placed over a moisture barrier (6 mil film of polyethylene). This will provide you with trouble-free flooring.
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Cork flooring has several properties that make it an ideal choice for the basement. You can find both, cork floating flooring as well as cork glue down tile at iCork Floor.
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