Cork flooring can be installed virtually anywhere on, above, or below grade.
Never leave pooling water on cork floor. This can cause swelling of the seams.
Cork floors are available manly in two installation methods, planks or tiles, glue-down or floating installation methods. You can install half break, break or random installation.
There is no design to match in the installation process.
There is wide variety of floating cork flooring available that offers easy installation for a self installer. These simply lock together and do not use any adhesive.
Glue-down installation methods require more patience and special tools. Glue-down installation methods usually require a little more attention to preparation of the subfloor than floating.
It depends on the complexity of the layout and the skills of the installer.
Measure the length and width of individual room. Multiply the length by the width of each individual room to get the total square meters/footage.
Waste and cuts depending on your skills level and the layout of the area. Diagonal layouts or floors with curved walls may require more careful calculation of the quantity required. As a rule, add an additional 5-10% of the total square meters/footage to cover the waste factor.
Yes, Glue down floors with PVC backing you must use a neoprene contact adhesive (solvent based).
Glue down floors with cork backing you can use a contact water based adhesive.
Substrate must be level, permanently dry, firm and free of cracks, dirt and adhesion-inhibiting substances.
Old chalk, adhesive and oil paint residues must be roughened with a steel brush in order to obtain an absorptive substrate. Oil residues must be removed completely with an alkaline detergent.
Floating floors installing on a framed wall.
No, due to the density of wall coverings we do not recommend to install it on the floor.
If the ceramic tile is firmly attached, without cracks and is stable, you certainly can.
This type subfloors of are non-absorbent. All soiling (e.g. grease, waxes, soap, etc.) must be thoroughly removed mechanically and with detergents, especially if floors like this have already been in use for some time. Any loose tiles must be re-fixed. Subfloors of this type have to be roughened (e.g. by sanding, brushing with wire brushes, sandblasting), primed and leveled with coat of a Portland cement based leveling compound. Or, you can simply install a floating cork floor directly over the existing ceramic tile.
Before installation, the sub-floor must be properly cleaned of dirt and debris, dried, and leveled. Failure to properly prepare your subfloor can cause problems in the future.
Packaged tiles and adhesive should be acclimatized at job site in dry, well-ventilated area for a minimum of 48 hours so that flooring may acclimate.
Remove tiles from packages just before starting laying.
During storage and installation, maintain temperature and relative humidity to a level consistent with the conditions which will prevail when the building is occupied. In most cases, this means maintaining temperature range of 18ŗC to 28ŗC (65 F to 82F) and relative humidity range of 35% to 65%. In order to reach this climate, use heating or air conditioning in the appropriate length of time prior to beginning installation.
Yes, cork flooring can be used over radiant floor heating systems.
Due to the insulation properties of the cork floor will heat up more slowly than conventional laminates or wood floors, providing a slower release of heat over time.
The surface temperature of the subfloor must not exceed 28°C (82°F).
Remember that rugs or mats placed on top of the floor may function as heat accumulators and will increase the floor surface temperature more than the maximum surface temperature recommended (must not exceed 20 - 22ŗC).
The subfloor is usually made of cement or anhydride. Some subfloors may also contain under floor heating.
The residual moisture of a cement screed is 2.0% (for unheated) and 1.5% (for heated) Calcium Carbide (CM) Test, less than 75% RH or less than 3 lbs/1000ft2/24 hours (USA and Canada) calcium chloride moisture tests.
The residual moisture of an anhydride screed is 0.5% (for unheated) and 0.3% (for heated). If there is any doubt about the level of residual moisture (e.g. in a new building), an accurate concrete moisture measurement must be made because excessive screed moisture would certainly damage a new laid floor.
Subfloors to be covered with Glue-down floors (almost vapor-proof) require sealing (insulation) against rising damp if there is no cellar underneath (basement). Water-repellent concrete, crawl spaces, or similar materials are not sufficient to prevent the migration of damp into the subfloor.
We recommend adhesives specially developed for ease of use, safety and quality of the application.
Water based contact Adhesive for cork floors with cork backing: This adhesive should be applied to the subfloor and also to the tiles.
One-side Adhesive for cork floors with vinyl backing: This adhesive should be applied to the subfloor with the recommended notched trowel.
For the correct use follow the instructions on the packaging labels of each product, as well as the information from technical data sheets.
Yes, you should roll the floor after it is layed to ensure proper bonding to the subfloor. This will also help to ensure proper spreading of the adhesive.
Spread small areas at a time from the middle of the tile or plank outwards before the working time expires. To do this you can use a 100/50Kg professional roller. Before you finish make sure that all the edges are down flat. If you cannot get an edge to stick set some weight on it until it sets.
When using a floating installation which does not require any glue, you can simply remove the damaged piece and install a new one. This is one of the many advantages of Corkloc floating installation methods. When replacing glue-down cork flooring, it is a very different and more complicated situation.
You should contact your manufacturer or a professional installer for further instructions based on your individual situation.
