Using Cork In The Bathroom, The Kitchen And The Rest Of The House

By Author: Vikram Kumar
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The best application of cork flooring for a bathroom is the cork glue down tile. Forna Cork Flooring recommends this tile system because once glued and then sealed with three coats of water based polyurethane, it is 100% water proof and has the ability to look great for decades! The glue down tile is very light so it is relatively low cost to purchase and to transport. Because this system is more complicated in its installation, we recommend homeowners use it in the smallest areas of their homes. Some of the requirements include; careful measurement and understanding of installation instruction, applicable knowledge of the correct products needed such as the water based contact cement flooring adhesive designed for wood flooring. Usage of incorrect adhesive can destroy the cork tiles and render them completely unusable.

The preparation and installation is a bit tricky which is why Forna suggestshomeowners leave the harder installation technique to the smallest area in the house.

The rest of the house can benefit from the ease of installation of Forna’s patented Uniclic floating floor system. In essence, this ...
... type of system is made up of planks of cork that are then clicked together inside a few seconds. It is easy to cut and an area such as your square footage can be laid by a professional in one (long) day. We have found that some contractors who have worked with our Forna floating floor system often charge a lower “per square foot” fee. Those who give “job quotes” will often bid a little lower because it is so easy to install.

Any cork floating floor that is laid in a kitchen requires two coats of a water based polyurethane. The kitchen is the only room in the house where we “require” a home owner to seal their floating floor. All other areas can be sealed or left unsealed as per the wish of the owner. This is done as a precaution as the kitchen is one area that has a lot of contact with water. Sealing with polyurethane will protect the base floor from any damage should water manage to penetrate through the cork layer.

Whichever room you decide to install your cork flooring in, here are a few dos and don’ts that you should keep in mind when it comes to cleaning the floor. Cleaning cork floors is not difficult at all. Regular sweeping and mopping with a damp mop is all that is really necessary to keep the floor clean. No need for harsh cleaning chemicals either. In addition to this, there are a few things that you should know in order to maintain a cork floor and prevent it from getting marred or damaged and keep it looking good for a long time.

• If any liquid spills onto the floor, wipe it off immediately with a dry cloth or if it is a sticky liquid, wipe it off immediately with a damp cloth.
• Keep a mat near the entrance of the house so that excess dirt and mud can be dusted off before entering the house. Debris and dirt that is stuck to the footwear can cause ugly looking scratches on cork floors.
• Sweep the floor regularly to get rid of dirt and debris that has trailed in the house. Don’t let it accumulate or it will cause scratches on the surface.
• When mopping, make sure you use a mop that is only slightly damp. Never use a very wet mop as excess water can cause damp spots and mar the surface of the cork floor.
• About oncea month, clean the floor with a mild solution of wood-floor detergent. This will bring back the shine of the cork floor.

That’s all you need to do to keep your cork flooring in prime condition.

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Besides looking good, Cork Flooring offers several useful benefits when installed in any room of the house. If you are considering cork floors inyour home, take a look at the wide array of options available at iCork Floor.