How to Install a Cork Floor

Want an attractive new floor that's also environmentally friendly? Have you considered cork? Cork floors have been around for centuries, and as strange as it sounds, cork is remarkably long lasting. Cork is also attractive, soft underfoot, provides great sound insulation and is environmentally friendly. Cork flooring actually comes from the bark of cork trees. The bark is harvested every 9 or 10 years (literally cut off the tree), but the harvesting doesn't damage the tree in any way. The cork is then ground into tiny pieces and made into planks (similar to laminate flooring). Here is how to install a cork floor.

Things You'll Need

• Cork flooring and underlay
• Tapping block
• Measuring tape and a pencil
• Hammer
• Saw
• Dust mask and eye protection

Instructions

Installing Cork Flooring

1. Measure the length and width of your room and calculate its size in square feet. Add 10 percent to determine how much cork flooring you need.

2. Remove all the furniture, base moldings, baseboards and heat registers from your room. It's also a good idea to remove any closet and entrance doors.

3. Fasten any loose floorboards (screws are best) and fill any seams with leveling compound.

4. Bring the new cork flooring into the room at least three days before you plan to install it. Open all the boxes so the cork can acclimatize to your home.

5. Install your flooring underlay by laying it out in strips, butting the pieces against each other (but not overlapping).

6. Plan your installation before you start laying down the boards. Measure the room's length and determine how wide the last row will be. Often, the last row needs to be cut lengthwise. However, if that row will be less than half the width of a board, cut the first row to match the width of the last row. This way, your floor will look symmetrical.

7. Begin your installation. Working from left to right, put the tongue side of the board toward the wall, and the groove side facing into the room.

8. Leave a space of about 3/8 inches between the wall and the cork flooring boards. You'll need to leave this space around the perimeter of the room.

9. Join the boards lengthwise by sliding the tongue into the groove on the end (at a slight angle) and then pushing it down. It should snap into place.

10. Cut the final board in the first row to length and then use the end piece to begin your second row. This will ensure that you offset the seams of the boards so your floor will be solid.

11. Join the rows by sliding the tongue into the groove at a slight angle and then pressing down sharply. It should snap into place.

12. Continue installing the boards, row after row, cutting them to fit around any openings (heat registers).

13. Install transition strips at all the doorways. Finish by installing your baseboards and moldings.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use a piece of scrap flooring and a hammer to lock the flooring pieces into position if they don't join easily.

• A piece of flooring makes a good spacer around the walls. It's easier to work with than small wooden shims or spacers.

• Always wear eye protection when using a power saw.