How to Install Cork Flooring

The process of installing cork flooring is similar to installing most other types of flooring strips that use a tongue and groove system. Make sure your subfloor is clean and level before you attempt to lay your cork floor.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Trowel
• Flooring adhesive
• Circular saw
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Mineral spirits
• Wax

1. Remove the baseboards in the room to prepare it for the cork flooring installation.

2. Measure the placement of each strip of cork flooring from the center of the room to each edge. You'll install the floor from one wall to the other, but measuring from the center ensures the boards at each end of the room are of uniform size.

3. Use a trowel to lay adhesive down on the subfloor. Use the notched edge of the trowel to create ridges in the adhesive. Press the cork flooring securely into the adhesive, frequently checking to make sure it's level.

4. Lay your cork floor, beginning in one corner of the innermost wall. Lay the first board in its entirety. Install the second row of cork flooring by sliding the tongue into the groove and snapping them together. Stagger the cuts for aesthetic purposes and durability.

5. Continue to install each layer of your cork flooring until the subfloor is covered. Leave a gap around the perimeter of the room so the floor can expand and contract. Check the manufacturer's directions to find out how wide this gap should be.

6. Clean the cork flooring with mineral spirits, then wax it to create a protective surface.

7. Keep all traffic off of the cork flooring for a minimum of 48 hours to allow the adhesive to cure so the cork flooring stays level.