A floating cork floor is an eco-friendly flooring option for home owners. The harvesting of the wood does not harm the tree. Cork floors are warm, luxurious and fairly simple to install. Floating cork floor planks are easily snapped together and require no fasteners or adhesive to secure them into place. This floor option can also be installed over most existing floors.
What You'll Need
What You'll Need
- A pry bar
- A broom
- Moisture barrier
- Tape
- Spacers
- Cork flooring
- A rubber mallet
- A tapping block
- A measuring tape
- A power saw
- A power nailer
- Nails
- Floor molding
- Cork floor sealer
Step 1 – Preparing the Space
Use your pry bar to gently remove the floor molding from the wall. Slide the bar behind the trim. Gently loosen the molding. Use your hands to pull the molding away from the wall. Be careful not to do any damage to the molding or the wall. Use your broom to remove any dirt and residue from the floor surface. If the room has a concrete subfloor, lay a moisture barrier over the floor space. Read the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the moisture barrier before you begin. Roll the barrier out from one wall to the opposite wall. Continue laying the barrier, overlapping the roll by about six inches as you cover the floor. Use your tape to secure the barrier together. Unpack and lay your cork flooring in the room about three days before you begin the installation process.
Step 2 – Laying the First Planks
Position ½-inch spacers around the perimeter of the room. This will allow the necessary space for the wood to expand. Determine the longest wall in the room. Begin laying the cork flooring at that wall. Hold the first plank at an angle, with the tongue facing the wall. Lay the tile down. Secure the second tile to the first by snapping them together. Be sure the planks fit together tightly. Use a tapping block to push the planks together. Place the block at the end of the second plank. Tap the block with your rubber mallet. Continue laying the planks until the first row is complete. If necessary, use your power saw to cut any plank that needs to be shortened to fit into the row.
Step 3 – Laying the Remaining Rows of Flooring
Lay the second row of planks following the steps for the first row. Be sure to stagger the joints of each of the rows. Use planks from different boxes. This will create a varied floor color and pattern. Continue laying the planks until the entire floor space is covered.
Step 4 – Finishing the Installation
Remove all of the spacers between the flooring and the walls. Reattach your molding to the perimeter of the room. Secure the trim to the wall and not the floor planks. Read the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the floor sealer before you begin. Be sure you have a sealer that is specifically designed for cork flooring. Use your paint brush to apply the sealer to the floor. Allow the sealer enough time to dry completely.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
