Next time you need to replace your bathroom flooring, look beyond tile and linoleum. The range of styles and colours of cork has grown to include a look for everyone from the conservative to those looking to make a bold statement.
Aside from the way it looks, you may find yourself wanting cork for some of its comfort features. It is cushiony underfoot, ideal for kitchens, where you may be standing for long periods of time. If the floor below is cold, cork won’t conduct the chill through to your toes, so it’s nice in the bathroom, too. And unlike ceramic tile and hardwood, cork has sound-dampening qualities.
While cork may not seem durable, it is very dense and waterproof. Most brands have been pre-treated to protect the surface as well, although some are left untreated, so you can stain them yourself. It’s safe to roam the floor with your shoes on, but as with wood flooring, you should put felt pads under the furniture to distribute its weight evenly and prevent it from denting and scratching.
You can buy either free-floating cork tiles, which have a less-secure feeling underfoot, but are more forgiving over slightly uneven subfloors or tiles that you glue down. We chose the glue-down type.
Manufacturers recommend that you install glue-down cork flooring over a 1⁄4" luan mahogany plywood subfloor, because it will provide a stable barrier from any moisture at floor level. If you have a lot of moisture coming through the floor, however, you need to take steps to eliminate the source before putting down flooring.
You can complete part of this job ahead of time, making the installation process more efficient. The contact cement you’ll use on the back of the cork panels can go on up to six hours before you lay down the tiles. Even though the glue dries, it reactivates under pressure as you install it using a weighted roller to adhere the tiles permanently to the subfloor.
Although cork is very durable once it’s down, take care that you don’t damage the corners as you work. Each tile’s corners must be in good condition to get a tight, seamless fit. If you mess up, or if any pieces arrive damaged, trim them to bring them back to square.
Once the floor is installed, it’s down for good because contact adhesive is very strong. Changing the flooring would call for ripping up both it and the plywood subfloor.
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