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I actually considered this for the kitchen lat year, but decided against it due to the dreaded grout, which in my eye doesn't make sense when the rest of the material (cork) is resilient but the grout is hard and unwielding and prone to crack and get dirty. But this makes it good for moist rooms, bathrooms, showers, etc.

so I went with a click together cork plank floor, sitting in my living room waiting for me to complete the kitchen and then in it goes. I did extensive research before arriving at this decision. You'll find tons of info on cork at any cork site and the gardenweb.com house forums have tons of info by folks who've installed cork themselves.

Cork has many many air holes and will rebound from compression, over time. So a high heel would just dent it (hopefully not puncture it -- but due to its bendy, resilient nature it is less likely to tear, it just compresses). Then, over the course of some time (hours or days or more) it would rebound. Plus it is a busy pattern so you wouldn't notice it anyway. Cork is waterproof and naturally anti-microbial and depending on the floor manufacturer has a factory-installed water-based poly finish that protects it jus like any wood floor. So clean it as you would a wood floor -- dry-mop, vacuum, a little vinegar in water, wipe up all spills (plank floors, anyway).

Also, reason I'm putting my floor in after the cabinets are installed, is it is not recommended to place cabs on it. All furniture should have felt on the bottoms. Most people that have cork are really happy some reporting no significant wear from kids in shoes and clawy dogs and lots of traffic. Me? No shoes in the apt.

But I too would love to hear from folks who live with it now.

My brother and sister-in-law have this exact flooring in their kitchen. The biggest problem they've had is that it's quite hard to install and the grout has done a lot of cracking on them. Looks great, though.

My parents also had cork floors in the kitchen growing up, but they were covered with some material that made them a bit harder and more durable-- your foot didn't sink in at all.

I have cork in my whole condo. It's been about 2 years since I've put it in.
It's great, cleans up easily with a swiffer.
Water is not a problem, just wipe it up.
The only issue I've had with it is that I have a case study couch and bed and they have those pointy legs on it and they leave an impression in the floor. So I put some left over cork that I had under them as barrier and it's been great.
It's great flooring if you like to sit on the floor. Sit on hardwood/laminate flooring and then sit on cork floors and you will feel the difference in 5 mins.
I don't have kids but I imagine it's also great for kids as it might soften the blow if they fall.

An area for casual dining at my workplace has had cork flooring (10" squares, with some kind of protective coating on top) since 1999. The area sees a decent amount of use from people eating lunch or meeting over small tables - including women in high heels - and the floor doesn't show it at all. In other parts of the building that see a bit more use (but not that much more!) they've already had to replace the carpeting and resurface the hardwood -- but the cork still looks great.

I am planning on getting cork floors for my kitchen, and will probably go with a company called duro. Does anyone have experience w/ them? Or suggestions of good suppliers to buy from? I had wanted bright red cork floor, but couldn't find one. Now am going with a dark cobalt blue.

How could cork "maintain itself" at 70° F year-round? That seems to violate not only common sense, but the first law of thermodynamics.

It's a good insulator, sure, but it's not going to always be the same temperature.

Jonathan

I think this wine bottle cork flooring looks great in the picture, but like the first comment mentions, I worry about the grout. I am sure the cork can maintain itself well, but that is a lot of grout to use in a kitchen. Has anyone else installed this exact flooring in a kitchen? How has the grout survived?

My grandparents have had cork tiles in their study for 50 years, with dogs and a dozen grandkids, and the stuff is still looks good, feels good, and is holding strong. The tiles they installed have no grout, so I assume that they are glued down.

They also have *white* wool carpeting throughout the house that has held up just as long.

Hi All,

I came across this site, and noticed several comments and reaction that I thought I would share some ideas with you.

I personally have worked with cork for over 10 years, in fact I was involved with a company that once produced high end line of Cork Furniture (from solid blocks). I have seen Cork used in so many ways; Cork Tiles, Plank Flooring, Cork Fabric, and today; Cork Mosaic.

As with many materials used for floor coverings, it basically comes down to preparation of the substrate, proper installation methods (a little T&C) & proper installation materials (glue+finish+grout).

Remember the oldest cork installation on record is the U.S. Library of Congress dating back to 1898. So if our forefathers we able to install cork, then why can't we in 2006?

Any Cork Flooring type; glue down Cork Tiles, floating Cork Panels & Cork Mosaic, can provide lasting years of durability when chosen for, installed & finished properly. And sometimes we need to take the extra step to ensure the investments we make are successful.

Not every Cork Flooring product may be right for every project. You should work with a supplier & an experienced installer of cork flooring who is responsible enough to confirm cork's suitability for your project.

Some notes;

If you are concerned regarding punctures from high heels or appliances in the kitchen, then maybe installing glue down Cork tiles or Cork Mosaic is preferred as opposed to the floating cork panel. A glued down / fixed floor installation tends to be more solid in structure to sustain impacts. I would recommend glue down Cork Tiles or Cork Mosaic.

Cork Floating floor panels are better used in areas such as bedrooms, a den, living room..etc. Although, Cork floating floor panels are easier to install then glue down tiles, installation costs less and is much faster. As easy as it is to install, it is also easily removable, a plus for apartment dwellers who rent.

On another note; we once installed floating floor panels in a classroom of a language school in NYC, been 5 years now and looks great.

Remember to check the glides or rubber feet on appliances, chairs and other furniture, they can act like a knife that can harm any kind of floor.

Dwell Magazine featured Cork Mosaic this month. The difference with Cork Mosaic and other types is that it is produced with virgin cork. Most cork floors we know are produced from cork that has been granulated and compressed. Therefore the expansion and contraction properties are not the same.

Cork Mosaic is made from the waste of the everylasting bottle stop business for champagne & wine bottles. Its un-tampered virgin cork, its features are the same as the bottle stopper, it seals in the liquid, making it water resistant. So you can use Cork Mosaic on your shower floor for instance. I actually know of someone who used Cork Mosaic on the deck of a yacht.

Per grouting; the only thing that would make grout crack is movement, which can be avoided with proper sub-floor preparation, proper setting and grouting. It is always best to use a polymer modified grout, so it can allow for some flex.

The grout should be evenly spread, and all joints completly filled, any gaps or reveals can lead to dirt accumulation or cracking. This all applies to typical ceramic or even glass mosaic tiles, as well.

Cork Mosaic should be installed by a ceramic tile or marble tile installer, as the method and technique are the same. A wood flooring installer may not be the right person for the job.

Cork Mosaic is a firm floor, as firm as the penny round ceramic mosaics used in 100+ year old apartment buldings that we all know well in NYC.

Last; always try to spend a little more on the adhesive, varnish, or grout you are using. Example; sometimes the varnish or polyurethane you purchase from Home Depot is not enough, two-component finishers or commercial grade finishers available thru your local wood flooring distributor can be more superior, and at home they can provide lasting years of durability.

I am always glad to lend a helping hand when dealing with Cork, feel free to e-mail at james@habitusnyc.com.

Thanks.

I've also got cork in my whole condominium, except for the original linoleum in the kitchen and baths. Looks fantastic in this modern-futurist space--I think much nicer than new hardwood. Many compliments on it. I used two different patterns (in different areas) from Natural Cork.

The flooring is about 9 months old, and I don't see that my stilettos have been making any dents, even in a place where I've been standing for a while. It can be scratched, though--I put together some Ikea furniture and didn't manage to keep my cardboard under all the rough plywood corners. Has anyone tried fixes for these small scratches short of replacing the plank? For example, that colored paste-like stuff they sell in Home Depot for hardwood floors?

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