*
Hi! I am new to Breaktime, but I am on Cook’s Talk a lot and heard that you guys have been a great help to a lot of people. I hope that you can help me too!
My mother just completely re-did a room in her house: new walls, windows, plumbing air conditioning, heat etc. It was originally a sun porch and now it is fully insulated and ready for all 4 seasons. She is prepared to rip up the floor but is attached to the cork floor that has been there for about 50 years. Needless to say, there are water stains, spots where embers from the fireplace fell and bleached spots from the sun.
Is there a way to resurface the cork? Or must she rip it up and replace it?
Thanks so much for any possible ideas or suggestions.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Fine Homebuilding's editorial director has some fun news to share.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
Hi Mer1
Yes you can refinish the cork the same as you would any wood product.
Because is softer, you will have to use a flat plate type sander that you can rent at your local rental outlet and you will have to be careful not to over sand spots.
Be careful not to touch the surface once it has been sanded so that no oil from bare skin is absorbed into the cork or it will cause blotches in the finish.
Cork is simply the bark of the oak tree found in Portugal and Spain. These species of oak does not loose it's leaves in the winter and regenerates a new layer of bark every nine years or so.
Gabe
*Thanks so much Gabe!I knew that it was a bark, but I had no idea if it could be resurfaced. I think my Mom will be thrilled when she finds out about this. I really appreciate your help!(If you'll need help cooking dinner, come on over and visit us at cooks talk!)