A customer wants to use cork tile in a bathroom. Is it a good idea? Anything I should be aware of?
Thanks ahead of time
A customer wants to use cork tile in a bathroom. Is it a good idea? Anything I should be aware of?
Thanks ahead of time
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Replies
I installed cork square glue-down tiles in two of our baths. Cork came from Jelinek Cork which you can see at http://www.corkandfloor.com/ I like working with them, as tech help has been readily available, prices are competative and the adhesives/finishes they recommend you can get at HD or Lowes, instead of those outrageously priced adhesives the other cork floor suppliers tell you that you MUST use with their products.
Cork has been down about a year now, and so far the floors are working great. Layout and application was pretty straightforward, and we sure get the 'oooohs' and 'aaaaahs', as we picked some pretty aggressive cork patterns to go with otherwise pastel bathrooms.
BruceM
Anything I should be aware of?
Nothing you would not have already been aware of for a bathroom floor; or thought & rethought with a wood floor or the like. Keeping the wet from the dry and vice versa is about the same, really.
Most flooring folks would advise against cork in a wet environment. We don't all make a big wet mess in the bathroom but if you have young ones or otherwise have a lot of water on the floor, it might not be the best idea. It will also soak up drips around the toilet and can get nasty and smelly. Add in the bleach and other bath cleaners and the cork could be in for early degradation. Too bad, it would make a comfortable bath floor but a short lived one.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I think that this cork was ment for a wet environment!
View ImageRebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Great idea. Give us some more information on how you did it and a larger pic.
That was just on the website he posted above - not my doing. I thought it looked pretty interesting myself though!Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Bronco,
I redid my own master bath with a cork floor. We love it. Very quiet and comfortable.
Some points to consider:
Cork with varnish on it is slippery when wet. Rubber-backed mats in strategic places solve that issue.
I also ordered from Jelinek like BruceCM did. Used 3M Fastbond waterbased contact cement to install the tiles. Only one chance to get it right, but they are small pieces, so not a big deal. Used a j-roller to set the bond. Cured glue is waterproof and not loosened by varnish that seeps in the holes and joints. I ran test panels to be sure.
For a bathroom, I feel that raw floor tiles are best, finished in place. That way the finish seals all the joints and the perimeter. I personally do not trust waterbased finishes to be a sufficient barrier to the water, and they tend to raise the "grain."
I used 5 coats of Waterlox, a solvent based phenolic-tung oil varnish, and would do the same again, no complaints. Very waterproof. The only downside is the time it takes for the coats to dry, about a week in all. Gloss gives a mirror finish; satin might be less slick, but also less waterproof. One could do final coat in satin if desired, but I prefer the visual depth that the gloss gives the cork.
Hope this helps,
Bill
I have urathane finished cork tiles in my bathroom since 1982 and they now show slight lack of lustre round the toilet.We only damp mop the floor with floor cleaner and water.The biggest hassle was that the tiles were not square even though they were meant to be and slightly different sizes.I complained and was told that cork tiles arn't as consistant as ceramic.However now they are more popular the standards may have improved
I've had a cork tile floor in my bathroom for around 20 years now - no, I shouldn't be admitting to that and it really IS time for a change - but it has lasted ok. Treat it with care - like don't allow water to accumulate, just common sense things really and it should be fine.
The cork they want to use is laminated just like pergo and it is glueless, any ideas?
Bronco,What your customer seems to want is a plank type of cork floor. This is a bad idea in a wet area, since the glueless edges are always vulnerable. The cork sites I visited recommended glue-down tiles in bathrooms, and applying at least one coat of finish over a prefinished product to seal the joints somewhat.Bill
Thanks Bill fore the info it was just as i wanted to hear
Yes definitely cork tiles in a wet area. In fact with laminate, any spills should be mopped up immediately. I've just had a glueless laminate floor laid, and was advised to clean with a VERY SLIGHTLY damp cloth, as wet will ruin the floor, but you probabley already know that. I'm a bit behind with the time difference (UK time).
Edited 8/31/2006 5:58 am ET by Kim 13
Edited 8/31/2006 6:02 am ET by Kim 13