Replies

1. 
   Mongo | Sep 29, 2002 06:57am | #1

   Cork varies dramatically. Some soft, some hard, varying tile thicknesses, etc.

   Cork can work quite well in the kitchen or any other room for that matter. It's used quite often in commercial...high-use and high-wear environments. It can certainly handle the abuse found in a residential setting.

   Remeber...it's wood.

2. 
   Shoeman | Sep 29, 2002 03:12pm | #2

   I put the Wickanders laminate cork in my kithen and dining room about a year and a half ago, and really like it.  Went with the Wickanders over some of the others I looked at, because it had a much thicker/tougher pvc wear layer.  Used an 1/8" thick sheet of natural cork for the underlayment.  As for the water concerns - just be sure to put ample glue along all seams - you should have it squeeze out the top along the whole lenth of the seam.  More to wipe up, but makes a water tight seal. 

   Cork in the kithen - You bet.  Get lot's of compliments on mine.

   Go for it,

   Shoe

1. 
   MtKendall | Sep 29, 2002 05:55pm | #3

   What is the thickness of cork used in a kitchen?  We have linoleum that would come up first.  I don't want a "step up".  Can the thinner cork handle wear?

1. 
   Shoeman | Sep 29, 2002 11:38pm | #4

   The stuff I used was a laminate (like Pergo).  About 7 inch wide by about 36" long tongue and groove pieces - about 3/8" thick + about 1/8 cork sheet underlayment for a total of about 1/2" above sub floor - worked out to be about the same height as the carpet in my living room that it butts up against.

   Hope this helps,

   Shoe

2. 
   Bruce | Oct 02, 2002 12:53am | #5

   You can get solid cork tiles in 12x12, 16x16, and 12x24 that will be about the same thickness as what you'll be pulling up.  Theses are solid cork, not built up like the T&G floating floor tiles, and glue down with a contact type flooring adhesive.  You'll have to get the floor pretty smooth after your tear-up to get a good job. 

   If anyone is interested, I can post my whole collection of cork flooring websites here.  Haven't used it yet, but I'm about to in my next project, for kitchen, dining area, and adjacent traffic areas.

1. 
   HammerHarry | Oct 02, 2002 02:32am | #6

   Looking into cork flooring for a new house, so I'd love to see your list...

1. 
   Bruce | Oct 02, 2002 06:31am | #7

   Here's for starters ... I thought I had more, but this should cover most of what's out there.  Good luck!

   http://www.ecorkdirect.com/

   http://www.corkandfloor.com/

   http://www.naturalcork.com/

   http://www.expanko.com/

   http://www.ifloor.com/cork/corkfloor.shtml

   http://www.amcork.com/