*
My Mom is having a small (1,400 sq’) retirement house built in upstate NY. She wants several rooms done with cork floor (either the tiles or the sheets, she’s not particular). Trouble is, she can’t find anyone willing to install it. Nobody around Syracuse, NY seems to be familiar enough to be comfortable with it.
The manufacturer reps for cork say to find someone who does parquet floors, as the installation is similar. The local guys that do parquet say “No way, find someone else”. She has all the written installation instructions from the manufacturers, but can’t find anyone to step up to the plate. I’d do it for her if I had the time, but I’m strapped as it is.
She doesn’t want to give up on the cork, but is frustrated. Installation would be Sept/October. Anyone out there have bright ideas to either find an experienced installer, or at the very least convince others to give it a try?
Thanks,
-Stray
Replies
*
Stray,
The installation of cork flooring is closer to the installation of vinyl than parquet, but the vinyl boys won't be up to speed on the finishing.
The laying of cork tile is very easy, maybe a vinyl guy to lay it and a floor-finisher to finish it?
*Stray:I have to be frank and thought cork installation was for somebody that did the stuff everyday, and was a very specialized trade. I personally had never seen it done in these parts of south florida until I witnessed a prefinished floating one installed.Many installers probably balk at the idea, unless they see how easy it is to install a floating cork floor, which is constructed in similar terms of other tongue and groove flooring products. I am basing this on 18" X 46" panels that I saw installed. If the product line fits your description any good laminate installer can successfully install it with ease..though they will be spooked from the get go. I would be until I saw it done.Good Luck:)
*Ian,The 12X12 tiles she's looking at are prefinished. So essentially it sounds like it would go as quick as vinyl...No? I'm just surprised local outfits would be so wary of trying something new. I'd expect them to maybe add a bit extra on the price for their learning curve, but why not broaden their knowledge base? Maybe business is too good, so no need to stretch their minds?I did get an offer from Gabe (Thanks!!!) to send a crew down from the north country if I can't find someone closer. At least that gives her an option.
*Even prefinished tiles have to be site finished again to ensure that the seams are watertight.Some manufacturers use plasticized tiles that must be installed with contact cement. Each one has a factory recommended proceedure for warranty requirements.True cork tiles are not installed the same as vinyl tiles because of the corks ability to absorb water/moisture.Gabe
*Stray,I would give the pre-finished another coat after laying, just to seal the joints.The only skilled part about cork flooring is the sanding and finishing -- I don't know why it is made out to be so difficult, the vast majority of cork flooring tile laid in both Oz and Uk is by DIY in Kitchens and Bathrooms. I guess the people who haven't laid it don't want to get involved in anything new and the ones who do lay it have a vested interest in making it seem hard to do.
*
My Mom is having a small (1,400 sq') retirement house built in upstate NY. She wants several rooms done with cork floor (either the tiles or the sheets, she's not particular). Trouble is, she can't find anyone willing to install it. Nobody around Syracuse, NY seems to be familiar enough to be comfortable with it.
The manufacturer reps for cork say to find someone who does parquet floors, as the installation is similar. The local guys that do parquet say "No way, find someone else". She has all the written installation instructions from the manufacturers, but can't find anyone to step up to the plate. I'd do it for her if I had the time, but I'm strapped as it is.
She doesn't want to give up on the cork, but is frustrated. Installation would be Sept/October. Anyone out there have bright ideas to either find an experienced installer, or at the very least convince others to give it a try?
Thanks,
-Stray