Install a Cork Floor

* Note: This project installs flooring in a kitchen area.

Materials:

cork flooring (tongue-and-groove plank)
utility knife
hammer
tape measure
chalk line
pencil
wood glue (suitable for floor installation)
damp cloth
finishing nails
cork floor cleaning solution
floor primer and topcoat finish (see manufacturer's suggestions)
lamb's wool applicator

1. First remove any appliances, like the stove and refrigerator. Next, score the caulking between the shoe molding and baseboard molding. Use a five-in-one tool and a hammer to remove the molding intact (figure A). The molding will be reinstalled later.

2. To begin the layout, measure out 32 inches from the cabinets at two ends of the same wall. Make marks at these locations and snap a chalk line between them (figure B). This line will serve as a reference point for the cork planks.

3. Slide the first board into place. Add glue to the tongue of the board, then slide the groove of the next board into place (figure C). Continue down the first row, applying glue, then tapping each plank in place (figure D).

4. After measuring against the chalk line to make sure all boards are straight, begin adding the second row (figure E). Be sure to use a scrap piece of plank and a hammer to tap the boards in place -- don't hit the placed board directly with the hammer. This could warp the tongue of the plank.

5. Continue to work your way across the floor, continually wiping away glue that is forced from the grooves with a damp cloth.

6. Attach the reducer strip for the doorway threshold (figure F) with finishing nails.

7. Once all planks are in place, clean the floor with a manufacturer-recommended cleaner. Allow to dry.

8. Apply floor primer with a lamb's wool applicator (figure G). Pour the solution out in a three to four inch band and wipe across. Try not to lift the pad--keep it on the floor to avoid drips.

9. When the floor is completely dry, apply the topcoat finish with another lamb's wool applicator in the same manner as the primer coat. This will give the floor a lustrous shine (figure H).

10. Costs vary on a project like this, but expect to spend around 500 dollars and you'll need one to two days to complete.