Cork Flooring

Cork is a very versatile material. It is eco-friendly, it sound-proofs and insulates. It is very durable and is non-toxic.

Production

Cork floor tiles are a product made from the waste from larger manufacturing such as wine bottle corks. They are from a completely re-newable source, leaving the trees still standing.

The cork is left for 5 months after being stripped from the trees, before being turned into cork tiles.

Cork Tiles

Cork Concepts have cork in 4 different sizes:

305 x 305 x 6mm – Traditional small tiles

450 x 450 x 6mm – Large square tiles

900 x 100 x 6mm – Planks

610 x 305 x 6mm – Rectangle tiles

Their coloured cork tiles come with a 1mm beveled edge, whereas their traditional cork is laid seamless. The cork is finished with a gloss, matt or silk-matt.

Installation

Installation of cork is done by first preparing the floor underneath.

The substrate floor needs to be dead flat and dust free for the tiles to go on smoothly.

The next step is to spread the primer and the adhesive to the substrate. After the primer is applied to the whole surface in a thin layer and is dried, it is time to spread the adhesive on to the floor. After 10-15 minutes this should be dry enough to place the tiles on.

Once the entire floor is tiled, the tiles need pressure applied by a heavy roller to maintain contact with the adhesive.

Cork Concept's cork flooring already has 3 layers of polyurethane applied. The final coating is done by sanding using a sander with 320-400 grit paper, and thereafter the last layer of polyurethane is applied. This adds extra shine and protection.

TORLYS cork is made so that there is no need for that extra last step, and is a cork which is made into planks which are inter-locking. These videos show how it is done.

Colour Choice

Cork tiles can be made in many, many colours therefore fitting commercial and residential spaces perfectly. Cork Concepts (a NZ firm) say they can colour match to any paint sample. You can make borders, details and highlight key spaces using colour.

Cork Planks are not so easily customisable, TORLYS only offers a range of cork planks.

For a pack of 9 standard colour 305 x 305 mm tiles at Mitre 10 MEGA the price is $32.47 

For a sqm of cork tiles from Bella Cork you would be looking at $55, whereas the cork planks are $79 per sqm.

-Sara Förg