How to lay interlocking cork tiles on a floor

Cork tiles are not the most popular material for floor finishing. Although this product has many advantages, for some reason modern owners deprive it of attention. However, if you want to get an original and practical finish, you should use interlocking cork floor tiles. Below is the technology for laying on a rough surface.

1. Preparing the floor for installation of material

Cork tiles, like ceramic tiles, require that the floors be properly prepared before installation. The surface must be reliable and perfectly flat. It is best to pour an ordinary concrete screed, having previously removed the previous facing coatings.

Для упрощения работ можно обустроить самовыравнивающую стяжку из полимерного состава. Далее настилают подложку. Можно воспользоваться и обыкновенными панелями OSB. Они повысят амортизацию и изоляционные возможности отделки.

2. Laying interlocking cork tiles

Begin installation of finishing material from the far corner of the room. The installation itself is carried out in rows, placing the material along the long wall of the room. Since the elements have a tongue-and-groove system, there are no problems with their alignment.

Moreover, there are several ways to fasten tiles. The first assumes that all elements are installed one by one. The second approach is to first assemble a complete row of tiles, and then simply connect it to the previously laid one. Of course, this is a faster way, but you can’t do it alone.

It should also be taken into account that cork tiles can increase in volume if the air humidity in the room increases. Because of this, cork tile flooring must be separated from the walls by small gaps. It is better to immediately place wedges approximately 10 cm wide around the perimeter. The tiles are easy to cut. You just need to arm yourself with an electric jigsaw.

3. Additional protection for cork tiles

There are enough samples of cork tiles on the market that do not require additional finishing. For example, they are covered with a layer of veneer or laminate. If the owner purchased the product without a protective layer, then he will have to apply varnish or wax to the cork tiles. They will increase the water-repellent properties of the cladding and also make it more wear-resistant.

Overall, cork tiles are quite easy to handle. Taking into account the recommendations presented, each owner can cope independently.