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Originally Posted by Decorchallenged
Wow, I can't believe that is cork. It looks more like wood. Thank you so much for taking the time to post the pics.
I am wondering how you keep all the little indentations from getting dirt in them? Is it so soft that high heels might put a hole it in?
I have heard from some people with tile kitchens that they don't recommend it because it is so hard to stand on. For that reason, the cork seems like a much better way to go. But I wonder if the cork is TOO soft?
I've also heard that you have to polyurethane the cork floors every few years.
I find it odd that Home Depot is not even carrying the cork...at least they don't have it out with their main displays.
Please post your thoughts about this floor as you continue to get used to it. I'm seriously considering it but don't like the fact that so few people have talked about it!
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Thanks! Well, so here's the deal so far. I think part of the issue for people, myself included before I viewed this product and spoke with the store owner about it...when people think of cork, they think of bulletin boards!
It is a wood floor afterall, just not hardwood.
My mom even said to me, "Oh well, when you finally redo the entire kitchen you can use the flooring in other rooms on the wall for notes and things, right?!"
Mom, yes, I love you, but no, I did not just put bulletin boards all over my floor!
These are slick and smooth and much more dense than bulletin boards.
My kids are digging the fact that they can spin and slide in socks all over the place.
The dog has learned quickly to not try to make sharp turns while running through the kitchen for fear of imitating a cartoon character!
The floating floor click type panels are just over a 1/2 inch thick!
as for the small "hole" looking things....they aren't as deep as they look in the pictures, it's hard to explain but so far so good.
Think of slicing a cellulose sponge, not all the holes are evenly spaced or of the same thickness....I suppose if I dumped a bunch of flour on my floor, it would be a task to clean, but no more of a task than trying to get it out of the damn grout lines on my stupid tile countertops!
It is soft warm and yes, a bit spongy. Which is soooo much better than that horrid tile.
I dropped a butter knife the other day and half expected it to be sticking straight up out of the floor! But it bounced instead!
As for walking in heels etc....I have done that and have left
no marks. The flooring guys who installed it took great care in sliding the fridge back into place they said it has the same qualities as a vinyl or hardwood floor, if you drag a huge appliance over it, it will leave a mark.
With vinyl sheet flooring, you are stuck with that damage as it is part of a whole sheet and is glued down...Hardwood, you can eventually sand and refinish (provided it is a real hardwood floor not one of those engineered or laminate kinds). Tile, if it gets cracked or chunked you have to chisel out and repair it, knowing that the repair may look obvious, since it can be hard to get that grout color just right after the fact over time.
With this cork floor, since it is a floating panel, you could undo the quarter round moldings which hold it all down, remove and replace the panel and redo the trim again. Viola. Repaired floor. So it's not all that difficult or different really, just unfamiliar.
I wouldn't go to HD or Lowe's for flooring in the first place. If and when they do get cork flooring, I can guarantee that the quality will be worthless.
I went to a local flooring store which has been owned by the same family for 35 years.
The owner's brother had just installed it in their home office and they were all raving about it.
There were many other cork flooring choices, but they steered me towards this one as it was on sale for less than 4$ a square foot. And since it was the same product the family had used in their own home.
The other cork products are easily 6-8$....and this particular brand was on sale, but just this and one other color. at 3.49 a sq ft.
The flooring people never mentioned having to re-poly it, but I still have to pay them the final installment so, I'll ask then and get back to you all about that!
Many people have not been willing to make the leap to cork flooring yet....I remember talking with people about bamboo floors around 10 years ago, and regular flooring people looked at me like I had three heads! It takes time for things to catch on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by icibiu
Wow Bella, it beautiful!!! I'm very happy for you (especially after seeing just how hideous that original floor was!!)
I want to do our family room in cork, please do keep us updated on how the floor handles wear and tear and how easy it is to clean (especially kitchen spills)
Thanks for sharing the pics!!
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You're welcome!
Yes, when I said it was hideous I meant it! Plus I had been living with it for 6 years! blech blech blech! Glad that's over!!
It is easy to clean, I use just a damp mop with just touch of vinegar. I have wiped up spills easily too. Don't forget what a cork does....keeps the wine in the bottle right? Well, it doesn't suck up the spills like carpet since it has a smooth coating of poly (I think, I'm not even sure) I'll find out.
Cheers!
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Very very cool. 
