Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Mar 21, 2007 11:48 am I have a cork floor in my kitchen (laid c. 1987). Does anyone have any ideas or experience with laying over the top of it and how I would prepare it - i.e. tiling or sticking down those vinyl planks? Any ideas on painting it and putting a sealant of some kind? It's only a small floor (about 3m x 2.5m)
I was thinking of removing it but was told it would be a very difficult job. Worse still I read on the internet that some James Hardie cork floors put in around this time may emit asbestos fumes when the floor is removed (but not when it is left intact) ... Re: Tiling or painting over old cork floor 2Mar 22, 2007 9:03 pm This is a VERY good question Cass!
One of which you will not like the outcome. There are only two types of flooring that will go successfully over the cork. 1) Tongue & Grove timber or laminate flooring 2) Carpet Anything else will not successfully stick to the estapol used to coat the cork. You can sand the cork back, that brings it back to a POURUS flooring, any glue you then use will be sucked into the cork and not do the job. Which means you will then have lifting of your flooring. Not nice! Although taking the cork up means masking your face, this is just a small issue. It can take weeks to get it all up off the floor, nasty and strenuous work!! BUT … this would be the way I would suggest you go. Painting…you could probably get away with this, you would have to sand the cork back and be prepared to use a LOT of paint. Remember once you sand it, it becomes porus, and all moisture will seep through to the bottom. That’s a lot of paint. Quite truthfully, if this process is not done properly, you could end up with a very ugly floor. Give it a lot of thought; if you can’t afford to do it correctly at this stage you will be better off waiting till you can. It will save you some very disappointing times ahead otherwise. SORRY!!! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Tiling or painting over old cork floor 3Mar 22, 2007 9:38 pm Hi Michelle,
Thanks for answering my question. I think you might be right about just leaving it - maybe until I can afford to pay someone else to come in and do it all for me! I did write to a couple of companies about the asbestos issue so I'll write another post if I get any further information. Cheers, Cass Re: Tiling or painting over old cork floor 4Mar 23, 2007 6:29 pm as far as I know I have never heard of asbestos being in cork tiles,
since cork is a natural product made from the bark of the trees , in saying that due to the dust from sanding the cork being so fine ,that can be a haszard, I diffently agree with Michelle in removing it before laying any new flooring product, even products that are able to be laid over it can cause the tiles to lift, I would defently suggest getting in a professional to remove these as A, it's bloody hard work, and B, if you get a professional in they will leave your sub floor in a condition that will be able to be laid on cheers matt Re: Tiling or painting over old cork floor 5Mar 23, 2007 9:02 pm Hi Matt, I think the problem with the cork was Hardies "vinyl and cork underlay" - but I'm thinking that I may not have an underlay because a neighbour (who had the same floor) said the cork was glued to the concrete slab. Do you know what type of tradey would I hire to come and remove it for me?
Cheers, Cass Re: Tiling or painting over old cork floor 6Mar 24, 2007 6:33 pm try pro grind , if they cant do it ,they'll be able to help find you someone
http://www.progrind.com.au/fcremoval.htm Re: Tiling or painting over old cork floor 7Mar 30, 2007 10:56 am Cass I have a cork floor in my kitchen (laid c. 1987). Does anyone have any ideas or experience with laying over the top of it and how I would prepare it - i.e. tiling or sticking down those vinyl planks? Any ideas on painting it and putting a sealant of some kind? It's only a small floor (about 3m x 2.5m) I was thinking of removing it but was told it would be a very difficult job. Worse still I read on the internet that some James Hardie cork floors put in around this time may emit asbestos fumes when the floor is removed (but not when it is left intact) ... Hi, I'm clearing the tiles from our horrid 50 year old bathroom and preparing to lay new ones. Bugger of a job getting the old… 0 10355 Hi Simeon, Just a question, as you have been super helpful. Our electrical and plumbing is just about in, will be done by Friday afternoon. Our house is fully painted… 10 5050 just pull up the slate. If you go over the top, your tiles would not have an even surface to be glued to. Im no tiler, but i can imagine a couple of things being an issue… 1 2458 |