How to install floating cork floors

We also needed to add an extra layer of plywood to the area in front of the stairs to level the subfloor. We were able to use a piece we already owned, that Adam’s band had apparently used as a screen printing test at some point. I like that we have an actual, hidden stamp on this house now

Sunday a.m.: We installed everything save two tiny rows the day before, so Adam finished installing the flooring while I packed our overnight bags and cleared the room. I even taped a few cords to the wall to get everything off the floor. When Adam was done, I swept and lightly mopped the entire floor. On Cancork’s recommendation, we sealed the floor with Loba 2K Supra AT in a satin finish. It’s a water based polyurethane designed for high-traffic commercial spaces, and it’s supposed to be extremely scratch resistant. It was expensive, but we have a dog and a toddler, and we figured this wasn’t the place to skimp on materials.

I was nervous about applying it, but the process is actually quite simple. You give the hardener a good shake before pouring it into the container of polyurethane, and shake again. Once it’s combined, you have about two hours to roll it onto the floor before it hardens into plastic. Because it dries quickly, the sales manager recommended applying it in a typewriter motion: roll out one row, then immediately return to the start of your row and roll out the next.

Again on Cancork’s recommendation, we let the sealer cure for three days before returning home. I didn’t notice any fumes while applying it, so this was really just to let it cure completely. Adam’s parents and my mom kindly put us up during that time – pets included. It helped that we installed the floor over a four-day weekend (Canada Day + 1 vacation day), so I only had to get ready for work at someone else’s house once. The finished product has a slight sheen to it and it feels really durable. So far it’s held up great to the dog’s nails and Hannah’s furniture pushing habit (the kid thinks everything’s a stroller).

We had four boxes of flooring leftover, which is basically the amount of overage we ordered. Unlike the hardwood we installed upstairs, the colour and pattern variation was pretty minimal, so there was maybe only one unusable plank in the bunch. And we got lucky and ended up being able to use many of our ‘scrap’ pieces for other cuts, so there was very little waste overall. I’d rather be safe than sorry, especially since it’s not like we could just run out to the store for more, and hopefully we’ll be able to make a little money back by selling the leftovers. In fact, compared to the hardwood installation, the floating floor was significantly less time-consuming and less error-prone (but I guess our hardwood-laying experience helped).

So that’s what worked for us and hopefully this helps if you’re considering a similar project. We’re really happy with the look and feel of the floor, and of course I’ll let you know how it holds up over time.