I have just installed a cork floor in my new kitchen - my second kitchen to
have cork. I think it is the best! It wears well and cuts with a utility
knife. It can easily last 50 years (FLWright used it in Fallingwater), it is
warm to the touch and good sound insulating.

My first installation was prefinished (urethane) cork tiles on old vinyl
floor over a concrete slab in an apartment. It was amazing how resilient the
1/4" material was - we never broke a glass or plate that fell from the
counter. Note, if you do prefinished tiles, make sure you add a few coats of
urethane  (water based works great and goes down fast) when complete - it
seals the seams.

Two weeks ago I finished my second cork kitchen floor, this time over wood
subfloor. I laminated 3/8" AC plywood (with dash patch) over the existing
1/2" ply that was laid over the original diagonal board subflooring. This
installation was unfinished cork tiles (12 x 12) glued down and stained (oil
based). I finished with water based urethane (Mega from Sweden) and it looks
fabulous!

I have always purchased my cork from Dodge Rugupol out of Pennsylvania, they
delivered 220 SF and water based adhesive in 3 days.

Eric Hammarberg
Associate Director of Preservation
Associate
LZA Technology
641 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011-2014
Telephone: 917.661.8160 (Direct)
Mobile: 917.439.3537
Fax: 917.661.8161 (Direct)
email:  [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, October 19, 2002 1:43 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: cork floors


 Well after the collapse of the Market this year ; my whole retirement  went
out the window  when I decided  to follow it in an inebriated state of
despair.
 However the window chosen for  this emergency was on the first floor of my
tin roof  Creole cottage and all  that I managed to  hit was the dogs bowl
and chicken pen  which stirred up the rooster and the pot bellied pig who
live under the house  that  set the dogs to braying at 3 am .
This did not sit well with my wife who was awoken by the rumpus; and quick
witted as she is decided to  hose me off from the respectable mantle of
feathers and chicken shit that adorned my posterior; thus allowing me to
quickly grasp reality and see the error of my ways by passing the remainder
of the night on the porch hammock.

It was within this "vision quest" that I decided to put more attention into
the 1950 Spartan Royal mansion (aluminum mobile home) currently under
renovation; I say renovation as Im not interested in  its  interior
restoration;
my approach is minimalist;  solar - high / low tech
I am looking at cork floors; I am also looking at bamboo floors ; I worry
about longevity and humidity ....any pin heads with experience and knowledge
about such  floors?  .. perhaps another wood suitable for such thin tile
like
 applications.
Deb ; John  Ken ...Best Michael ...    .

--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>

--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>