Cork is one of the most popular flooring materials, and one of the major benefits of installing cork floorings is that you can sand down the surface to restore the finish. Similar to solid hardwood, cork tiles/planks can be re-sanded and re-finished, which this article will be talking about.
Original Cork Floor Installation
When cork flooring is installed, the surface needs to be sealed with a polyurethane varnish, which protects the cork and prevents moisture from affecting the floor. It is recommended to apply at least 2 coats to protect the floor and after a couple of years, it is a good idea to sand down the floor and it with a couple of coats of varnish.
If you are in Australia and are looking for top Melbourne cork kitchen flooring, or even if you are living in another country and are on the search for quality cork tiles to use on your floors, Google can help you locate a leading flooring showroom, where you can view top quality cork products. Cork is an eco-friendly flooring and the material can be sustainably harvested without damaging the tree.
Sanding A Cork Floor
If you are planning to sand down your cork floor, remove all the furniture and sweep the floor to remove all debris. You will need to hire a floor sanding machine, which you can find at your local plant hire firm, and wearing a mask, start by sanding the floor. It is important to use fine-grade sandpaper, which is the best way to remove the varnish and sand down the floor tiles. It will be very dusty so wear a face mask and eyeglasses; take care to sand evenly, covering every square foot of the floor. It might take a couple of hours to fully clear the room of dust, using a powerful vacuum cleaner is a good way to remove the sawdust.
Preparing The Floor For Varnish
It is crucial that all dust is removed before you start to apply polyurethane varnish, otherwise, the finish will be gritted and rough to the touch. Only when you are sure that all dust has settled should you start to apply varnish and the second coat can be administered 48 hours after the first coat.
How Often Do You Re-Sand Your Cork Flooring?
Experts would say that 3-5 years is suitable to re-sand and varnish cork flooring; perhaps sooner if it is a high-traffic area. When buying cork floor tiles or planks, make sure they are thick enough to handle re-sanding. Quality cork floor tiles are 8mm thick, which is thick enough to withstand a few re-sanding projects.
Staining Cork Tiles
When you re-sand cork flooring, it is possible to use a stain to introduce another color to your decor; the different shades allow you to completely change the look of your interior. Staining should be done a couple of days after sanding and prior to applying the protective coating. Take great care when applying stain, as it cannot be removed once applied.
Seek Out Professional Help
If you would rather have a professional team re-sand and seal your cork flooring, contact a nearby timber flooring company and they would be happy to quote for the project. You can choose a stain from a catalog and the team will apply this to transform the look of your interior.
When the floor is finished and you are ready to bring back the furniture, buy some rubber furniture pads to protect the floor. Heavy items can cause indentations in cork flooring and these rubber pads are designed to spread the load of heavy items.
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