Cork Flooring | CorkArt Floating Planks & Tiles

Why choose Multifors for cork flooring?

Comfort

Warm and quiet underfoot

CorkArt says cork's air-filled cells insulate against temperature and sound, giving "warmth underfoot and almost silent footfalls".

Resilience

Springs back after pressure

Cork is the outer bark of the cork oak. CorkArt says it regains 95% of its form after compression to half its thickness.

Flexibility

Two ways to install

Glue-free UNICLIC click planks that float over a hard, flat subfloor, or planks and tiles glued down over a primed subfloor.

Range

Natural cork and wood-look

CorkArt Traditional, Cork Concept and Enzo ranges in floating and glue-down formats, with Enzo's wood-look design layer.

About Cork Flooring

Why people choose cork underfoot

People choose cork for the feel: CorkArt says its air-filled structure gives “warmth underfoot and almost silent footfalls”, and describes cork as a warm, comfortable and resilient surface that is less affected by impact and friction than other hard surfaces.

Cork is the outer bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber). CorkArt explains that it is a tight web of up to 40 million cells per cubic centimetre, and the gas held in those cells is what lets cork insulate and re-expand quickly after compression.

As a natural product, cork varies in colour and texture from plank to plank. CorkArt does not treat this as a defect and suggests mixing planks from several cartons.

Floating (click) or glue-down?

Floating floors click together without glue. CorkArt’s planks have a high density fibreboard core between an agglomerated cork surface and a soft cork backing, joined with the UNICLIC tongue and groove. CorkArt says you can walk on the floor immediately after installation.

CorkArt’s laying guide calls for a subfloor that is even, perfectly dry, flat and clean, with variations of no more than 3 mm over 3 metres. It allows a floating floor over ceramic tile, wood or resilient flooring, but not carpet. Over cement, tiles or where rising damp is possible, the guide requires a 0.2 mm polyethylene sheet first. It also requires 10 to 15 mm expansion joints at walls, pipes and door frames, plus expansion joints in areas over 10 metres long or 8 metres wide, between rooms and on asymmetrical floor areas. The full guide is the authority.

Glue-down cork tiles and planks are bonded to the subfloor. CorkArt approves only concrete at or above ground level, or underlayment grade plywood, and no other surface. Its guide requires subfloor primer on every subfloor, specifies its own supplied contact cement, and allows at least 24 hours for the glue to set before anyone walks on the floor.

In short, floating is the glue-free option over a hard, flat subfloor, while glue-down needs a primed concrete or underlayment grade plywood subfloor. Glue-down is the only method CorkArt’s room guide lists for bathrooms and laundry areas, and CorkArt also says a coat of varnish after installation is necessary to seal the joints, kitchens especially.

The CorkArt ranges at a glance

Range	Installation	Size, thickness and finish, as CorkArt states them
Traditional floating	Floating, UNICLIC click	On the product page
Cork Concept Heritage	Floating, UNICLIC click	900 x 300 mm plank. Thickness and finish on the product page
Cork Concept Harmony floating	Floating, UNICLIC click	900 x 300 mm plank. Thickness and finish on the product page
Harmony glue-down	Glue-down with primer and CorkArt’s specified contact cement	On the product page
Enzo glue-down	Glue-down with primer and CorkArt’s specified contact cement	1200 x 210 mm plank, 6 mm. Ultra Shield water-based urethane varnish, semi matte, over a wood-look design layer
Traditional cork tiles (raw / sealed / finished)	Glue-down with primer and CorkArt’s specified contact cement	On the product page

Finishes and the rooms cork suits

Finishes differ by range, so check each product page. For Enzo, CorkArt pairs high resistance Ultra Shield water-based urethane varnish (semi matte) with a wood-look design layer and a cork backing.

CorkArt’s room guide says either method works in bedrooms, living rooms, hallways, kitchens and on stairs. Bathrooms and laundry areas call for glue-down.

Wet areas: CorkArt states its floating floors are not suitable for damp rooms such as bathrooms, shower rooms, saunas or other rooms exposed to excessive moisture. Kitchens: CorkArt’s room guide says another coat of varnish after installation is necessary to seal the joints, kitchens especially; its floating guide requires an extra coat of urethane finish on a floating floor there.

For a plain-English look at finishes and where cork works, read cork flooring explained.

Before you lay

Summarised from CorkArt’s installation guides, which remain the authority:

Acclimatise floating planks in their original packaging at room temperature for at least 48 hours. CorkArt gives 18°C and 50 to 60% relative humidity as ideal.
Acclimatise glue-down planks and tiles out of the box on site for at least 72 hours, with optimum conditions of 21°C at 30 to 50% humidity.
Prepare a glue-down subfloor: concrete must be sound, smooth, level, flat and properly cured, with cracks patched using a Portland cement based compound, not gypsum. Plywood must not exceed 14% moisture content.
Underfloor heating: under a floating floor, the floor’s surface temperature must not exceed 27°C, and minor gapping of up to 0.2 mm during the heating months, without the pieces unlocking, is not considered a defect. For glue-down planks and tiles, CorkArt’s documents differ: some product sheets mark glue-down ranges as suitable for radiant heating, but its glue-down installation guides say in-floor radiant heating is not recommended. Follow the installation guide.

Care and maintenance

From CorkArt’s care guidance:

Sweep or vacuum often, as grit acts like sandpaper.
Routine cleaning is with a neutral pH hardwood floor cleaner. CorkArt says wet maintenance is entirely forbidden; a damp mop with a suitable product is allowed only when needed.
Wipe up spills immediately, and never use abrasive or solvent-based cleaners.
Use walk-off mats at entrances, avoiding rubber-backed mats.
Use furniture protectors, and a protective mat under office chairs.
For floating floors, CorkArt says to keep room humidity at 50% or above, using a humidifier if necessary.
For floating floors, CorkArt says a coat of urethane finish should be applied at the first signs of wear; its glue-down guides recommend a maintenance polish instead. CorkArt recommends a flooring professional for renewing a worn finish.
Limit direct sun with curtains or other screening, since cork tends to fade in sunlight.

Common Questions

Cork Flooring FAQ

Can cork flooring go over underfloor heating?

For a floating floor, CorkArt’s guide allows underfloor heating as long as the floor’s surface temperature does not exceed 27°C, and says minor gapping of up to 0.2 mm in the heating months, without the pieces unlocking, is not a defect. For glue-down, CorkArt’s documents differ: some product sheets mark glue-down ranges as suitable, but its glue-down installation guides, which cover its glue-down planks and tiles, say in-floor radiant heating is not recommended. Follow the installation guide.

Can I use cork flooring in a bathroom or laundry?

CorkArt’s room guide lists glue-down application for bathrooms and laundry areas. Its floating floors are not suitable for damp rooms such as bathrooms, shower rooms, saunas or other rooms exposed to excessive moisture. CorkArt’s FAQ also says another coat of varnish is necessary after installation to seal the joints, kitchens especially. In a bathroom or laundry, that means a glue-down range plus that extra coat, and CorkArt’s glue-down guide still warns that too much liquid can swell the joints and that wet maintenance is forbidden.

Should I choose floating or glue-down cork?

Floating cork clicks together with CorkArt’s UNICLIC joint and no glue, goes over existing hard floors such as ceramic tile or wood, and CorkArt says it can be walked on immediately after installation. Glue-down cork is bonded over a primed concrete or underlayment grade plywood subfloor, and CorkArt’s guide specifies its own supplied contact cement. CorkArt’s room guide lists glue-down for bathrooms and laundry areas, and says either method works in bedrooms, living rooms, hallways, kitchens and stairs.

How long does cork flooring need to acclimatise?

CorkArt asks for floating planks to be stored in their original packaging at room temperature for at least 48 hours before laying, with 18°C and 50 to 60% relative humidity as ideal. Glue-down planks and tiles need at least 72 hours out of the box on site, with optimum conditions of 21°C at 30 to 50% humidity. Keep conditions close to how the room will be used.

What subfloor does floating cork need?

CorkArt says the subfloor must be even, perfectly dry, flat and clean, with variations of no more than 3 mm over 3 metres. Floating cork can go over ceramic tile, wood flooring or resilient floor coverings, but not over carpet or other soft subfloors. On cement, ceramic tiles or where rising damp is possible, CorkArt’s guide calls for a 0.2 mm polyethylene sheet first, with the lengths overlapping by about 20 cm.

What adhesive and primer does glue-down cork need?

CorkArt’s glue-down guide says subfloor primer must be used regardless of the type of subfloor, and must be totally dry before adhesive goes on. CorkArt’s guide specifies its own supplied contact cement. It is applied to both surfaces with a notched trowel and left to dry for a minimum of 10 to 20 minutes (this changes with room temperature), then the parts are joined within the 20 to 40 minute open time. Never lay tiles into wet adhesive.

How do I clean and look after a cork floor?

Sweep or vacuum often, because grit acts like sandpaper. CorkArt recommends routine cleaning with a neutral pH hardwood floor cleaner and says wet maintenance is entirely forbidden, so damp-mop only when needed and wipe spills up immediately. Avoid abrasive or solvent-based cleaners, use walk-off mats without rubber backing, and, for a floating floor, apply a coat of urethane finish as soon as you see the first signs of wear. CorkArt’s glue-down guides recommend a maintenance polish instead.

Will cork dent or fade?

CorkArt says cork regains 95% of its original form after being compressed to 50% of its thickness, and dents recover in time as long as the cell structure is not broken. It still recommends protectors under furniture and a mat under office chairs. Cork fades in UV light, with natural cork floors showing the greatest change, so curtains or other sun screening help.

Can I use cork flooring in a kitchen?

Yes. CorkArt’s room guide says either floating or glue-down cork works in a kitchen, and that another coat of varnish after installation is necessary to seal the joints, kitchens especially. Its floating guide makes an extra coat of urethane finish compulsory for a floating floor in a kitchen. CorkArt also forbids wet maintenance on a cork floor, so wipe up spills immediately and use walk-off mats without rubber backing, including in front of the sink.

Not sure which cork floor suits your room?

Tell us about the room and its subfloor and we can help you choose between floating and glue-down CorkArt ranges. Cork samples are available on request.

Get in touch for expert advice, samples and trade pricing.