Problem with cork floor

10 years ago

Did anyone have this problem? My cork floor, installed about 6 months ago, has started to separate. The cracks are almost 1/4 inch wide. It's almost as if the material has shrunk. The cork was brought to our condo and left for about 2 weeks before installation, to acclimate to this environment. The vendor has offered to replace the floor, but I'm almost afraid to replace with cork again. Any advice?

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PRO

Cancork Floor Inc.

10 years ago

Ok... here we go. First off: is this a floating floor (click together) or a glue down? I can answer that for you = floating. How do I know? Because a glue down tile won't shrink back like this inside of 6 months. Even at 5% humidity it takes YEARS TO SHRINK THIS MUCH. That means it has to be a floating floor.

The "shrinkage" people talk about is very small. I tell my clients to see if they can get a finger nail between the planks. If they can it is INSTALLATION problems. If this were shrinkage (and I've seen it after 8 years in a desert) you should only be able to fit a dime between the planks...and it would happen on EVERY EDGE! You do not have shrinkage.

You have a bevelled edge floating cork floor. The "short" edges are walking themselves apart because they were not installed correctly. This is normally an INSTALLATION problem! Not a "product" problem. I see this on a weekly basis. And I mean weekly.

With click together floors the short edges go together like "butter". This fools the installer into thinking the "click" has occurred. So smooth that many many many times the installers forget to "tap" the edges. Without the "tap" the click edge does not engage. If it doesn't engage the edges will "walk themselves" apart. That's why this is getting BIGGER.

I see this so often I dream about it! Had the installer taken the TIME to tap those boards together, this would NOT happen.

The other INSTALLATION issue I'm seeing = "H" joints. That's when you have the short edge joints "matching up" every second plank. This is not considered appropriate for any floating floor.

Conclusion: Tell the installer this is an inappropriate installation and the floor needs to be reinstalled. The "H" joints need to GO (this is the biggest hint that it is installation error) and the short edges MUST BE TAPPED each time they lay a new plank.

Here's a hint at what will continue to happen. Cork floors require 1/2" expansion gap at all walls. Those loose planks will open up 1/2" inch...because they have 1/2" at the walls to "play with".

Installation error. Plain and simple. Whew!

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Comments (11)

everdebz
10 years ago
What did they offer as to the reason this happened?
gingermurphycpa
Original Author
10 years ago
They are stymied. My vendor thinks the material is defective.
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Andrew S
10 years ago
Before considering replacement, I would try to find out why this is happening, especially if you are thinking of another wood type product . Most likely due to moisture in these dryer months. The floor should be floating and allowed to expand and contract. It could also be the product (how the end joints were machined) or how it was installed too. I would have the vendor look into these if possible.
Bette P
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Is it possible that the humidity in your unit has changed over the last 6 months? If the install was May and there was more humidity in the air, and there is less humidity now and your heating is on, the cork has most likely shrunk. Do you have a hygrometer? Where do you live? Change of seasons?

Found this on the website for Wicanders Cork Flooring.

Just like other wood products, cork is subject to the phenomenon of expansion and shrinking in response to climactic changes. Extreme environmental conditions, meaning exposure to extreme heat, moisture or dryness (more than 65%, less than 35% R.H) can cause cork to shrink and make joints more visible. When humidity levels are higher, cork flooring can expand. As a general rule, cork flooring is more stable than wood flooring. When wood expands, it does so only across the grain, so the expansion is concentrated in one dimension. However with cork, any expansion or shrinkage is dispersed in all directions. With proper acclimation, installation, and maintenance, expansion and shrinkage of your cork floor will be less noticeable.
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
10 years ago
And if your installer insists it was done 'right' bring in a wood flooring installer (NWFA Certified). They are trained in cork floating floors. These types of errors are their bread and butter. They will see this on a daily basis.
PRO
ULTIMATE HARDWOOD LTD
10 years ago
@cancork 'H''s man I see 'W's. This is a rookie installer for sure.
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
10 years ago
Yah I hear ya. As in WTF?
PRO
Gray & Walter, Ltd.
10 years ago
This looks like an installation issue. Contact an independent installation inspector prior to redoing the floor. Cork floors are durable and last for years if properly installed. Calmly discuss with the installer who did the work once you have the verdict of the independent inspector.
Carol Wygant
9 years ago
I not only have the separation problem, but also the finish is completely gone in one area and is also affecting other areas. I can't seem to get a response from the manufacturer. It has been well over 6 months and I need this floor replaced. Will not be replacing with cork.
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
9 years ago
Separation after 6 months? Installation issue. Loss of finish in one area? Low quality finish on a plank will do that....or cleaners will cause wear through issues if they are too aggressive or the cleaning schedule is too heavy handed.. Hard to tell without the name of the cork manufacturer and photos.