While Corka is a resilient flooring, it can still be damaged in certain circumstances. Pet claws, high heels and dragging furniture, for example, can occasionally cause chips in the surface. These can usually be repaired very simply with a colour-matched wood filler. Larger areas of damage can be repaired by replacing an affected tile or plank.
Corka Flooring Maintenance
Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential to maintain the long life and good looks of your flooring. With all our Corka flooring this is easily achieved: simply sweep or Hoover regularly and then wash your floor, using a damp cloth or well-wrung mop.
We recommend using our daily spray cleaner for this flooring. Never use cleaning products with abrasive, alkaline or solvent-based ingredients (e.g. acetone). Never use wire brushes. Cleaning products should be PH neutral. As a general rule, follow the detergent manufacturers’ instructions, and contact them for additional details when required.
Dirt or grit can cause scratching on any floor surface, so for daily maintenance, you can also use an antistatic dust sweeper. Take care to wipe up any spillages, spots or marks as quickly as possible. Always use a door mat near external doors to catch dirt and grit. Do not use latex or rubber backed mats, rubber furniture feet or rubber wheeled castors.
In a kitchen, place area rugs or mats in front of the appliances and sink to protect your Corka floor from heavy traffic, dropping food, grease, and other factors that can cause premature wear of your kitchen floor.
Another potential form of physical damage is indentation marking from pressure points such as high heels and legs/castors from furniture and appliances. We recommend the use of castor cups or felt foot pads wherever possible. Office roller chairs must comply with EN12529 (Type W). Use protective office mats under the wheels.
Do not drag furniture across the floor. If building or installation work is being carried out in the room where the floor is installed, protect it with craft paper, plywood or hardboard. When applying decorator's tape to the floor surface, test on a small area first to ensure it is suitable.
In kitchens, avoid damage from appliances by placing a sheet of hardboard between the appliance and the floor. When moving the appliance simply slide from one hardboard sheet to another.
Take care with cigarettes, kitchen utensils, hot or heavy objects which if dropped can damage the floor covering.
Cork, as a natural material, may tend to fade when exposed to sunlight over a period of time. It is important to move area rugs and furnishings to allow for even colour change. Use blinds, curtains or other sun screening systems to minimize this effect.
Corka should not be exposed to temperatures of 45ºC or more unless installed as a gluedown. Again, use curtains or blinds to protect against this.
If a room is intensively heated, the indoor air humidity may drop so low that the floor could dry out. As cork is a natural material, this may cause shrinkage of the tiles that will result in minor gaps in the flooring joints. Use a room humidifier to prevent this. The recommended room conditions are 35-65 % relative humidity at 20°C.
If your flooring is fitted with underfloor heating, please note that rugs or mats placed on top of the floor may function as heat accumulators and increase the floor surface temperature more than the maximum surface temperature recommended (22 ºC).
The surface of our Corka Click plank floors is water-resistant (for Corka Parquet and Black and White Corka gluedown tiles additional on-site finishing may be required to achieve water-resistance - see installation instructions for details). To assure that the structural integrity of Corka Click planks will not be diminished by exposure to water, polyurethane sealant should be maintained around the edges of the floor and on expansion joints, to prevent water penetrating underneath the planks. This can effect dimensional stability. When prolonged and excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mould and/or mildew growth can occur. Damage resulting from mould & mildew growth due to prolonged exposure to water or moisture is not covered by our warranty.
Corka flooring is not recommended for outdoor installation or use in persistently wet and damp areas such as saunas, swimming baths or similar.
Part of the beauty of cork is that, as a natural material, there are variations in the bark from which it is made. These may include character-giving knots and pinprick holes. With our coloured corks, the surface colour is intended as a subtle wash which will not mask the natural grain of the floor. It is part of the design that some areas hold more colour than others, which will take on a more natural hue. None of these variations will effect the longevity of your floor.
For periodic maintenance, polishing and stripping products are available, please contact us for details.