Cork Floor Maintenance Guide

General

  • For daily cork floor maintenance, sweep or vacuum sand and dirt particles. Regular damp mopping is encouraged. The choice of cleaner is important. We have learned (the hard way) through many of our clients having ruined their floors what not to use. WARNING: THESE PRODUCTS CAN AND WILL RUIN YOUR CORK FLOOR:Windex or any cleaner with ammonia
    1. Bleach or any cleaner containing bleach
    2. “All Purpose Cleaners” are NOT meant to be used with cork or wood and will cause damage
    3. Simple Green – has already caused thousands of dollars of damage – the company states it is not to be used with wood floors (this includes cork).
    4. Soap – this is a common “light” cleaner used in mop water – leaves build up that prevents future coats of polyurethane to adhere to the product
    5. Murphy’s Oil Soap – should never be used on wood flooring at any time
    6. Swiffer Wet Jet products – spray on products such as this should not be used with wood or cork flooring. Check with the manufacturer before using the “Hardwood” formula on any wood flooring product (that includes cork).
    7. Wood floor Polish – a floor “polish” is different from a wood floor cleaner in that it leaves behind a layer of chemicals. These chemicals can prevent the adhesion of future applications of polyurethane. Cork cannot be sanded in the same way hardwood floors can be. Anything that you apply that leaves a residue will be with the floor until the floor is removed.
  • For deeper cleaning or to give your floor a bit more “pop”, you can apply cork or hardwood cleaning products to your regular cleaning routine. Never use a product that does not state “For Wood Floors”.
  • Anytime a spill occurs, it is best to wipe up the spill as soon as possible, especially with any floor that was not site-finished.
  • Self-adhesive felt pads should be attached to the underside of all “moveable furniture” such as dining room chairs or ottomans. These will prevent scratches from marring the surface of your finish.
  • Furniture coasters should be placed under all permanent or semi-permanent furniture (beds, dining room tables, sofas, desks, china cabinets, etc.). These will prevent permanent denting from occurring in your cork.
  • When moving heavy objects across your cork floor, always use a protective cover over your floor (cardboard runners, etc). Remember to lift and transfer your furnishings as much as possible. Dragging heavy objects may damage your finish and is not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

APPLYING POLYURETHANE

For cork floor maintenance, Every Forna cork floor will require several applications of water based polyurethane during the floor’s lifetime. The first time a Forna cork floating floor is site-finished (aka: “sealed”), two coats of water based polyurethane should be applied (check with your Forna dealer which products are acceptable for use on the cork floor). The first application must occur within the first seven (7) years after the cork floor is installed.

cork floor maintenance guide forna
cork floor maintenance guide forna

Once the initial application has occurred, refresher coats are applied as 1-2 coats each time. The time between coats will depend on personal preference, traffic patterns and level of overall traffic the floor is exposed to. A rule of thumb is a refreshing coat should be applied every 5-7 years.

To find out the correct way to apply the finish, visit the “Applying Polyurethane” instructions on the website.