Cork floor in the bathroom

[FreshAir]

I am about to install cork flooring in our '66 Trade Wind. Would it be risky to put it down in the rear bath or should I consider another flooring just in there that is resistant to water damage from using the shower?
Thanks,
Neil

[InsideOut]

Shouldn't be a problem unless you anticipate standing water on the floor. Cork is naturally mildew & mold resistant - so as long as you don't have unattended puddles left after a shower you should be fine. Also, try to avoid tiles with a "fiberboard" style backing...it may absorb water & swell. As an extra precaution, I would caulk the perimeter so water doesn't get underneath and effect the plywood subfloor - but that's the case with any product in wet areas like bathrooms.

Shari

[bendavanza]

click together floors are damaged easily by water getting underneath, many cork floors are the click type

[triplenet]

I asked my flooring supplier about cork tile for our coach.
He rec'd against it as he has had problems in bathroom and kitchens.
I'm not sure of which type of flooring it was. We decided to go with vinyl tile.
I wanted sheet vinyl, but for it to be seamless, one has to buy 12' wide material which results in a lot of waste.

Bob

[345bill]

Don't mean to get off subject but just had to say we really like Ian's avatar.

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Shouldn't be a problem unless you anticipate standing water on the floor. Cork is naturally mildew & mold resistant - so as long as you don't have unattended puddles left after a shower you should be fine. Also, try to avoid tiles with a "fiberboard" style backing...it may absorb water & swell. As an extra precaution, I would caulk the perimeter so water doesn't get underneath and effect the plywood subfloor - but that's the case with any product in wet areas like bathrooms.

Shari

Shari, good point on caulking the perimeter. I am using the plank cork and will put down a poly sheeting under it. Still I was/am concerned about inevitable spilled water creeping between the poly and the bottom of the cork. Caulking all the perimeter throughout. Caulk 'shouldn't' negate the floating advantage. Any arguments to that theory?
Neil.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Caulk 'shouldn't' negate the floating advantage. Any arguments to that theory?

Depends on how flexible the caulk is - if it shrinks or hardens & cracks it wouldn't do the job. If it were me, I would not use the floating plank install in a bathroom area. It's a small enough area that it wouldn't need room to "float" IMO. But I guess if that's what you're going with throughout...just be sure you use a very viscous caulk that doesn't shrink or crack.

We glued down our sheet Marmoleum floors wall-to-wall in both our trailers and have had ZERO problems since 2002 and many 1000's of miles. I'm not "sold" on the floating floor concept except for plank-style floors or sheet vinyl which doesn't breathe like Marmoleum or cork.

Shari

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by 345bill

Don't mean to get off subject but just had to say we really like Ian's avatar.

Thanks. His mom, our daughter, commented that the previous 'Happy Camper' avatar starring Ian's younger brother needed a follow-up with Ian. His drawing immediately came to mind.
Neil