“Aloha” means both “Goodbye” and “Hello,” so it was farewell to Hawaii and hello to half-finished cork floors. We’re back in Richmond and eager to share what we learned and how the cork floor project is progressing. We actually started the installation the day before our trip, and now that we’ve returned we’re diving back into DIY mode to finish the job and post a full reveal.
We’re still recovering from jet lag and the red-eye home with a toddler, but we’re grateful for a warm, unplugged break. In the meantime we wanted to update you on the flooring we managed to install before leaving and outline the steps we’ve already taken. We’ll share more photos and a complete walkthrough when the job is finished and we have time to comb through our vacation pictures.
Our plan was to finish the floors before we left. We timed things around a photo crew wrapping up at the house and gave ourselves a weekend and Monday to install while Clara napped. Unfortunately, on Friday night we realized the cork boards had sat in their boxes for months and hadn’t been given the required 48 hours to acclimate to the room. That oversight cost us the entire weekend—nothing was installed while the boards adjusted to the home’s temperature and humidity. Letting flooring acclimate first is important because it allows any expansion or contraction to happen before installation, reducing the risk of buckling or warping later.
While waiting, we read installation guides to get comfortable with the process and used the time to prep the room. Prep included removing shoe molding and scoring painted trim with a razor so the paint wouldn’t peel when we lifted the molding. Because this is a floating floor, the manufacturer recommended leaving a 5/16″ expansion gap around the perimeter. Once the shoe molding is reinstalled, it will conceal that gap.
We also trimmed door casings so the new cork could slide underneath for a seamless look. Rather than trying to cut perfect curves around every groove, we removed a thin strip from the bottom of the molding. I used a hand saw laid flat against the floor as a guide to make that cut, which felt a bit unconventional at first but worked well.
With shoe molding removed, door trim trimmed, and transitions pried up in doorways, the room was swept and ready. After the 48-hour acclimation period, we installed the recommended underlayment. We chose an underlayment made from recycled material that was thin enough to minimize the overall finished height. Because we’re floating the new floor over existing vinyl—left in place due to an asbestos liner beneath it—we wanted to keep the combined height low so transitions to adjacent hardwoods wouldn’t become trip hazards. The cork itself is thin, so the finished floor should only be about a quarter-inch higher than surrounding floors, and we’ll use low-profile transitions to keep things smooth.
The underlayment laid out in strips and stayed in place with an adhesive strip on the edge. It doesn’t overlap; strips butt up to one another. I trimmed underlayment around obstacles like the fireplace with scissors and a box cutter. To help with the actual installation, we picked up an inexpensive installation kit with spacers for the expansion gap, a tapping block, and a pull bar. The tapping block protects the board edges from direct hammer blows while helping tap boards snugly together, and the pull bar is useful for rows near walls.
Installation started slowly because many of our initial pieces required cuts. Once we cleared those angled and obstacle cuts, snapping in whole boards went quickly. Cuts took the most time, so I set up a table saw in the carport to make straight, repeatable cuts; that sped things up significantly. We staggered the end joints of each row—offsetting by 12 inches on 36-inch boards—to strengthen the floating floor and mimic the appearance of traditional hardwood.
By the time we paused for packing and travel prep, we had completed roughly 30% of the floor, including areas around the fireplace and the start of staggered rows. The whole process for that first section took about five hours. We were slowed by a few interruptions—a snowstorm, a last-minute meeting with the photographer, and packing for our trip—so progress wasn’t as fast as we hoped. Still, starting the floor made it much easier to pick up where we left off, and our goal is to finish within the next few days and share a full photo walkthrough of the completed space.
Now that the foundation is laid and the first stretch of flooring is down, we’re cautiously optimistic about wrapping this project up quickly. We’ll take more thorough photos as we work and post a complete reveal once the entire area is finished. What projects are you working on lately? Do you prefer to leave the house spotless before a trip, or start something and let it wait for your return?