Cork lines we install
WISE Cork Inspire and Wood Inspire for kitchens, bathrooms and basements; Stone Natural for stone and concrete looks; Cork Essence for the softest, quietest living spaces; Cork GO when budget matters most. See all cork flooring.
Cork Pure Floor and Wall is the exception to the floating steps above: it is a thin tile glued to a smooth, sound subfloor or wall with the adhesive Wicanders specifies, so subfloor preparation matters even more.
Condo installations
High-rise and mid-rise buildings in Arlington, Bethesda, Downtown Silver Spring and across DC usually regulate hard flooring because of impact noise. Cork's integrated underlay helps, but each board sets its own standard. We submit manufacturer test data to management and follow the building's hours, elevator bookings and protection rules. Condo work along Wisconsin Avenue and in downtown Silver Spring is covered on the Montgomery County page.
Expansion space is not optional
Cork expands and contracts with humidity like wood. Floating cork needs its gap at every wall, cabinet and door casing, covered by trim. We never pin a cork floor under built-ins or kitchen islands.
After installation
Use felt pads on all furniture, wide casters on chairs, and doormats at entries. Clean with a vacuum and a lightly damp mop. The factory finish on Wicanders cork does not need periodic recoating.
Buildings that ask for cork
Most cork work follows the buildings that regulate impact noise. Condos along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and rooms over garage slabs in Old Town Alexandria are covered on Northern Virginia; downtown, NoMa, the Wharf and Navy Yard buildings on Washington, DC; and Wisconsin Avenue and downtown Silver Spring on Montgomery County.
Where to go next
Cork in a kitchen or bathroom is part of waterproof flooring installation, and below grade it is one of the three options on basement flooring installation. For the other warm, quiet floor we install, see wool carpet installation. The flatness work cork depends on is priced on subfloor preparation and moisture testing.
Common questions
Can cork be installed on stairs?
Floating cork planks are not suitable for stair treads. We match stairs with coordinating wood treads or a glued solution, depending on the product.
