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How to Repair Cork Flooring

John Smith

Although cork flooring is attractive and gives a room an appealing look, an even bigger advantage is the way it can so easily resist damage. Cork is soft, so when a heavy object falls on its surface, it is able to absorb the impact and then regain its shape.

Making cork flooring even better is the fact it's often installed in interlocking planks. While most minor damage can easily be repaired with a light sanding, an even easier approach is to simply install a new plank.

Repairing Minor Damage

  1. Test a wood filler in an inconspicuous part of the floor to make sure its tint matches up with the color of your floor.

  2. Fill in any nicks or dents with the wood filler. Allow the wood filler to dry.

  3. Sand over the damaged area with a fine-grit sandpaper and palm sander.

  4. Apply a stain that matches the color of your cork floor with a rag.

  5. Seal your cork floor with a polyurethane finish.

Replacing Damaged Planks

  1. Remove any floor molding from around the edge of your cork planks, if necessary.

  2. Unsnap the plank you are replacing from the adjacent planks.

  3. Snap the replacement plank into place.

  4. Reattach any molding along the walls.