Who could have imagined using a cork boards for kids to decorate my son’s room would save time and money in the future. How so? Well let’s face it, children grow and their interest change. Ever since I was in high school I had a cork board to manage my schedule and organize my calendar. It was no surprise when I had my Doug I placed a brand new board in his room. The board was basic and used to chart his feedings and diaper changes. Soon I started to decorate it with pictures of family members and places I wanted him to be familiar with. Read more about Using Cork Boards to Decorate a Child’s Room →

How To Paint Cork Board

The simple answer is yes you can paint cork board. Painting cork is actually very much in fashion today, this is in line with the increase in popularity of cork as a material in general.

One of the restrictions of cork used to be the fact that you could really only get it in several variations of the same color, a type of brownish. While this showed off the natural beauty of cork it could also be limiting in terms of fashion and style in the home.  But in the last few years this has all changed and there are even some manufacturers out there like Globusand Jelinek who produce a range of colored tiles.

But if you want to do it yourself you can. So here is some information to help and guide you.

Paining Cork Board Tips

• You cannot paint over waxed cork. The wax is a protective layer and is there to stop the cork abosrbing liquids, as such it will stop the paint from taking. There are some primers out there that would most likely work if you used them as a base coat, but they are not your standard primers.
• So you would need to ask at your local paint store for advice on this.
• For cork that has not been waxed, like most cork bulletin boards, it is a good idea to prime it first. This will stop the paint sinking all the way through the cork. If your bulletin board is in a frame then take it out, it makes the job easier and saves having to scrape paint off the frame later. If you cant get it out of the frame then use masking tape.
• Once the primer has been applied and is dry you are good to go.

Best Paint For Cork Boards

Acrylic paints are best suited for this purpose and if you want a smooth even application then look into spraying it onto the cork. This can look very good. You must spray paint outdoors, never indoors for obvious reason. The paint does get into the surrounding air no matter how careful you are.

You can also use a brush to apply and this will give you a thicker coat, if you want to hide the natural color and patterns then it is easier done with a brush.

Your cork board will most likely need a couple of coats. You must always let each coat dry fully before applying the next. You will only be able to see what a coat looks like when it is fully dry, you can then decide whether or not it requires a further coat.

And finally it is always a good idea to add a clear, protective coat over the paint. This not only protects your hard work but it will seal it nicely.

Painting Cork Board Flooring A Word Of Warning

You really do not want to paint cork floor boards unless you have been in touch with the supplier or manufacturer to ask for their advice. If you do not know who that was because they were laid by someone else then contact any cork flooring supplier and ask them. Painting cork board floors can be a great, cost effective way to change the style of a room and give it a fresh new look.

Is Cork Wallpaper A Suitable Wall Covering?

In a word Yes, however people use cork on their walls for different reasons, so it is important to understand in advance why you are looking at cork as a wall paper covering.

Practically speaking cork is often used as a wall covering because of its natural sound absorbing characteristics. If this is what you required then you should probably look specifically at insulating cork tiles. These are thicker than cork wall paper for that very reason. They are produced for the purposes of not only providing an effective barrier against sound but also against heat extremities, i.e. keep out the cold when it is cold and they keep out the heat when it is hot. Makes sense. Read more about Cork Wall Paper And Cork Wall Covering →

Cork Flooring: Pros and Cons Of Installing Cork Flooring In your Home

So you are considering cork flooring for your home.  There are many pros and cons attached to cork floors and in this article we try to highlight the best and worst so that you can make an informed choice.  Cork Flooring Pros And Cons:

The Pros of Cork Flooring:

1) It is very green as in kind to our planet!

Cork is a completely natural product and no harm is done to the tree when the cork bark is harvested. There is also little to no damage done to the planet in the processing or manufacturing of this product.

2) A cork floor helps keep costs down

In addition to being relatively inexpensive, by installing a cork board flooring you should help to reduce your heating bills during the winter and air conditioning costs in summer.  Cork is a natural insulator so will not only make your home appear warmer but it will insulate against heat loss.  In light of the news on the economy today, this could be a reason why cork flooring is becoming increasingly popular once more.

3) Cork sheets are used as a sound barrier

As anyone with kids or teenagers or those that live near them will tell you, installing anything which helps to lessen the noise will have the dual effect of lessening your stress levels.  Even if you don’t like the look of cork boards, consider using it as underlayment for your flooring of choice.  Not only will sounds be minimized but your floors will feel extra comfy to walk on too.

4) Cork flooring is durable and easy to lay

Not only is cork durable but it is also long lasting assuming you protect it properly. You need to read and follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Cork flooring comes in either tiles or cork sheets.  Cork sheets are more difficult to lay correctly and best left to the professionals.  On the other hand, almost anyone can lay cork tiles particularly the adhesive variety.

So now we have seen the advantages installing a natural cork flooring can bring to your home, lets have a look at some of the problems associated with this natural product.

The cons of cork flooring:

1) Color variation

As cork is a natural product, it suffers from color variation which can make it difficult to install a matching floor.  Some people will say that it is this variation that makes these floors so beautiful but when you are used to modern products and homes with everything co-coordinated, it can be a little daunting.

2) Cork tiles must be acclimatized

The single biggest mistake made when laying a cork board floor is not letting the tiles acclimatize to their surroundings. You must remove all packaging and leave the cork in the room for a couple of days.  It is very susceptible to humidity and changes in temperature. Your joints will curl and blister if you don’t first let the tiles get used to their new surroundings!

3) Cork is susceptible to changes in the atmosphere

If you live in an area of temperature extremes, you may want to consider an alternative to cork flooring.  You should buy a humidifier if you live in a very dry climate.  Otherwise you could find your floor buckles which is not a very attractive look for your interior design.

4) Cork floors come in a limited range of colors

Ok so you can paint cork board but you don’t really want to do this with a floor you have just purchased.  As this is a natural product it tends to come in a variation of brown.  Some cork tiles can be quite speckled in appearance due to the way they are made.

5) Cork floors don’t like getting wet!

Cork is a very absorbent material but if not sealed properly you will end up with the equivalent of a bath mat in your kitchen or bathroom.  Thankfully cork is naturally mold resistant but still it is preferable to install the presealed tiles and to apply an extra coat of sealant once installed.  Check the warranty first before taking this step.

So now you underdstand the pros and cons to cork flooring.  But hopefully now you know the main ones you are much better equipped to make an informed decision on the flooring for your home.

A large cork board can be a great feature in a room. Not only can you pin loads of messages and reminders on them, but you can section them off for different uses.

Ideas For Your Large Cork Board

Large cork boards can have many uses, for example you can have a:

Kids Section

• timetables for school and extra curricular activities for the school year can be put on them, so no-one can ever be in doubt where your little precious is, and who is supposed to be dropping her off or picking her up. The kids section is also a great place to put up their chores for each day of the week, so they have a constant reminder of them.  It is amazing how a young child can remember that you promised them chocolate ice cream on Wednesday but completely forgets the chores they have to do that very day. Read more about Large Cork Boards →