Replies

1. 
   BillHartmann | Feb 20, 2008 11:29pm | #1

   Have tried contacting the cork manufacture.

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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
1. 
   frugalarch | Feb 21, 2008 03:52pm | #3

   Like the post said, the only advice from cork mfrs is "use water based stain." They refuse to endorse or even name a particular brand.
   Spoke with a local cork importer who, without any prompting, said Pratt and Lambert Tonetic is the way to go. She said that in her experience any water based stain will go all blotchy, but the oil based Tonetic won't. She then recommends finishing the cork with a BonaKemi water based poly- has been doing this for many years with no problems.
   We'll be having some samples prepared in the next bit, we'll let you know the results.

2. 
   BillBrennen | Feb 21, 2008 01:00am | #2

   I did some sample cork tiles with water based dye stain, and overcoated with solvent based finish. The water dye stain was nice and even, but the cork does strange things with the stain color, different from regular wood. That is a good reason to do your own tests.

   We decided in the end not to stain at all, but used Waterlox, which imparts a pleasing dark amber tone.

   Bill

1. 
   frugalarch | Feb 21, 2008 03:56pm | #4

   Thanks for the info.
   We'll probably try both oil and water based samples, and see what works.

1. 
   frugalarch | Mar 10, 2008 03:43pm | #5

   After some sampling, ended deciding that the following process provided the best results.
   Had the paint store colour-match some Pratt and Lambert Tonetic oil stain on a cork sample to match the base colour of the existing hardwood parquet. We wiped the Tonetic on with a sponge, then, once the whole tile was evenly covered, wiped off as much as possible with lint free cloths, and let it dry overnight. The resulting colour was very even, with no blotchiness at all. It matched the base colour of the parquet well, but it also evened-out the appearance of tiles, losing some of the range of colour, the unevenness and the figure that gives the cork flooring its character.
   To address this, the next day we wiped on some Bonakemi DriFast oil modified stain over the dried tiles with a sponge, (we ended up choosing the colour Early American) then, once covered, wiped it off immediately with lint free cloths until the tiles wouldn't get any lighter. This second stage required about twice as much rubbing (and cloth) as wiping off the lighter Tonetic stain.
   Re-wiping with the Drifast popped the figure of the cork back out while keeping the even Tonetic base colour, providing an end result that looks quite natural (tiles look aged rather than stained).
   We plan to have the final install finished with Bonakemi's two part Naturale water based urethane for a colourless low matt top coat, in part for feel and appearance, in part to facilitate any future repairs (heaven forbid).
   When we do the final install and finish, I'll post some pics.
   Thanks for the help.