HI ironcook,

I have the floor from USFloor. I am very happy with the floor, just keep in mind that if a little piece were "sliced" off the top layer, you see a lighter cork, only the top layer is dyed. I have a stain stick (from Lowe's) that is used on wood, it matches perfectly and I just dab it on. My color is not one solid color, it is sort of variegated so this works. I've only had to do this once, btw.

Ours was installed after the cabinets, because most of my cabinets are the original ones that we painted. It just goes up to the front of the cabinet, and there is a toe kick. However, under my fridge and the two cabinets that flank it, we used plywood that is painted the same color as the floor. Same under the stove. Primarily we were worried about the appliances sinking into the cork, and didn't want any issue with having to ever pull those appliances out.

I bought mine online from a company called Quality Flooring 4 Less. It is worth looking around and comparing prices. I know the local showroom that had it was about 2-3 x the price I could get it online.

Here's why I like USFloors: originally we bought just enough for our kitchen. And then, well, you know how things go....we decided to do the entire kitchen and family room. So I needed more. Ordered another large quantity. When it arrived, we realized during those few months they changed the product! Not just the color, (which I was expecting but we were going to "weave them together). Since they didn't change anything on their specs, they admitted they were at fault. They took back the original shipment, (would have uninstalled it if we had it down already) and paid to ship more, to my door. Previously we were choosing the option to pick it up at a truck terminal. So, I liked that them wanted to make this right.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

-Bee

HI ironcook,

I have the floor from USFloor. I am very happy with the floor, just keep in mind that if a little piece were "sliced" off the top layer, you see a lighter cork, only the top layer is dyed. I have a stain stick (from Lowe's) that is used on wood, it matches perfectly and I just dab it on. My color is not one solid color, it is sort of variegated so this works. I've only had to do this once, btw.

Ours was installed after the cabinets, because most of my cabinets are the original ones that we painted. It just goes up to the front of the cabinet, and there is a toe kick. However, under my fridge and the two cabinets that flank it, we used plywood that is painted the same color as the floor. Same under the stove. Primarily we were worried about the appliances sinking into the cork, and didn't want any issue with having to ever pull those appliances out.

I bought mine online from a company called Quality Flooring 4 Less. It is worth looking around and comparing prices. I know the local showroom that had it was about 2-3 x the price I could get it online.

Here's why I like USFloors: originally we bought just enough for our kitchen. And then, well, you know how things go....we decided to do the entire kitchen and family room. So I needed more. Ordered another large quantity. When it arrived, we realized during those few months they changed the product! Not just the color, (which I was expecting but we were going to "weave them together). Since they didn't change anything on their specs, they admitted they were at fault. They took back the original shipment, (would have uninstalled it if we had it down already) and paid to ship more, to my door. Previously we were choosing the option to pick it up at a truck terminal. So, I liked that them wanted to make this right.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

-Bee

thanks very much, bee. :) btw, how did you obtain samples to see at home? did they give them to you at one of the US Floors dealers or did you order them?

it's kind of interesting that lowes, sears, and walmart online carry US Floors products, although it looks like sears and walmart sell it through CSN Stores.com

it would be so convenient to just pick it up at lowes (only 6 boxes). unfortunately, it looks like they don't carry all the styles.

I have Wicanders, Series 1000, in color Tea, and I love it. So much easier on my back and legs and so easy to care for.

ironcook, first, I have no idea how there are now two of my posts....if you look at the time stamps...that is odd.

Anyway, I had samples from both a retailer and also USFloors. I called them to get a sample so I could destroy it. I think they have changed their policy now and won't talk directly to the consumer--they might want you to go through a distributor.

Bee, this is off topic from this thread but I'm looking for pics of your awesome kitchen to show to a friend.

But they're missing! Can you give me an updated link?

Thanks!
Megsy

Nevermind! Found it in another thread :)

1) flooring is going in after cabinets, to preserve the floating aspect of a floating floor. Cabinets and appliances are going on top of 1/2" plywood; in the case of the stove (where you can see under it) we've put in a piece of cork that isn't tied into the main floor.

2) I went with a craigslist special. A general contractor had redone a large yoga studio, and was trying to get rid of their overage- 6 unopened Boxes. The cork came from Lumber Liquidators -- Lisbon Van Gogh. The boards seem to be about the same quality of the various styles I looked at in local flooring shops (APC, Wicanders, US Floors). The yoga studio has had it down for nearly a year now, with no signs of problems.

3) no matter what you go with, get samples, take them home. There is no way to evaluate the color or design of a cork floor without putting it in the space and touching it. Decent flooring places will let you take their samples home. Of course, a lot of places aren't interested in 80sf jobs... I tried for months to get a quote from several of them, and was about to go with a cheap homedepot floor when 120sf showed up on craigslist.

hi bee...

i read your last post before, but i always feel guilty about bumping up my own thread again. but now i realize it is more rude not to respond, so i'm sorry about not saying thanks again.

it seems that all the US Floor dealers in my area are crooks! at least that's what the reviews say. so i contacted US Floors and they never responded. you must be right that they don't respond directly anymore. :(

i guess the only way for a sample is to fork over $10. i wouldn't mind so much, but i have a feeling the color is already wrong. (there's only one pattern/color that i like). so i will probably go with Duro Design which has more choices. actually there are 54 colors, so it's the opposite problem... too many choices!

turbogrrl...

sorry, but i missed your post before. thank you very much for the info. sounds like you got a good deal. i will definitely check the colors at home and have contacted Duro Design for samples. hopefully they will arrive soon. :)

Ironcook, you might also want to try Build Direct - they have a variety of cork flooring and will ship samples for free.

Here is a link that might be useful: build direct

hi ae2ga...

thanks so much for posting the link. i was really excited, but unfortunately, the fine print says that the minimum order is 465 sq ft!

it's a shame because i really liked a couple of them.

but hopefully it will help someone else. thanks so much. :)

just FYI - I have durodesign although I got the glue down.
Just wanted to let you know that they were great to deal with

They give samples in 2 stages - first they give you some boards with all the colours on them

I found it helpful to tape paper over the colours I rejected

Then once you have narrowed down your cholices they will send a further batch out - up to 6

As it happens the final colour i chose was none of the 6 so I asked them to send a sample of the chosen colour which they did

You will LOVE having cork

IRONCOOK--I bought my flooring online from Quality Flooring 4 Less. Had no trouble with them. They even helped me with the "issue" I had: We ordered enough to do our kitchen, and then I somehow convinced my dh that we needed to remove the 1/2 walls to the family room and continue the flooring into there. When I ordered the additional flooring (3 months later), it arrived and we noticed it did not match what we had--not the color, but the shape and size! USFloors had changed the floor! Since this was not advertised that it was "new", they took back the original (paid the freight) and shipped me more. The floor wasn't installed yet so it was easy, BUT they would have paid to have it removed.

My price was around $4-$5 sq foot. I had it delivered to the truck terminal and we went and picked it up. You can also have it delivered to a business in order to get the lower freight. I really had no trouble with the company.

Here is a link that might be useful: QualityFlooring4Less

We also went with Wicanders -- series 100, "originals" but in the "Dawn" color. It's just a few weeks old, but thus far we're very happy with both the appearance and the feel and "performance" (if that makes sense). Cabinets were installed prior -- by about 13 years.

We didn't do a ton of shopping or price comparison -- a good deal of web surfing and a bit of local looking, but we wanted to deal with a reputable local shop for both purchase and install -- they had samples we liked and the prices seemed reasonable, so we made the call.

GillyCat - We are having trouble finding someone my GC and I agree upon for installation of our Duro Designs glue down tiles - if you are still around on Houzz, can you answer some questions?