How to Install Cork Wall Covering

Learn how to build and install cork-covered wall panels: includes step-by-step instructions along with tips, materials, and tools lists.

In Salt Lake City, Utah, the Stout family has transformed their basement family room into a game room complete with ping-pong, foosball and an area for darts. This room was designed to give Ginny and Steve a relaxing place to enjoy some family fun with their four children. Since the children use this room as the preferred "hang out", Ginny thought it would be fun to add a cork border to the surrounding walls to give the children a place express themselves with posters, pictures and even T-shirts. Ron is happy to help. To tie the border in with the rest of the room, they add decorative trim to the top and bottom of the cork. The kids are now nearly surrounded by their favorite things! Click Here For a list of what you will need in order to complete this project.

Use ¼" cork that can usually be purchased in large rolls at your home improvement center. This material can be glued directly to the wall, but it is not recommended for two reasons. First, the pushpins or thumbtacks will go all the way through the thin cork material leaving countless small holes in the wall underneath. Second, it will be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to remove the glued cork without ruining the face of the wallboard if ever decide to remove the border.

1. Determine wall position The first thing to be determined, is how high on the wall to place the border. Hold the cork in various positions and decide what you would like. Measure where you would like the cork and then strike a chalk line across the wall. The cork border is put up in sections or panels that attach directly to the wall studs. Use an electronic stud finder to locate the studs.

The final preparation is to attach strips of lumber or ledgers that will temporarily support the panels when they are being attached to the wall.

2. Prepare cork Trim the cork down to more workable pieces roughly the size of the panels they will be attached to. Use 1/8" untempered base masonite or fiberboard as a backing for the cork. The cork will be glued directly to this backing with contact cement.

Pour a small portion of a water based non-flammable contact adhesive into a paint tray. Soak the roller with the diluted glue mixture and then apply it directly to the cork. Both the corkboard and the masonite will need a coat of contact cement. A second coat is recommended for the corkboard because the porous materials tend to soak up the adhesive.

Once the contact cement is dry on both pieces, mate them together using a slip-sheet to prevent the two pieces from bonding until they are in exactly the right position. Once the cork is positioned on top of the masonite with the edges flush, then carefully pull the slip sheet from between the two panels and use a roller to press the two adhesive covered surfaces into contact with each other. To avoid bubbles, roll from the center of the cork out toward the edges. Repeat this process with all of the pieces of cork and masonite.

3. Installation Measure the first section of the wall and then cut one of the prepared cork panels to fit. Next, lift the panels into position and set the bottom edge on the temporary ledger that was installed earlier. The ledger will support the panel while tyou attach it to the wall studs with screws.

Use a piece of string with a weight on the end to line up with the marks made earlier showing the location of the wall studs. This will create a line guide showing exactly where to place the screws. Secure the loose edges next to the doorframe with a pneumatic nail gun and use a rotary saw to create the opening for the light switch. After the panels are secured in place, remove the temporary ledger.

4. Finishing touches To finish the panels, add trim along the top and bottom edges of the border. This will hold the edges securely in place while also concealing them. Also add a strip of trim to cover the screws and seams where every two separate panels come together. Measure and cut the trim molding, and then nail it into the wall studs with a nail gun. With only one day's effort, the Stout family transformed their family room into a classic kid's hang out. It didn't take long before the kids added their "stuff" to the walls making it clearly a room of their own. The best thing about this innovative border is that if plans change or if the family's taste changes, they can easily remove this boarder in about an hour with only a minimum of wall repair.

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