h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Mal, what's the floor made from?

The top layer is cork - click parquet, to be exact, where the cork is mounted on boards that just snap together.

Ooh, cork floors are supposed to be really nice. And cork is sustainable. I'd thought that if, when I grow up, I get a house and remodeled anything, I'd go with cork flooring. Is it difficult to clean?

I love the bold colors. Especially that gorgeous cobalt.

i noticed the cork floor too. very nice. we considered cork but decided on linoleum. but next time i may rethink

congrats all around

Yep, it's a lovely job - I really like the floor. Is it varnished or something? It seems very shiny for cork!

And if it's cork it also has the advantage that you can invite tap-dancers to visit and have a nice springy surface for them.

The cork is sealed with something or other, so it can be mopped (though not soaking wet) without any problems. But I think it was a water-based sealant; no noxious fumes, anyway.

It's nice and springy to walk on - and since there's no insulation under the house (except the filler for the subflooring) it keeps your feet warmer, too!

(I used water-based varnish for the cabinets, too, until *somebody* went and bought some that you need paint thinner for. The countertops are oiled beech.)

how much oil did you use for the beech countertops? sister and bro-in-law poured gallons on theirs before they gave up soaking in - the tops, i mean

We used three or four coats of hard wax oil, which you spread on, leave to soak for ten minutes, and then *wipe off* - that's the important bit.

well, bro-in-law used very thin and runny oil - and then toasted the tops

Toasted? With a ?

he drank while the tops drank oil

that's my kind of toast!