G'day,

having done this one decades ago, in another life, I decided to have a go at ripping up the old vinyl at the present place and replace it with cork tiles. All good, underneath is an ancient slab.

Purchased a mountain of tiles from the green shed and put them down with Dunlop Carpet & Cork, great product, easy to use but hunt around for metal spreaders - Mitre10 has nice small spreaders in pressed tin, just the ticket. The plastic versions quickly wear out on concrete and the glue layer gets thinner and thinner of course.

Finished with Cabots CFP satin, oil based, heavy stuff on a big brush but works well on previous experience. Filled many holes with Timbermate water based filler/putty, hardwood colour.

OK, all good, except that the tiles are total rubbish compared with what was offered in this same brand from the green shed last time I got them. I can handle having to sort them out into size groups, it's the surface finish that's the problem, they are full of holes and dings and ocean waves. It's to the extent that the first finish needs to be a screed of filler !!

Yes, I suppose they could be drum sanded at the risk of destroying the buggers, the point is, on previous experience, I shouldn't have to. It's meant to be a ready to use product out of the box.

Lesson is I guess, get your products from a specialist supplier.....

cheers,

Bob