How to Install a Cork Floor

3. Trim the planks for the first course

Start laying the planks along the longest uninterrupted wall. Measure the distance between it and the opposite wall, then subtract 1 inch for expansion. Divide the remainder by the width of a cork plank to calculate the number of courses needed to cover the floor.

If the last course ends up being less than half a plank, you'll need to cut the first and last courses narrower to balance the layout. Add the width of the last course to the full width of a plank. Divide by two to find the width of the first and last course. Use a jigsaw to rip the first-course planks to this width. If you don't need to rip down the first course, saw off their tongues to create an unobstructed expansion gap at the wall.