By Stephen Pate
PEI Disability Alert
January 15, 2009
Do not listen to anyone who tells you cork floors are great for wheelchairs. That person has never been in a wheelchair nor used one on a cork floor. An article by Pedro Arrias, Canwest News Service columnist, entitled “Home adjustments early on allow for independence in later years” is misinformed. It says “The cork flooring in this home is both attractive and functional, as carpeting is a difficult surface for wheelchairs to maneuver.” Cork floors are too soft and offer too much surface resistance for either manual or powered wheelchairs.
Flooring surfaces in a home with a wheelchair occupant need to be hard and relatively smooth, with little rolling resistance and no surface irregularities. Recommended flooring is full thickness hardwood, not including soft wood species, tile, treated concrete or other facsimiles. Sheet flooring works but will wear sooner due to the chair traffic. Read the section on slippery surfaces as well.
A power wheelchair with occupant weighs about 400 lbs for an average male. That weight reaches the floor over only a few square inches. Floors take a beating from wheelchairs no matter what contractors and flooring manufacturers tell you. Vinyl thresholds are crushed under the weight of a power chair going back and forth.
Installation must be heavy duty with the best quality sub-floor and Ditra. All sub-floors should be installed properly. Flooring screws that don’t connect should be removed and replaced. Hardwood boards will start to loosen up if not nailed down perfectly. Tiles crack with proper foundation, including Ditra. Do not scrimp. Think of your flooring as industrial use because that’s what a chair feels like to the floor.
Friction is the second enemy of wheelchairs, especially manual chairs which rely on already weakened people to propel them. Every bit of friction will cost energy and can result in muscle pain. Surfaces should be as smooth without being totally smooth. A wet smooth surface is a fall hazard.
A real world test for tiles is: wear your house and street footwear to the tile store with a few bottles of water. Pick your tile, put it on the floor, and cover it with water. With one hand braced on a study surface and a friend to hold you, try your different shoes to see which ones still retain adhesion. If you are unsteady, try this while sitting in a chair.
Generally shiny tiles are out but small nubbly patterns will shed the water and provide adhesion. Some faux slate patterns work. Do not use the glossy finish on any flooring including hard wood.
Other than all that, use cork for wine bottles.
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