Installing A Bamboo Floor

When installing a bamboo floor, there are some precautions that even the most experienced of crastmen should carefully consider. Anyone installing their own floor rather than getting a professional to do it should carefully consider many things including the moisture levels in the room you wish to install it in, the dimensions of the room, and what kind of installation might be best for your home.

First of all, if you're going to be nailing or gluing down your bamboo flooring over wood sub-floors or you're gluing it directly to concrete sub-floors, be sure that the sub-floor surface is clean, smooth, dry, and free of any dirt, oil, wax, paint, or curing agents that might interfere with your adhesive bond.

Be sure that the area in which you are installing the floor has a stable temperature and humidity level at least 72 hours before you begin installation. Make sure those levels are maintained after installation of your bamboo wood floor. Moisture meters can be used to check the moisture levels in both the bamboo flooring and the sub-floor before you begin installation.

Also, when working with bamboo hardwood flooring, it is a good idea to work out of multiple boxes at a time since the bamboo is separated by shades at the factory. Because there are no standards for this, the shades may be very different between the different boxes, and mixing boxes may help you to achieve a more natural shading effect for your floor.

Bamboo Floating Floor

A bamboo floating floor is not attached to the sub-floor. Instead, it is attached to itself, and is installed over various types of cushion underlayment. This is recommended for radiant heat or below grade installations, and is suitable with any sub-floor. The only kinds of wood that should be considered for floating, however, are wider engineered or cross ply products. In this method of installation, the consumer glues the tongue and groove joints of the bamboo wood flooring together over some kind of overlay. Then, starting with the first row towards the wall, adhesive is applied to the end-joints, and subsequent rows are applied by gluing the side and end joints and fitting the planks together.

Nailing Or Stapling Down A Bamboo Floor

Nailing or stapling down is the traditional way of installing a bamboo wood floor. It is a method that involves using nails or staples to attach the flooring to a wood subfloor.

Floor support beams must be marked in order to guide the installation procedure, and the location of the floor support beams should be marked on the felt paper with chalk. These markings will help identify where the nails and/or staples should be driven to make them connect solidly with the subfloor. The nails or staples are rammed at an angle through the tongue and hidden by the next piece of bamboo flooring you lay down. This is why this kind of installation is sometimes referred to as "secret nailing".

Each piece of bamboo plywood should be nailed every 8 inches and within 2 inches of each end. Once you've put down your starter rows, the next ones you lay down should be nailed directly above the tongue at a 45 degree angle. The last two rows will also have to be nailed down in this same manner.

Gluing Down A Bamboo Wood Floor

Gluing down a bamboo floor is very similar to gluing down flooring tile, and can be used for installation on both plywood and concrete subfloors.

Bamboo flooring can be glued down with moisture resistant flooring adhesive, but be sure to read the instructions to be sure you have the proper trowel size and know the set time. Water based adhesives, however, should not be used for this purpose.

Starting with the outside wall, spread as much adhesive as you think can be covered by bamboo hardwood flooring within 40 minutes. After you've applied the adhesive to the subfloor using the trowel, the planks should be placed immediately with the groove facing the wall. Be sure to allow for adequate cross ventilation during the installation.

Be sure the floor is still correctly aligned, and be careful that installed floor does not move on the wet adhesive. You may use a damp cloth to immediately remove any adhesive that happens to get on the bamboo plywood surface.

Within 30 minutes of laying the bamboo laminate flooring, be sure to walk on it to ensure a solid bond with the adhesive, although some flooring planks, particularly those on the boundary of the room, may require weights.