Installing Bamboo Flooring - Comments
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HI IAM RESPONDING BACK TO YOU W/ SOME MORE INFO AS YOU ASKED FOR....IT HAS A PATCH OF CONCRETE IN 1 AREA & JUST THE WOOD FLOOR IS @ DIFFERENT LEVELS. THANK U 4 RESPONDING, STACY
STACY at September 26, 2007 06:51 AM
Posted by: STACY at September 26, 2007 06:51 AMYou need to get rid of the concrete blobs so the subfloor, which is probably OSB (oriented strand board) or plywood, is even. If you have a warped subfloor you may want to fill the depressions in with thin layers mastic or glue, built up until the floor is level.
If you put effort into making the floor level you'll be more content with the bamboo installation. Don't skip this preparation step! It may slow down the actual installation and you may live in a work zone longer than you want, but it's well worth the hassle, inconvenience and effort.
The Flooring Lady at September 26, 2007 03:06 PM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at September 26, 2007 03:06 PMWe had a professional floor installation done one year ago on concrete using bamboo flooring. We live in California where we have only had a few drops of rain in the past two years. The concrete was tested with a meter and was 3 or under everywhere the floor was to be installed. The floor slowly started warping about six months out, now a year later, we have a huge bubble in the middle of the living room and long areas of lifting and warping. We repiped the house before the floor was laid. We have had two leak dectection experts look for leaks and perform leak dectection tests. They both say there are no leaks. The floor was installed with a Franklin vapor barrier. Their rep came out and said they do not warrantee their barrier with bamboo, ever. Finally, our installer did a sodium chloride test and it came out as a 6. This was done two days after a very heavy rainfall, the first in many months. The installer still insists we must have a slab leak. My husband and I are desperate. We keep going round and round in circles and don't know what to do. Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Chris at September 27, 2007 08:57 PM
Posted by: Chris at September 27, 2007 08:57 PMI will be installing a bamboo floor over a concrete using the glue method I need to install an underlayment that can be a moisture barrier,vapour barrier and has a good noice barrier as i live in a highrise building could you tell me what is the best option sould I be applying the glue over the underlayment.
Thank you
Birol at October 16, 2007 09:19 AM
Posted by: Birol at October 16, 2007 09:19 AMYou might try installing cork underlayment first. It will add to your flooring cost, but it will help reduce noise transfer. The glue will act as the vapor barrier.
Let us know what you did and the results.
You'll love your bamboo floor.
The Flooring Lady at October 26, 2007 06:58 AM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at October 26, 2007 06:58 AMHi,I live in norhtern Ohio,and would like to install bamboo in front foyer that will carry into bathroom.I will be going over concrete slab.I assume the glue down method will be best suited for this application,anything else I should know before installing??
Tim at November 15, 2007 08:26 AM
Posted by: Tim at November 15, 2007 08:26 AMYou could also consider doing a floating floor.
Consider cork or foam insulation below the bamboo.
You might also consider having the bamboo sanded and sealed after installation to give it a more durable finish and to fill in the cracks that naturally happen between the bamboo boards.
I personally like the look of the bamboo stretching from the foyer to the bathroom without an expansion strip, but some manufacturers want you to put in an expansion strip as you change rooms. I didn't do that and am having no problems.
The Flooring Lady at November 15, 2007 09:06 AM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at November 15, 2007 09:06 AMI just had stranded (woven) bamboo installed and my-oh-my is it gorgeous. I referred to your website to learn about removing glue with mineral spirits. Thank you. Now I am alarmed to read that I may have needed a vapor/moisture barrier. I live in Austin, Texas and we have lots of humidity. Right now I am using a de-humidifier. Of course, I cannot get the installer to call me back. The flooring was installed with mapei glue directly on a 30-40 year old cement slab. Anyway, my question is this....without having a vapor/moisture barrier installed, is my floor going to warp and bubble and generally become a waste of $2000?? -Worried in Austin-
Leigh at November 18, 2007 09:05 AM
Posted by: Leigh at November 18, 2007 09:05 AMThe glue will act as a vapor barrier. Humidity isn't a problem with your bamboo floor, though a high water table might be. If you don't have a high water table you should be fine with the installation you have. The humidity might even be good for your floor.
One of the advantages of bamboo flooring is that it's engineered, making it more durable in the face of humidity, dryness, and temperature variations. Enjoy your bamboo floor.
The Flooring Lady at November 18, 2007 10:00 AM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at November 18, 2007 10:00 AM
I was preparing to install bamboo flooring in three bedrooms. I pulled up the carpet in one and to my dismay, there was old vinyl tiling, probably from the 70's when my house was built. At the time, I didn't know this, so I started to scrape up the old tiles, thinking this would be the best idea. I then went to Home Depot and was informed it probably contains asbestos and I should stop immediately. What should I do? Can I install over this old vinyl flooring? Since I removed a corner of the tiling already, how would I level it off? Is there some other solution? P.S. I am pregnant and actually my friend is going to be doing the installation... I was just helping to remove the carpet. I am, however, concerned about exposure to glue. Will I be ok if I am in a different room if the room is well-ventilated with door shut?
Thanks!
Keri at November 21, 2007 09:58 PM
Posted by: Keri at November 21, 2007 09:58 PMComment Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
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