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Installing Bamboo Flooring
Before installing bamboo flooring, watch an installing bamboo flooring video; you may decide to hire a professional for installing your bamboo floor. There are tricks for bamboo flooring installing that can make the job faster with better results. Installing bamboo floor over fir floor with no subfloor isn't much different than installing over plywood or OSB subfloors. If installing floating bamboo floors over slab subfloor, take extra care so you have great results -- or again, hire a professional. Bamboo flooring is beautiful and durable, and very much worth your consideration. Installing bamboo flooring isn't hard, but hiring a professional is worth your consideration.
Installing bamboo flooring over a wood sub-floor is no more difficult that installing other wood flooring, and many homeowners find self-installation to be a great way to save money. However, installation over concrete takes more skill and expertise, and may not be worth the money you'd save by installing it yourself. Before you begin the project, it's important to assess your capability and motivation to do the job yourself.
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Once you've committed to installing your bamboo floor, make sure to order an additional 7-9 percent flooring to allow for waste and cuts. Also, carefully examine the bamboo flooring for consistent color, finish, quality, and damage before you begin. As with all projects, read and have a thorough understanding the manufacturer's installation instructions, policies and warranties because the time spent in these early stages can greatly improve the quality of your finished product.
The basic concepts for installing bamboo flooring are the same as for installing other hardwood flooring. The sub-floor must be flat, smooth, clean and preferably dry -- especially if installing onto a concrete surface (and you probably should consider laying a vapor barrier between the sub-floor and bamboo. Most bamboo floors are not covered under warranty if installed in a bathroom, washroom, saunas, or other similar wet locations -- but check with the manufacturer you want to choose to make sure. Remember, bamboo flooring is a natural product that will warp or swell with extended exposure to moisture, and shrink with extended exposure to heat.
General Preparation
Wood Sub-Floor -- Additional Preparation
Concrete -- Additional Preparation
Vinyl -- Additional Preparation
Installation
Once your sub-floor has been prepared, your working line can be established by measuring an equal distance (the width of the plank plus 1/4" for expansion) from the wall at both ends. Once measured, snap a chalk line. Confirm your working line by laying a few rows without glue or nails.
The three primary methods for installing bamboo flooring include the nail-down method, the glue-down method, and the floating method. Typically, the nail-down method is used with wood sub-flooring, the glue-down method is used for concrete sub-flooring, and the floating method is used for radiant heat floors, though nail-down can also be used on radiant heat floors too.
The use of each method depends upon the sub-flooring and the manufacturer's recommendations. Regardless of the method you choose, it is vital to follow the manufacturer's instructions because they vary from company to company, and variances from these instructions may void the warranty.
Finishing
Bamboo flooring can be purchased either pre-finished or unfinished. If you've installed unfinished flooring, sand the flooring using a floor sander as you would any other hardwood surface. After sanding the floor with a coarse grit, repeat with a medium grit and finish with a fine grit paper. Directly after sanding, apply the first coat of finish to avoid moisture absorption. Apply additional coats as recommended by the manufacturer, and as needed for traffic. Pre-finished flooring is ready to use immediately.
[Note: pre-finished bamboo planks have beveled edges so that as the imperfections of milling come into play, you won't have ridges between planks. One advantage of unfinished bamboo flooring over pre-finished bamboo flooring is that the sanding done after the bamboo installation is complete smooths all plank edges. Then putty can be applied to any gaps, caused by the imperfections of milled wood, before the finishing coats are applied, giving a smooth surface to your new bamboo floor. With a smooth floor, there are no cracks or gaps to collect dirt. And, damage happens as bamboo is installed; there is minimal recourse with pre-finished bamboo, but with unfinished bamboo the sanding will take care of the nicks and scrapes that can happen.]
Comments
Hi - I just purchased about 500 sq ft of pre-finished bamboo. I have a second floor condo with a concrete subfloor. I ripped up all of the carpet and am finishing up the preparation. Since I'm on the second level, we have no moisture present at all. However, I think in order for the warranty to be good, I need to use the moisture barrier. There are a couple of spots I think I need to fill with leveling compound in order to make the floor perfectly level. I do not plan on using any underlayment such as cork. Is taht ok? Also, what is so tricky about the glue down method as opposed to nail down? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Matt at February 18, 2009 12:28 PM
Hi Matt, A good reason for using an underlayment is to muffle sounds that can be heard on the floor beneath yours. Up to you.
I'm not aware as to why the glue down method would be 'tricky' - I would think that it'd be trickier to nail down the wood on a concrete subfloor! Nailing bamboo can be tricky anyway, because it has a tendency to split.
Do be sure to let your flooring acclimate before laying it.
The Flooring Lady at February 19, 2009 10:47 AM
I have a below grade concrete floor (raised ranch) that was painted before we put carpeting down 8 years ago. My wife bought Morning Star bamboo engineered flooring and we want to use the right glue for the job. When i took the carpet up, there we areas that showed some calcium chloride deposits, but doesn't look like anything close to the 3lbs per 1000sq ft test that I saw online. So, do I need to put a moisture barrier down (like, vinyl or another Bostik product), or just go with the Bostik Best?
Jeff Hart at March 24, 2009 11:13 AM
Bostick's should do ok, it acts as a moisture barrier.
The Flooring Lady at March 24, 2009 03:53 PM
Hi I need help - I had a local handy man insatll my pre-finished bamboo floor, for some reason, when he finished I had white spots all over floor, He them sanded and polyurethaned the floor, It looks horrific. Do you think a wood store installation store or expert would be able to correct the problem? Please help
Kim at April 20, 2009 04:12 PM
Hi Kim, Can you give me a visual idea of what 'horrific' looks like? Any idea what caused the white spots? Yes, I think that a real flooring 'expert' would be able to take care of it but geez, it's really your local handy man who should make this right for you at his own expense. I can understand why you wouldn't want to deal with him again though. Small claims court might also be something to consider - take pics of your floor if you think you may want to pursue that option to try to get at least some of the money back that you paid for his service.
The Flooring Lady at April 20, 2009 06:10 PM
Hello Flooring Lady Just wondering if you might have any ideas for me. We are in the process of installing bamboo flooring. It looks greats, the packages are all opened and acclimatizing to my house. Now the problem begins. We are using a pneumatic floor stapler/nailer and the recommended 2" staples only go into the grove abit leaving the staple above the board at least 1 to 1 1/2 inches. This is our sample board. The air compresser is at the proper PSI as recommended. The floor stapler is brand new. Help. I'm ready to pull out my hair. My house is in shambles and I can't take the bamboo back. The store where I bought it from had no clue on how to install their own product. Not much help there. I've had 3 carpenters come to give advise. Nothing is helping. I can't glue it down because of the moisture barrier underneath. Any ideas for me. Tks. Take care
Darlene at May 2, 2009 07:55 PM
How long do you really need your staples to be? If you can get by with shorter ones, then I'd try that for starters. You could also try adjusting the air compressor to a little higher PSI. It is possible that the stapler itself is defective - it's happened before. Who manufactured the flooring? The manufacturer would be your best bet for advice.
The Flooring Lady at May 3, 2009 12:50 AM
Hi Flooring Lady, My husband and I just bought a new home that needs A LOT of TLC. To combat existing pet odors, we have painted everything-walls, ceiling, and floors. We were planning on installing Morning Star's Strand Carbonized Bamboo (5/8") with staples. Then my uncle who installs floors said the staples sometimes leave dimples in the flooring, and that the most effective method he has found is with Liquid Nails and finishing nails. After some reading, we are worried that we can't glue over the painted plywood subfloor. What would you recommend? Can we glue over the paint, or should we risk the dimples with the staples? Thanks a ton!
Cailey at June 30, 2009 11:44 PM
Hi Cailey, Since the subfloor is painted, I would not recommend gluing it. You could attempt sanding it but that's no guarantee. you are concerned about the dimpling, you could install Luan subfloor which is a 1/4" plywood over the painted subfloor and proceed with the installation of the bamboo from there.
Otherwise,I would go with the staples.
The Flooring Lady at July 1, 2009 10:10 AM
