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.
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
Acclimate
As with other hardwoods, bamboo flooring must be acclimated in the room where it will be installed for 24-72 hours to ensure it adapts properly to the temperature and humidity level of the room. If you live in an arid zone, it’s advisable to have the wood acclimate in the space it’s to be installed for even longer; you want the wood to be at about the same moisture content as the humidity level in the room.
Lay Out
By laying the flooring prior to installation, you can ensure that the floor color and grain characteristics enhance the beauty of the finished floor. Being a natural product there will be variations, and the finished floor looks better if you intermix the light and dark pieces, as well as the slightly different grains.
Warranty
Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions to protect your warranty.
Tapping Block
To avoid fracturing the flooring edge, use a tapping block to hit the bamboo, or a rubber-headed mallet. Never hit the bamboo flooring directly.
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Base Molding
Remove any base molding (aka baseboard or toe kick) and door thresholds before installation. Leave 1/4-1/2″ expansion space between walls, cabinets, etc. using plastic or wood spacers to accommodate expansion due to changes in moisture level. These spaces will be covered when base moldings are reinstalled.
Wood Sub-Floor: Additional Preparation
Clean and Smooth Surface
The wood sub-floor must be clean and free of all wax, grease, paint, etc. To ensure a smooth, even surface, sand the wood sub-flooring, and remove dust with vacuum and damp rag. If the floor isn’t level, sand down the high spots and fill in the low spots.
Secure
To eliminate squeaks, nail or screw the sub-flooring every six inches. This is well worth the effort because squeaking floors are a nuisance.
Moisture
As recommended by the manufacturer, add a moisture barrier.
Concrete: Additional Preparation
Clean and Dry
The cement must be clean and free of all oil, stains, dust and debris, and must have all cracks and holes filled with patching material. Do not install on concrete unless it will stay dry during all seasons. Using a moisture meter, check the moisture levels in both the concrete and bamboo flooring. The difference between the two must be less than 3 percent (or 3 lbs. per 1,000 square feet, using a calcium chloride test).
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Moisture Treatment
Treat for moisture per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Vinyl: Additional Preparation
Clean and Dry
Make sure the vinyl is in good condition, clean, level and well bonded to the sub-floor.
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.
Why should you opt for bamboo flooring instead of more traditional options like oak? We like bamboo because it’s environmentally friendly, quick to grow and adds an attractive contemporary look to your floor. It’s also durable enough to last for a long time as long as it’s installed correctly.
How to Put Your Bamboo Flooring In
Bamboo flooring installation isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds – just laying down flooring – simply because a good-looking floor should run perfectly parallel to your walls and improper installation can actually reduce its durability. Most people prefer to hire a professional for exactly this reason.
However, it usually takes less than a day and you’d be surprised by how much a better-looking floor can improve the overall appearance of a room. If you decide to do it yourself, it’s usually cheaper but you also should make sure to do it right the first time so that your bamboo flooring remains attractive for a long period of time.
Step 1: Create a reference for laying down the first few rows
This is usually done by drawing out a reference line that runs parallel to either the exterior wall, which is usually the straightest, or the longest wall in the room and then laying down a batten board that’s perfectly parallel to either the exterior wall or the longest wall in the room.
This provides a reference guide to putting down the first few rows and will be removed once they’re in place.
Step 2: Start putting in flooring
Use an 18-inch nail driver to secure the shoulder of the first board. The nails should go in at an angle so they don’t interfere with putting in subsequent boards. If a different type of flooring borders the new bamboo flooring installation, leave a one-inch gap between the existing flooring and the new. This leaves room for a transition strip and avoids damage to existing flooring.
Step 3: Add another row of planks
Before you start with the next row of planks, make sure everything is straight and lined up with the batten board. The next row should start with a shorter segment of wood to stagger the seams.
This reduces wear and tear on the ends of the wood planks so your floor lasts longer. Make sure the seams are lined up straight as you add the new rows.
Step 4: Remove batten board and add spline
Once you’re sure everything is going in perfectly straight and parallel with the walls, remove the batten board.
The spline you add in its place should be twice the width and the same height as the tongues of the wood planks you’ve been adding. Put a small amount of glue in the groove of the plank that is nailed to the floor and gently tap the spine into place.
Step 5: Add the last row
Now that you have most of the flooring added, you may notice that there’s a gap that isn’t wide enough for a full-width plank.
This is where you’ll want to cut back remaining planks to the required width and use a pry bar to position the planks. Add finish nails to the face of the board near the wall and use molding to cover the nail heads.
Step 6: Inspect the work
Actually, it’s usually easier to inspect the work at each step in the process because you can still correct mistakes before the work is completed. Every row should go in perfectly straight.
If you’re close to the end and things don’t seem to be quite right, look for where you might have gone wrong even if it means taking up a few rows and reapplying them in a straighter fashion.
Step 7: Take good care of your bamboo floor
Your bamboo floor installation looks perfect now, but you still want to care for it properly to make sure it lasts. If liquid is spilled on it, the spill should be dried with a dry towel before it has a chance to soak in.
When you mop, you should use a cleaner that is designed specifically for wood floors and the mop should only be lightly dampened. Floor protectors should be placed under the legs of heavy furniture to protect the floor and keep the furniture from sliding.
If you must move furniture, get help with the heavy lifting so you don’t have to slide furniture across the floor. Remove shoes or wipe your feet before walking on the floor when you come in from outside. If you wear high heels, avoid walking on the floor if possible to avoid damage to the floor caused by the heels.
we recently installed a bamboo floor, pre-finished, in the master bedroom.we have found many finger marks and oily spots on the surface. What can be used to remove these marks?
Are the finger marks and oily spots *in* the finish or were they put there by the installers?
If it was the installers who added the marks, try using diluted vinegar to cut through the marks. Use 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar in a gallon of water (distilled water if you have lots of minerals in your water) and either spray it on and wipe it off with a towel or terry dust mop, or use a sponge to wash and a towel to dry.
Can I glue down bamboo over linoleum? It’s in good shape and well bonded to the concrete. My only concern is that the adhesive says it should be used with wood or concrete. It doesn’t say not to use it over linoleum, but it doesn’t include it either. Thanks!
Yes, you can install bamboo flooring over linoleum, or vinyl even. The condition of the floor needs to be smooth for a good installation — which you say it is.
Call the manufacturer of the adhesive to find out if they recommend it for linoleum and vinyl. And look around to see if there are other adhesives that will work there too. I also suggest finding a low VOC adhesive so you don’t pollute your indoor air and endanger your health.
Have you considered a floating floor instead of a glue-down floor?
We recently installed prefinished natural vertical bamboo flooring. Can you recommend a color/brand of putty or something we can use to fill the top nail holes and gaps? I can’t find anything that would work at the big box stores.
When my horizontal-cut bamboo flooring was installed the installer used a putty to cover the nail holes, and the putty has slowly come out, exposing the nails. I can’t remember what the product was he used, and I’ll keep looking for the material, but I don’t know if it was the wrong product or wrong installation.
I love my bamboo floors anyway.
Look at a furniture-finish store for such products and call an installer to ask if they sell such a product. And try MinWax products — they tend to be reliable.
Good luck.
I would like to install bamboo over lino on our main floor. There is a 1/4 inch layer of particle board underneath the lino which is nailed into the sub floor (plywood).
If nailing it down, is the particle board a concern? I’ve heard you are not supposed to install over particle board as the nails will not stick in particle board, but they should go through it and into the ply wood.
Can I install the bamboo in this fashion?
Assuming you are using a nail gun to install your bamboo flooring, that’s one heck of a staple/nail that would be big enough to go through the linoleum, the particle board, and into the plywood. Have you considered doing the bamboo as a floating floor instead?
Our house sits on a concrete slab and we need to replace the carpet and I was hoping to do that with Bamboo. We will have a pro do it but what should I expect the pro to tell me that needs to be done. Will Bamboo work over the slab?
Bamboo will indeed work well over a slab. Be sure to install a vapor barrier between the concrete and the bamboo. And do acclimate the bamboo to your indoor climate before installing it. Manufacturer’s say give it several days to acclimate indoors, but depending on your climate, you may want it to acclimate for longer than that; weeks, even months, could be necessary. Your installer can check the moisture content of the wood before installing it.
We have purchased bamboo flooring and are wanting to install in our bedroom. It is a concrete slab and we would like to use the plywood and nail down method. Are there any precautions that we should take with the flooring other than laying down a vapor barrier between the concrete and plywood? Is it better to pre-drill holes in to the tongues of the bamboo before nailing to the plywood?
The vapor barrier is a good idea. Another precaution I urge is to acclimate the flooring to your home, and ideally to your bedroom, for a week or more before installing it. Acclimating it involves taking it out of its packaging and separating it as much as possible so air can circulate around each board.
Stapling the bamboo in the tongue is much better than nailing it. It’s faster and easier on the wood. Come to think of it, stapling is easier on you too.
Enjoy your new bamboo flooring!
I’m preparing to install my new bamboo floor but I’m a little confused. Installing a floating floor seems like it would be much easier and economical than a nail down or a messy glue down but everything I have read about installing bamboo says you sould nail it down. I’m installing it over a plywood subfloor with #15 tar paper. Should I rent a staple gun or go for the floating floor?
First, where is the tar paper? Are you using it as a vapor barrier? Tar paper is a moisture barrier but not a vapor barrier.
Now to your question. I’ve not seen the comment you shouldn’t let a bamboo floor float. I know my installer went for the “nail down” approach — making sure to get short enough staples so as to not penetrate the OSB subfloor and damage the pipes for my in-floor heat — rather than a floating floor approach. But if you keep reading to not let a bamboo floor float, and your manufacturer advises against it, then go with the “nail down” installation.
And yes, rent a staple gun. It makes the job wonderfully fast and easy.
Enjoy!
We’ve finished with our bamboo floor using the glue-down method, and it looks great. But now I have lots of glue smudges and fingerprints on the surface. Can you recommend a good method of getting that off? I tried the vinegar you recommended, but that didn’t seem to cut through it. Maybe acetone?
It’s time for a delicate operation — cleaning up the glue. With great care, gently dab mineral spirits onto the glue until it comes up. Be careful to not get too much on the flooring surface so you don’t damage the finish. Be sure to wash the spots with clear water when you are done to remove all remnants of the mineral spirits.
When the glue in removed you may have to buff the fingerprints with a soft cloth– if they are just body oil and not glue smudges — to get the clean surface you want.
Hi-my friend and I are learning how to install floating engineered bamboo flooring, glue required for the joints. We are following the manufacturer’s instructions and using the recommended materials, and checked dry fit on several boards from different boxes first to ensure we have a tight fit on all joints (no milling defects, tight boards). We also checked that the plywood subfloor was level, clean, and solid. However, as soon as we start tapping joints together firmly after putting the glue on, it’s a constant battle to keep all previously set joints firmly together (as we tap hard to get one joint together tightly, another joint on another board gaps a little). It doesn’t happen on every board, just enough to make installation extremely laborious. Any hints or tips on how to beat this? Thanks!
You are showing me why my installer chose the nail-down approach. The boards, by nature of being natural products, aren’t going to be perfect. That lack of perfection makes for the challenges you are finding.
My suggestion, if you are going to stay with the glue-down method, is to have both of you working on placing a board, finding the happy balance between the two ends being in as tight as they can be before going on to the next board.
If you want to change to nail-down, you’ll still have those challenges, but it’s at least aided by the fact you are stapling the boards so they stay put.
Good luck. Let us know what you end up doing.
HI,
WE HAD LAMINITE FLOORING ON THE UPPER LEVEL OF OUR HOUSE & WE REMOVED IT. WE WANT TO INSTALL BAMBOO. WE HAVE 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT AREA’S THAT ARE NOT LEVELED. WHAT CAN WE USE TO LEVEL THIS? SHOULD WE USE GLUE OR NAIL DOWN METHOD?
THANKS!
Are some areas not level because the floor is different heights? That can happen when the builder plans for different flooring materials — like carpet, tile and linoleum — and wants their surfaces to be the same height, so different thicknesses of subfloor are installed to accommodate the different heights of flooring.
If that’s the case in your situation, you need to install thin sheets of subfloor to bring the heights up to the same level across the floor so your bamboo flooring is the same height.
You may have to use something else to float the floor surfaces to the same height if there is a different problem than I’ve described.
But maybe you meant something else by the floors aren’t even. In which case you need to give me more detail so I can respond to that.
I personally am a big fan of the nail-down style of installing bamboo.