Bamboo Flooring Installation

Bamboo Flooring Installation

Installing bamboo flooring has many of the same steps and procedures as traditional wood flooring. Installation methods will vary with the type of floor plank and whether the floor is a floating type or glue on type of floor. The manufacturer should supply instructions as to the details and specifics of their particular brand, but here are some general guidelines for installation.

Surface preparation is important in any floor installation. The sub floor should be completely clean and as smooth as possible. It is best to install over clean concrete or bare plywood sub flooring materials. However, some floating styles of bamboo floors can be installed directly over other vinyl flooring.

Baseboards should be removed so that the floor planks can tightly abut the wall. The base board will then cover any cut lines that may not be completely flush with the wall. All buildings settle and walls will become slightly out of alignment making it nearly impossible to get a good cut line.

Bamboo flooring is usually sold by the case, with each containing materials to cover a specified square foot measurement. The cases should be brought indoors, opened and the wood spread out to allow it to acclimate to the interior climate before attempting the installation. Even though bamboo has 50% less shrinkage and expansion than wood floors, what little will occur will take place within the first 24 hours. By keeping the room at its normal temperature the bamboo will expand or contract to the size it will most often retain in that room.

It is important to establish a straight line from which to work in order to have the floor boards appear straight in the finished floor. A chalk line should be placed across the room in the direction in which the floor boards will be placed. Again, because walls may not be completely straight, they are an unreliable starting line. Starting in the mid-section of the room and going back to one corner will give the overall appearance of being straight.

A tongue and groove installation system is as easy as snapping together boards. The flooring isn’t actually attached to the floor in any way, but simply floats above the sub floor. This is a good system for areas with high temperature variations, since the maximum expansion and shrinkage a floor will have will go unnoticed and without risk of separation between floor boards.

The timeless durability of a glue-on installation keeps floors secure for decades. The glue on flooring is a little more complicated and time consuming, requiring more materials and tools and may be best left to the professional.

If installing the floor yourself is a must, then the average do-it-yourselfer is easily capable of installing a bamboo floor in a reasonable amount of time. If time is a great concern, then a professional installation may be in order. Also, if the home or building is exceptionally old, odd shaped or if stairs are being covered with bamboo, professional help may also be desirable. Keep in mind that installation can usually double the total cost of installing a bamboo floor.

Bamboo Flooring, Introduction, Brands,
Cost, Suppliers, Installation, Maintenance, Refinishing