Many ask us "how are bamboo floors installed?" Or "can we
float this bamboo floor?" With a great flood of
 bamboo
flooring on the market today there exists little information on how they can
be installed. Often there are no installation instructions with some brands
leading many to wonder how are these floors installed? Bamboo floors
are installed by the same principle as ordinary hardwood floors, but there are
quirks along the way some should be aware of.
With any type of bamboo installation, critical steps to
success should be performed before the actual installation. These
include acclimation, moisture testing, and proper floor preparation. Generally
the lack of floor preparation is one of the leading reasons for failure. In a
nutshell, all subfloors should be flat while allowing a tolerance of 3/16"
over a span of 8-10 feet. For more on all these topics follow our Before
The Installation category on the right side navigation.
Nailed or Stapled Bamboo Floors
If you have a wood subfloor the direct
fastening method seems to be the preference. However more experienced
installers prefer the use of staples over common flooring cleats. The
consensus is they seem to provide better holding capability without squeaks or
other sounds. For more common 5/8" solid products the
Stanley-Bostich M111 FS is preferred
with 1 1/2" to 2" crown staples, while engineered or thinner bamboo hardwood
products the Spotnail (Floor Monster) or
similar is desired with 1 3/8" or 1 1/2" staples. Some adjustments have to be
made with the Bostich to allow for proper staple penetration when installing.
Guidelines for staple down installations
should be similar to that of common hardwoods. Fasten every 6-8" on center (OC)
and approximately 2" away from each end joint. Always keep a good eye on
staple penetration. These tools are pneumatic and staples will not seat
properly if the air pressure is too low or high. Failure to monitor can result
in crushed board tongues (high pressure) that can result in squeaking, or
adjacent board surface dimples or bumps (low pressure) once the floor is
installed.
Floating Bamboo Floors
Too often we hear, "they said we could
float this bamboo floor." Not all bamboos can be installed by the floating
floor method, specifically solid products. Wider engineered or cross ply
products should only be considered for floating. Floating bamboo floors are
installed over various types of underlayment providing a cushioned feel. Some
more popular basic underlayments include three in one (3-1) types that provide
cushion and moisture protection for concrete subfloors.
Click or glue? Recently click or snap lock
floors have become popular with the DIY crowd in laminate, hardwood, and
bamboo. How long they hold up has always been on many installers minds. As of
this date March 21, 2008 we're glad to report click type floors are holding up
well but should be avoided near areas of potential moisture. Glued type
floaters require the application of Titebond adhesive into the groove
of the boards when installing. The consensus favors glued type floating
floors.
Floating bamboo floors need expansion area
as do other types of bamboo installations. Often misinformed salespeople
confuse laminate flooring expansion with hardwood or bamboo. Laminate
manufacturers use 5/16" as a guide. Our suggestion with bamboo; play it safe
and allow as much expansion as possible. Small layouts or square rooms may
only need 3/8" expansion, but if the installation flows into other rooms and
runs in excess of 40 feet or thereabouts, more expansion area should be
allowed. Do not butt or install any floating floors against a fixed object
such as fireplace hearths, columns and the like. Failure to heed this advice
will result in tenting or buckled floors.
Glue Down Bamboo Floors
Across our website you'll find we don't
consider gluedown installations for do it yourselfers. But we realize many
are determined. If considering such, it is important to use the recommended
adhesive! With many brands being sold without installation specifications
what is one to do?
Manufacturers that do make the effort,
specify urethane type adhesives such as Bostiks (example shown above).
Water based adhesives should be avoided! Our suggestion; buy the more
expensive urethane glue and sleep better at night. The others will cause
severe cupping within a matter of days and your new floor could be permanently
ruined.
Other Thoughts
Over the years we've heard numerous complaints about bamboo
floors and their performance. Often a salesperson
not familiar with the
product is to blame and not bamboo itself. Many claim bamboo floors are
extremely durable. Almost indestructible, harder than oak or maple and more.
The complaints remind us of the same when laminate floors became popular in
the mid to late 'nineties.
There are differences in bamboo hardness, an often used
selling point. As you'll notice on our other
bamboo pages not all products are the same. Some will be more consistent
in color from one board to the next while others can offer a wide variation
(example left).
With any type of bamboo or hardwood flooring, always utilize three or four
cartons of flooring when installing to obtain a better distribution of color.
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