Bamboo Flooring Installation

Bamboo flooring installation is no more difficult or demanding than installing other types of hardwood flooring. Primarily, bamboo flooring installation consists of nailing or gluing bamboo wood plants on to sub-floors, either concrete or wood. These bamboo flooring planks should be installed perpendicular to the flooring joist. Usually, bamboo flooring and be glued to concrete sub-floors, or can be nailed down to wooden sub-floors. As long as a proper barrier for moisture is applied, and the bamboo flooring planks meet the right dimensions, the flooring may also be floated.

Installing bamboo flooring by nailing it to an existing wooden surface is the best type of application. Nailing is also a quick and straightforward type of bamboo flooring installation. In addition to general ease of application, nailing the bamboo is also less costly that gluing it down in most cases. Regardless, it’s best to check with the bamboo flooring supplier you choose for their recommendations for installation.

Floating is also a commonly used method of bamboo flooring installation. This type of application doesn’t require gluing or nailing, as the tongue and groove system within the bamboo flooring is what is used to fasten the bamboo plants together. This also creates enough tension that the planks remain secure against the floor. Needless to say, this is one of the easiest methods for installing bamboo flooring, but it is especially recommended for specific types of bamboo and specific types of floors, such as heated floors.

Preparing to Install Bamboo Flooring

Prior to bamboo flooring installation, it’s important to note the conditions in your home. Are there extremes in temperature or humidity? Are there abnormal inclines or grades in your floors that may pose problems to installing your bamboo flooring? Taking note of these issues prior to installation could save time, expense, and frustration later on.

Once you have your desired bamboo flooring, remove it from it’s packaging to get acclimated to the temperature of your home. While it may seem like an unnecessary step, remember that wood contracts and expands depending on the temperature. If the bamboo is going to adjust, it’s better that it makes those adjustments before it’s installed. It’s also important to ensure the sub floor is dry. If moisture is present, installing the bamboo flooring should be put on hold.

In addition to having a dry sub-floor area, it should also be free of debris and level prior to the bamboo flooring installing process. If you intend to install bamboo on a wood sub-floor, sand the surface to ensure it’s as level as possible. A concrete sub-floor should be as smooth as possible, free of cracks and other blemishes. If there are any holes or imperfections, consider using a cement patching material prior to installation.

Another important consideration before installing bamboo flooring is to consider the coloring. Most bamboo flooring manufacturers will separate different shades in different cartons or packaging, i.e. separating the lights from the darks. Because the different shades mingling randomly together is part of the appeal of hardwood flooring, its important not to begin working out of a single carton, but rather alternate between the cartons.

A Closer Look at Installing Bamboo Floors

As mentioned above, there are three main options when it comes to installing bamboo floors. The options vary in their level of difficultly, and may require special tools to get the job done. These bamboo flooring installation options also depend on the type of sub-floor that the bamboo planks will be connected to.

• Nail-down Installation

When nailing down bamboo flooring, the planks are nailed to a wood sub-floor. This is traditionally way of installing bamboo floors and can be done using a pneumatic nail gun. As all solid flooring, including bamboo, can be installed using the nail-down method, it is one of the most common ways to securing new flooring. Prior to fitting the bamboo planks into place, it’s important to take the necessary preparations mentioned above, as well as laying down a sheet of paper or foam designed to protect against moisture. This sheet material can also act as an insulator, dampening unwanted noise.

• Clue Down Installation
  

The equivalent of gluing down bamboo flooring would be equivalent to how tile floors are glued to a concrete sub-floor. To glue down bamboo flooring, you’ll want to use flooring adhesive that is moisture resistant. One of the common brands is Bostik’s Best, but there are alternatives that will also suffice. The adhesive you choose will likely have instructions and guidelines to follow for optimal adhesion to the flooring. Just remember to be ready to place the bamboo planks soon after the adhesive is down, as it will begin to set very quickly.

• Floating Floor Installation

Although not all bamboo flooring can be applied via the floating floor installation method, it is one of the most popular for its relative ease of installation. Floating bamboo flooring installation should be considered for wider planks, or radiant heat or cross ply flooring. In this method, bamboo flooring attaches to itself, but not to the sub-floor. This is why the method is recommended for specific type of bamboo flooring, such as radiant heat. The tongue and groove joints receive glue, while the area underneath the planks does not, hence the floor is “floating.” With only a tongue and groove to contend with, this type of installation can be done relatively quickly compared with other methods.