Bamboo flooring is a beautiful and attractive material that makes for a great surface, but like any floor it must be laid down in the right way to avoid future problems. Knowing how to fit bamboo flooring is therefore very important before you begin the process of laying it down. Reading instructions carefully and taking time to allow the material to acclimatise is vital for the material to be installed properly.
Subfloor
The first thing to bear in mind is the state of the subfloor. To ensure the new floor is stable, the subfloor must be level, with no more than very minor areas of unevenness. If this is a wooden sub-floor, then anomalies can be sanded out, otherwise you can purchase flooring underlay to help deal with the issue.
The second consideration is that your floor should not be damp, since this can cause rotting in the long run. Also, the sub-floor should be clean to ensure it bonds well with any adhesive that is used.
Acclimatizing
Bamboo flooring is more able to cope with moisture than normal wood, due to its adaptation to a tropical climate, where high seasonal rainfall and humidity are commonplace.
But the material can still expand and contract according to the humidity levels, so like wood flooring the planking should be allowed a couple of days in the environment where it is to be laid down to adjust to the moisture level. Indeed, a wise move is to treat the installation of bamboo as being the same as any hardwood.
One of the key things to do, therefore, is to allow a slight gap between the planks for expansion. Whatever the state of the room is when the planking is installed, there will be times when the level of humidity is higher.
Installation
The key to installing bamboo flooring is to follow the manufacturer's instructions, but also to do so with care and not haste. In particular, there are different instructions depending on whether it is an engineered floor or a solid one.
A floating floor may click together, or it may be that the floor should be either nailed down or glued. In the last case, use a recommended flooring adhesive.
Should the floors be nailed down, make sure each plank is secured evenly, in correct alignment and with the same level of penetration from each nail before moving on to add the next plank.
It should be remembered that failing to follow the maker's instructions may lead to problems with the warranty.
Any further work may depend on whether the material is finished or unfinished. In the latter case, it may need sanding, lacquering or polishing to taste.
Knowing how to install bamboo flooring before setting out is a key factor in getting the best out of your bamboo floor and following these tips should aid this process and pave the way for years of trouble-free service.
