The installation of bamboo flooring is much the same as hardwood flooring, but by using bamboo there are more advantages. This articles goes into detail in the process of installing bamboo flooring onto concrete.
Bamboo flooring features a wonderful wood look and a nice grain pattern with attractive colours. It is considered as one of the most beautiful, durable and ecologically friendly floorings and is a “Green” choice for people who are really concerned about the preservation of natural resources. Bamboo grows quickly and can be harvested in less than 7 years. Trees, on the other hand, usually take 65-80 years to reach their maturity. Thus, bamboo is a highly renewable and sustainable natural resource that is being utilized as flooring in offices, hotels, restaurants, commercial buildings, and high traffic areas.
Bamboo flooring has a high moisture resistance and requires less maintenance as compared to traditional hardwood floorings. Another great thing about bamboo flooring is that it is flexible and can be installed on a variety of sub-floors such as wood and concrete. If you have a concrete sub-floor and you plan to install bamboo flooring onto it, the wonderful grain pattern, natural creamy color and glossy shine of bamboo floor will totally change the look of your home. In order to install the bamboo flooring over the concrete sub-floor, you can choose floating varieties or can use the glue-down method.
For either of the above mentioned two methods of installing bamboo flooring over concrete sub-floor, you have to prepare you sub-floor. First and foremost, make sure that your concrete floor is smooth and level. If it is not, use a concrete floor leveler or foot patch to obtain a smooth surface. All you need to do is to choose a concrete leveling compound and apply it with a trowel to fill low spots, cracks and holes. Sweep and clean your sub-floor in order to remove any dirt, dust or grit with the help of a broom. Before installing the bamboo flooring with floating method, you will require an underlay first installed onto the sub-floor.
Take the dimensions of the room to determine how much bamboo material you need. Buy some extra flooring as well because it can account for material lost to cutting. Moreover, it can also be stored for future repairs. Place the material in the room where you want it to install and let it acclimatize for 60-72 hours. This will help the bamboo material adjust to the room’s temperature and humidity. Make sure that your floating bamboo floor is equipped with a pre-installed foam backer. If it is not, you need to install a foam flooring underlayment. Just install a single layer of foam to the sub-floor as it helps keep the noise to a minimum. All you need to do is to staple it in place with the help of a flooring stapler.
Along the longest wall in the room, begin installing your floating bamboo floor. It is important that you leave a ½- ¼ inch gap between the floor and the wall to allow the bamboo material to expand. Make sure that the tongue side of the first installed plank faces the wall. After the installation of the first plank, connect the next bamboo plank to the first by sliding the tongue into the adjacent groove. With a rubber mallet, tap the side of the plank before proceeding to the next row. To make the floor more stable and secure, stagger the joints along each row. Continue connecting planks using this technique as you work your way across the bamboo floor. With the help of a miter saw, cut boards as necessary. For the last row, use a pry bar to force it into place. Cover the expansion gaps with trim or base boards and nail these pieces into place every 6-7 inches using nails.
Before beginning installation with the glue-down method, it is a good idea to run a calcium chloride moisture test to determine the moisture contents in your concrete sub-floor. An ideal result will make a reading of less than or equal to 3 lbs. If reading is more than 3lbs, you will need to install a vapor barrier over the concrete. Remove shoe moldings and cut door jambs so bamboo planks will fit under them to create a great finished look.
For the best visual effect, it is recommended that you install bamboo planks parallel with the longest wall of the room. If moisture is a matter of great concern for your concrete sub-floor, it is a good idea to use a moisture barrier bamboo flooring adhesive with the glue-down method of installation. You can also use any high grade adhesive if your concrete sub-floor is not much subjected to the moisture problem.
Spread the adhesive on the sub-floor with the help of a notched trowel and start laying your bamboo planks. Leave a ½ - ¼ inch gap between the wall and the floor to allow for contraction/expansion of the floor. You can use plastic spacers to maintain this gap as well. Now, lay down the second row. It is important that you match groove to tongue as you lay each row. Make sure that no two ends of adjacent rows should meet. Wipe excess glue with the help of a cloth and methylated spirits from the surface of the bamboo planks. Continue connecting bamboo planks, staggering the joints along each row as you make your way across the bamboo floor. You can use a hand saw or circular saw to cut the planks to fit each row. After the installation, remove all plastic spacers and pin down the beading to cover the expansion gap. After the installation is finished follow your manufacturer’s instructions for information on how long you should wait before bringing back any furniture, rugs and walking on your finished flooring.
