Bamboo Flooring Installation – Preparation

Bamboo flooring is a popular green flooring alternative to hardwood floors. Many homeowners worry about the cost of installation, but the truth is that many forms of bamboo flooring are do-it-yourself friendly. Installing bamboo flooring need not be the headache that some imagine it to be. Following these straightforward installation instructions will assure you of a fuss-free bamboo floor installation which will maximize the enjoyment of your bamboo flooring.

Acclimation of Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring should acclimate in the area where it is going to be installed. This means the floor boards must be exposed and left for a period of time in the site to let it adjust to moisture and humidity levels there. This will ensure that the boards will fit properly in the room you will install it in and not shrink or swell. This allows the greatest flexibility for the floor when natural changes in humidity and temperature occur in your home.

Getting Ready to Install Your Bamboo Floor
Even before installing bamboo flooring, there are vital steps to take into account. Bamboo flooring boards have to undergo a period of acclimation to prepare them for installation.
Moisture testing in the installation site should be done. Proper floor preparation must be another part of the preliminary stages when seeking to install a bamboo floor.
Without this preparation, the long-term results may be less than what is hoped for. It may also void any manufacturers warranties to overlook the preparatory phase.
Moisture Testing for Bamboo Flooring Installation
Moisture testing is a must for hardwood floor installations, and it is also applicable to bamboo floor installations. Knowing the moisture levels in a room will help determine whether a type of flooring is indeed suitable for installation there. Not knowing a room’s moisture level can be disastrous when installing bamboo flooring. For instance, high moisture levels can make the flooring boards rise and buckle.

Subfloor Preparation for Bamboo Flooring Installation
Other floor preparations include evening out the surface of the subfloor, whether it is wood or concrete, to ensure a level surface once the bamboo flooring has been installed. Care must be taken to ensure that it is free of debris such as dust, nails and old staples and the subfloor must be dry. The reason for doing this is to ensure that adhesives will bond well with the subfloor, and that moisture is eliminated to avoid future decaying of the floor board.

Examine Your Bamboo Flooring
After making sure that the surfaces are clean, the next thing to do is to examine the bamboo flooring boards for grade, color, finish, and quality. This is also the time to examine for defects, as you don’t want to lay down defective floor boards. The next thing you do is to measure the room and divide by the number of boards, then lay out the flooring prior to installation to see the placement of each board with regards to color and grain.

This will help you make the correct placement for each board to ensure an even finish. Remember to include a 5% cutting allowance when purchasing flooring to allow for expansion due to moisture and humidity conditions in a room. This will ensure a perfect fit on your bamboo flooring installation and prevent unsightly buckling and rising.