Flooring Installation

Bamboo Flooring Installation Service

Bamboo Refined offer a variety of high quality bamboo flooring. We specialise in installation of our bamboo flooring products.

If you are a DIY Handyman, we offer the following instructions for the installation of our bamboo flooring.

Please read and follow our installation instructions carefully to ensure best results.

Pre-installation Considerations

• Examine flooring regarding grade, style, quality and straightness in a well-lit surrounding
• Avoid storing bamboo flooring for a long period on concrete or close to outside walls
• All major construction work involving any moist substances should be completed before installing bamboo flooring
• We do not recommend installation in bathrooms, laundries or wet areas unless sub-floor as well as bamboo floor has been sealed beforehand

Acceptable Sub-Floor Types

• Plywood (min 10mm)
• Existing wood floor
• Resilient tile and sheet vinyl
• Underlay grade particle board
• Concrete slab
• Ceramic tile

Notes to Installing on Sub-Floors

• Sub-fllo must be cleaned thoroughly and any grease, paint, sealer, wax, old coating, adhesive or other substances removed.
• “Roughing up” of surface (sanding or grinding) may be necessary to improve glue adhesion when bamboo flooring is to be glued.
• Sub-floor surface uneveness or variation must not exceed 5mm per metre
• Ensure that sub-floor always remains dry. We suggest an initial moisture meter test on new concrete or suspect areas. Moisture not to exceed 4%.
• Apply an approved moisture barrier (recommend “Bostik – Moisture Seal”) onto concrete not fully cured or where moisture may appear from below
• Concrete sub-floors must be properly cured and moisture tested. If moisture meter is not available, tape a 600mm square piece of clear plastic to concrete slab, forming and airtight seal. Check that no condensation has formed under plastic after 24-48 hrs
• Concrete must be sound, smooth and with a maximum variation of 5mm per metre
• If you have “floor squeaks” cure them before covering with bamboo flooring, by screwing or nailing sub flooring securely
• Particle board does not provide adequate holding of nails, and should therefore not be used as a sub-floor for nailing to
• Bamboo flooring material should be aired and conditioned at normal room temperature for 72 Hrs prior to installation
• Where bamboo floor is to glued to a full sub-floor (eg. concrete or ply), we recomend using “ULTRASET Polyurethane Flooring Adhesive”
• If bamboo floor is to be glued to batons or joists, we recommend the use of “GRASP Polyurethane Adhesive”

Laying Bamboo Flooring

• Lay out flooring for visual selection. The careful placement of colour and grain will enhance the beauty of the finished floor
• Check boards and tongue and grooves for irregularities
• Ensure boards used for initial runs are straight
• Door casing should be undercut or notched so that flooring will fit underneath
• Begin each row of boards from the same end of the room
• Ensure an expansion joint is left at a maximum of every 6 meters
• Leave room for expansion against solid walls
• First row should be laid parallel to the longest wall
• Secure first row by wedging or nailing
• If “blind” nailing, nails should be placed directly above the tongue at a 45-50 degree angle
• Nails/fasteners should be no more than 400mm apart and no less than 150mm from the end
• Pre-drilling for nails may be required for best results
• Counter-sink any face nails below surface of floor and fill with matching wood putty
• Place wedging between wall and flooring to assist in accurate spacing
• Remember to “stagger” end joints from row to row and always start each row with a cut end which is longer than 200mm

Floating Bamboo Flooring – In many cases it may be preferable to “float” lay the bamboo flooring, as this method increases tolerance to sub-floor and/or laying imperfections, may cost less to install, and yet still is finished as stylishly and superbly as other methods of installing.

• Lay foam underlay first, placing edges together. Tape the full length of the joined edges.
• Floating bamboo floors need spaces for expansion as do other types of installations. Be sure to leave sufficient spaces for expansion. Small layouts or square rooms may only need as little as 4-5mm, but be sure to leave 12-15mm every 6 meters.
• Do not install floating floor “hard” against fixed objects such as fireplaces, fixed walls etc.
• Use wood or plastic spacers to aid in maintaining spaces
• Glue board joins by applying wood glue to bottom of the groove