INSTALLATION

There are three ways to install strand woven bamboo flooring:

• Floating installation onto a concrete subfloor
• Gluing the flooring to a concrete subfloor
• Nailing or stapling the flooring to a plywood subfloor

Before you begin any type of installation it is important to do a preliminaries:

• Measure the dimensions of the room you are planning to install the strand woven bamboo flooring in and calculate how much flooring you will need. Then add another 10% or 20% onto this amount to allow for any mistakes you will make.
• If you are planning to do a floating installation or a gluing installation onto a concrete subfloor then you will need to prepare the concrete subfloor first (more about this later).
• If you have underground heating than you will have to consult the supplier as to which type of installation is best.
• Once you have the strand woven bamboo flooring you must take it out the boxes and leave it to acclimitize in the room where you are going to install it for a least 2 days. Strand woven bamboo flooring is a 'natural' product and as such will need to adjust to the humidity and temperature of the room prior to installation.

Preparing the concrete subfloor

Obviously the first thing to do is thoroughly clean the concrete floor. Then you have to make sure it is flat and doesn't have any bumps. If it isn't flat then it'll be necessary to hire a concrete grinder to get rid of any bumps.

If you are planning to glue the strand woven bamboo flooring to the concrete then it is a good idea to make the surface slightly rough so the glue will bond to the floor better. The concrete grinder can be used to 'roughen' up the concrete for this purpose.

Next you have to check if the concrete is damp. You can feel for dampness or you can buy a dampness testing kit which is more precise. If the floor is damp then buy a waterproofing mastic and apply a layer of the mastic to the concrete with a trowel. Allow the mastic to dry before proceeding.

Floating Installation on a concrete subfloor

A floating installation is one of the easiest ways to install a strand woven bamboo floor. First it is important to prepare the concrete subfloor making sure it is clean, smooth and dry.

Next lay the underlayment on the floor. Either cut one big piece of underlayment to fit the room or lay down squares of underlayment.

Then lay the first line of strand woven planks against a wall. Be sure to use spacers to make a small space between the wall and the planks to allow the bamboo to 'breathe'. Place the grrove against the wall and the tongue of the bamboo plank facing outwards. If one plank is not long enough then measure the gap and use a rip saw to cut a piece of strand woven bamboo to fit the gap. Put the cut piece in place using a pry bar. Remember to put a spacer at either end of the plank line.

Once the first row of strand woven planks are down then use a low VOC adhesive and put a thin line of glue along the tongue of the first line of bamboo flooring.

Start the next line with the left over piece if you used a cut piece of bamboo to finish the first line. Only do this if the left over piece is longer than 8 inches. Doing this will make the pattern of the flooring more 'organic' and aesthetically pleasing.

Once the second row is in place then use a rubber mallet to knock the two rows of strand woven bamboo flooring tightly together.

Continue laying lines of strand woven bamboo flooring until you get to the last line. Measure the gap and use a rip saw to cut the final planks to size.

If the door doesn't open or close smoothly then take the door off its hinges and cut a few centimetres of wood from the bottom of the door and then re-hinge it.

Gluing the Floor to a Concrete Subfloor

This method of installation is similar to a floating installation. The main difference is that you use a glue gun to place a line of adhesive on the underside of each plank.

As with all types of installation it is imperative that you prepare the concrete subfloor by cleaning it, grinding flat any bumps and applying a waterproofing mastic if the concrete is damp.

When the concrete is ready then start against the far wall. Lay a line of spacers against the wall. Put adhesive on the underneath of the first plank and then lay it against the wall with the tongue sticking out and ready to link into the next row of planks.

If there is a gap at the end of the row then measure the space with a tape measure and use a rip saw to cut a plank to the right length. Then use a pry bar to put it into place. Don't forget to use spacers at the ends of every row of planks.

When the first row of planks is installed then start a new row. If you have a cut piece longer than 8 inches then start with that piece.

Before starting a new row run a line of glue along the tongue of the previous row. When the row is complete then use a rubber mallet to tap the rows of planks tightly together.

Continue installing rows of strand woven bamboo planks making sure to put glue on the underside on the tongue, and remebering to use the rubber mallet to knock the rows together.

When you get to the last row measure the gap and if necessary use a rip saw to cut the width of the last palnks so they fit.

If the door doesn't open or shut smoothly then take it off its hinges and cut a few millimetres off the bottom so it clears the new floor.

Finally leave the new floor for 72 hours before using the room to let the adhesive dry.

It is best for your health to use low VOC or VOC free adhesive. Ask in your local homestore or DIY shop to find a suitable adhesive.