How to Install Bamboo Flooring

The popularity of bamboo flooring is rising with each passing day. Many people consider it a replacement for hardwood flooring. This is because it is more environment friendly, as the grass of bamboo grows within five years and it can be harvested repeatedly from the same mother plant, whereas for hardwood the entire tree is cut down. Bamboo flooring durability, strength and adaptability are other factors that make it a popular choice. It can be installed on both wood and concrete floors. You can even install bamboo flooring all by yourself. Thus, you can reduce the bamboo flooring installation cost to a great extent.

Preparation of the Floor

When you plan to install bamboo flooring, the first thing that need to be done is to remove the furniture, closet and all such household items from the room. It will be better if you can remove the entrance door of the room as well. Take the measurements of the floor in order to determine how much flooring material is required. Buy 20 percent extra material as part of it is going to get wasted during the installation process. Preparation of the surface involves removal of the carpet or previous flooring, repairing of all kinds of damage like misaligned joints or loose floor boards in order to ensure a solid bamboo flooring installation. Finally, vacuum clean the floor to clear out the debris left behind after the repair work. Once your floor is ready, you should take out the flooring boards from the boxes and spread them all across the room in small bunches. Leave them in open air for about 3 days so that the bamboo boards get acclimatized with the temperature and humidity condition of the room.

Bamboo Flooring Installation Instructions

Bamboo flooring is very easy to install. For this reason, more and more people are opting for this flooring option. The main steps for bamboo flooring installation are as follows:

Step #1: The first step is to lay the pieces of underlay strips adjacent to each other. It should be installed in such a manner that they do not overlap with each other. This is laid for the purpose of reducing the noise of the bamboo flooring.

Step #2: Bamboo flooring can be installed either with the help of adhesive or nails. If you have a cement floor, then glue is a better option while for others, use nails.

Step #3: Now, it's time to install the flooring. Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully before you install them. You have the measurements of the floor and from that you can determine how many number of full boards and partial boards are required to cover the entire floor. Examine each of the board to check out if there is any damage in any of them.

Step #4: Determine the best starting point of installation. Lay the first two rows and press the planks against each other in such a way that the joints between them are properly closed. If required, use a mallet to fit them tightly with each other. Then take a hardwood hammer and nails and fix the nails in a gap of 8-10 inches. Follow the same procedure for the subsequent rows. Work in small sections at a time.

Step #5: When the flooring installation work is complete, inspect the surface carefully in order to ensure that there are no misaligned joints. Finally, replace the base moldings all over again. Thus the installation work comes to an end.

Now you know how to install bamboo flooring. To keep its fresh look intact, sweep the floor with the help of a soft broom and mop with naturally occurring cleaners. Use of rugs on the floor near the door can prevent scratches caused by dust particles. Direct sunlight can lead to discoloration of the floor, and hence it is essential to use proper window treatments to prevent the sun from entering the room. If a part of the floor is dented, then sand the area immediately to prevent further damage.