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Bamboo Floor Installation

Different types of Bamboo Flooring products have various installation instructions.  Below is a list of all the different companies that carry Bamboo flooring, with their instructions. Or Click on each products page and you will see installation instructions there.

Bamboo Flooring Manufacturers: Award, Bamboo Natural Cork, Bamtex, Brighton Plank, Hawa

Award Installation Instructions

Award Hardwood Floors install quickly and easily.

If you're handy with tools, you can install a longstrip Award floor yourself using the float-in method. All you need is basic tools and an Award Installation Kit. Ask your retailer for an Award Floor Installation Video to see how easy it is to install.

You may also download the complete instructions from the Award Professional Installation Guide by clicking on the links below. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to read these files.


LONGSTRIP

If you've purchased our Master’s Touch, Bamboo, or Longstrip flooring, download Just Click It Installation Instructions. If your subfloor is Radiant Heat, download the Radiant Heat Installation Instructions.


TOUCH OF WOOD

Download our complete Touch of Wood Professional Installation Guide.


MOLDINGS AND VENTS

Download our complete Longstrip Molding and Floor Vent installation instructions.


ACCENTS

Download our complete Longstrip Accent installation instructions.

Bamboo Natural Cork Installation Instructions

You must read and understand these instructions completely before installing Natural CORK Bamboo flooring. In the event these instructions leave unanswered questions or if you would like additional information, please contact Natural CORK, Inc. toll free, 800-404-2675 or 706-733-6120 prior to beginning installation. Responsibility for the suitability of cork Natural CORK Bamboo for each individual installation cannot be assumed by Natural Cork Inc., since Natural Cork Inc., has no influence on the installer's proper application. Should an individual plank be doubtful as to appearance or dimension the installer should not use this piece. Any defect must be reported directly to Natural CORK, Inc. or to a Natural CORK distributor/dealer immediately. Natural CORK will send a replacement in a timely manner.

NOTE: Natural CORK, Inc. makes no warranty or guarantee of the quality of work performed by a selected installer. Natural CORK, Inc. disclaims all liability for imperfect installation of its product. Natural CORK Bamboo pre-finished flooring is best installed over a wood subfloor using staples/brads or glue. Gluing pre-finished Natural CORK Bamboo directly to a concrete subfloor may be done on or above grade. Do not install Natural CORK Bamboo below grade. Natural CORK Bamboo may be applied over in-floor radiant heating systems. Recommended equipment is the Stanley Bostitch Flooring Nailer. Proper use of this equipment will render good results.

ACCLIMATION: Natural CORK Bamboo flooring must be allowed to acclimate on-site a minimum of 72 hours in advance of installation. Open each box and remove shrink-wrap completely. During the acclimation period it is important that temperature and humidity levels be maintained in accordance with those expected to exist after installation. Optimum installation conditions are 70 degrees Fahrenheit at 30 - 50% humidity.

SUBSTRATE PREPARATION: Underlayment-grade plywood and man-made board substrates must be clean, level, dry, and free of contaminants. Optimum results will be achieved through use of 3/4” CDX plywood substrate. Fill any low spots with appropriate filler and sand any high spots. For buildings with a raised foundation, install ground cover of 6 mil polyethylene sheets over the earth in crawl space.

Concrete Substrate must be on or above grade. Concrete is required to be sound, smooth, level and flat with a maximum variation of 1/8” in 10’. Fill any low spots with appropriate filler and scrape any high spots. Subfloor must be properly cured and tested for moisture content. Slab must be properly cured. Flooring must not be installed if vapor pressure exceeds 3 lbs. per 1000 square feet in 24 hours using calcium chloride test method.

INSTALLATION: Flooring should be square with the space, running parallel to longest room dimension. A 1/2” expansion space must be left around entire perimeter. It is important that the tongue & groove of each plank fit together tightly at all seems and butt joints. Starter row must be held firmly in place using either nails or wedging. Use of proper equipment will improve overall quality of installation.

Nail Down Method: Once starter rows are secure, additional rows should be blind nailed using a professional quality flooring nail gun. Excessive splitting or cracking of plank tongue can result from use of improper equipment or incorrect equipment settings. Holding nail gun at a 45-50 degree angle to face of plank, insert nails directly above tongue. Beginning a minimum of 2” from end of first plank, space nails at 8” intervals. To prevent splitting, nails should not be placed closer than 2” from either end of plank.

Glue Down Method: Room, flooring material and containers of adhesive should be conditioned at normal room temperature for 72 hours before beginning installation. Use premium quality professional wood flooring adhesive in accordance with manufacturer directions for “wet-lay” installation method. Apply adhesive to substrate with a 1/4” x 1/4” x 1/4” square notch trowel. Immediately and firmly place flooring onto "wet" adhesive.

NOTE: It is important not to allow glue onto plank surface. If glue does spill or leak onto surface of flooring, please consult adhesive manufacturer for appropriate corrective action.

In-floor Radiant Heat: Regardless of season, radiant heat system should be turned on and remain on for five days in advance of installation. A radiant floor should not produce surface temperatures over 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue to operate radiant heat system after installation. When choosing an installer for application over radiant heat, look for members of the Radiant Panel Association.

NOTE: Any wood flooring, to include bamboo, will expand and contract in response to changes
in temperature and humidity. There should be no more than a 2% maximum difference in moisture content between the subfloor and surface flooring material. The amount of movement varies dependant upon temperature, dimensional stability of the materials involved, and moisture content of both the surface flooring and subfloor. Visible gaps at seems and joints will vary seasonally.

Bamtex Installation Instructions

Where To Install

Bamtex bamboo floors can be installed on all grade levels. Our floors can be glued, nailed-down or floated. (Note: Only engineered Longstrip may be floated)

Only engineered may go below grade and even then, it must be installed as a floating floor.

Bamtex^® Installation Guidelines

• Bamtex Engineered Bamboo Floor Installation Guidelines (PDF)
• Bamtex Solid Bamboo Floor Installation Guidelines (PDF)

Hawa Installation Instructions

Installer/Owner Responsibility

• Beautiful and elegant bamboo floors add value and beauty to your home. Bamboo floor is product of nature and therefore, not perfect. HAWA pre-finished floors are manufactured with high quality standards and in accordance with accepted industry standards which permit a defect tolerance not to exceed %. The defects may be of a manufacturing or natural type. HAWA the manufacturer produce bamboo floors, tries everything that is humanly possible not to allow any manufacturing effects into the boxes of HAWA bamboo floors and makes reasonable selectivity to hold out the pieces that do not belong to the specific grade being made. Prior to installation, the installer must determine that the job site environment, and the sub surfaces involved, meet and exceed all requirements specified in this HAWA installation Guide.

• The installer and / or Owner of HAWA bamboo floors have the final inspection responsibility as to grade, manufacture, and factory finish. The installer must use reasonable selectivity (common sense) and hold out, relocate in hidden places or cut out pieces with glaring defect whatever the cause.

• Whenever a board is nailed or glued, it has been accepted by the installer and /or Owner.When HAWA pre-finished bamboo floors is ordered, approximately 5% must be added to the actual square footage needed as allowance for cutting waste (i.e. usually between 3-5% depending of the job site and / or type of installation being done.) Should an individual piece be doubtful as to grade, manufacture, or factory finish, and not being able to relocate or cut off with its glaring defect, the installer should not use that piece, if he does.

• HAWA liability is limited to replacing defective material in excess of 5%, material only (excluding the cutting allowance). HAWA do not pay the labor or installation costs.

Product Description

• HAWA bamboo floor is 5/8”-inch (1.58 cm) thick solid, tongue and groove, random lengths (from 36-1/4-72-1/2 –inches/ or 92-184.15 cm), pre0finished product. It is a nailed down and glue down product with blind-nails (L or T type), set with a specialized hardwood flooring nailing machine, over a wood sub floor and Sub floor should be constructed of 5/8 inch (1.8 cm) or thicker plywood, when installed over 16-inch (40 cm) center joists.

• Installation over concrete is possible and requires a specific method. First, the concrete has to be tested for excess moisture. Second, you must add a moisture barrier system over the concrete and install a wood sub floor over it (minimum ¾-inch 1.9 cm plywood, or sleepers, wood sub floor should not exceed 12%.

• HAW Pre-finished bamboo floor is not recommended over radiant heat system.

Tools & Accessories

HAWA recommends the following tools & accessories:

• Hardwood floor nailer ( mnual L/T type)

• Rubber mallet

• Tenon saw, circular saw or hand saw

• Electric drill, with a 3-32-incm ( 2mm) bit

• Claw hammer and nail punch

• Square and measuring tape

• Pry bar and 5-inch (12.5 cm) putty knife

• Chalk line

• Flooring screws

• Construction paper or #15 felt floor liner

• Hardwood flooring nails ( 1-14/ or 1-1/2- inch )Screw shank finishing nail 2-inch ore reg. Finishing nails

• Filler stick and Touch-up marker

• Broom and dust pan

• Other pre-finished installation accessories like reducer, stair nosing, baseboard, etc are also available

Handing

• Take good care of your precious merchandise. HAWA bamboo floor has been inspected under strict quality control standards and have been carefully packed in cardboard boxes with vacuum plastic bag.

• These wells identified cardboard boxes and vacuum plastic bag provide good protection to the product. They have been palletized and stored in clean and relative humidity controlled warehouses. Each box includes a HAWA Installation Guide. And your HAWA distributor and dealer are a phone call away for anyrequested installation and maintenance tips.

• Keep in mind that pre-finished hardwood floor requires a slower and more careful installation to prevent damage to the finished surface. However, once this flooring is laid, the job is done. No sanding, no staining and no finishing is required

Temperature & Humidity

• The relative humidity level in your home must be maintained at 45% (i.e. 40-50%) throughout the year.

• Bamboo floor is a living material which reacts to changes of relaive humidity. It absorbs or releases humidity according to seasons. Consequently, its dimension changes.

• In summer, when humidity is at its highest, it is absorbed by the wood which then expands. This expansion causes the strips of wood to push against one another. The floor is cupped or “ cupping”. These variations can be minimized with proper ventilation, dehumidifying or heating.

• In winter, on the other hand, when the heating system is on, the relative humidity level in the house is much lower. The bamboo releases its humidity and consequently contracts or shrinks. It is then recommended to use a humidifier, in order to minimize extreme shrinkage effects.

• Floor new construction or remodeling, the heating system must be operational, and the house must have been hated for a week at 22°c (71°F). Plastering and concrete work must be completely dry (45 to 90 days old). Check basements and under-floor crawl space to be sure they are dry and well ventilated, in order to avoid damage caused by moisture.

• Flooring should be left to acclimatize at house temperature for a period of at least 24 hours at the recommended relative humidity lever.

• Using a moisture meter, available from your HAWA authorized distributor check the plywood (subfloor) moisture content. Moisture content should not exceed 12%. If the moisture content is too high, delay the installation and turn up the heating system, increase ventilation, or open the basement windows slightly.

• The installer an / or Owner has full responsibility for moisture testing to ensure that the wood sub-floor and the concrete slab (when applicable) are within acceptable limits.

Preparation

• For new construction and remodeling:

• Remove baseboards and doorsills.

• Remove the old floor covering (if applicable).

• Screw the sub-floor securely (illustration 1A) o the joists to prevent squeaking noises in the floor.

• Using a handsaw, cut the bottom of the door frames ¾ inch (1.9 cm) in order to slide a hardwood strip beneath.

• Make sure the floor is straight and level. Correct if necessary.

• Make sure the floor is completely dry.

• Make a sketch of the installation before hand to avoid unpleasant surprises.

• Determine the direction in which you will lay the strips. Avoid the ladder effect by installing the strips parallel to the longest length wall of the room. It is also recommended to install them in the opposite direction across the joists or, if impossible, at a  45° angle

• Determine your starting wall and/ or location

• Sweep the sub-floor clean.

• Install a #15 felt floor liner or construction paper.

Step by Step

• Using a chalk line, draw a guide line parallel at 3-inch (7.5cm) of the starting wall for the strips of 2 ¼ -inch (5.7 cm) wide, or 4-inch (10 cm) for strips of 3 ¼-inch (8.2 cm) wide, considering the ½-inch (1.3cm) minimum expansion space between the wall and the first strip, and another ¼-inch (6 mm) for the tongue. This guide line must be at a 90° angle to the adjacent wall.

• It is very important to start straight and square. Select the strips, for the first 3 rows, and lay them out on the floor in the general pattern in which they will be installed. The straightest strips should be used for these first three rows of the floor.

• Always selects your strips with care. Those with flaws must be re-cut. The more deeply colored strips should be installed where they are less visible (i.e. in a closet or under the refrigerator).

• The first rows: Lay the tongue edge of the strip on the guide line. Leaving a ½-inch (1.3 cm) minimum space for expansion between the grove edge and the starting wall. This expansion space will allow the wood to expand freely. The baseboard or molding, nailed to the wall, should cover the expansion space, once the job is done.

• The fist row must be secured to the floor using screw shank flooring nails (or finishing nails). Drill holes on the surface of the strip at 1-inch (2.5 cm) from the edge. And at approximately 12-inch (20 cm) to 16-inch (40 cm) apart. These holes will make it easier to insert the nails and to avoid damaging the strip. Next, secure the strip in place using a claw hammer and nail punch.

• The first few rows must be nailed by hand rather than with the hardwood floor nailer because of the vertical wall obstruction. When clearance allows, the hardwood floor nailer which  drives 1/1/4 or 1/1/2-inch nail can be used to simplify and speed the nailing process.

• Measure and cut the strip the required length to finish the first row. The remaining section should be used to start the second row, in order to minimize the cutting waste. The strip selected for completing the first row must be long enough to yield a remaining section of adequate length. Leave ¼ inch (6mm) between the wall and the end of each strip in each row.

• Start the second row with a strip of at least 6-inch (15 cm) shorter or longer than the strip used in the first row. This will avoid aligning or clustering the end joints (illustration 5). Set the strip in place, drill a hole on the tongue edge at a 45­­ ⁰C angle at every 8 to 10 inch (20-25 cm) apart, then using screw shank flooring nails, secure it in place.

• The subsequent rows: The subsequent rows must be installed in the same manner. This time by using he hardwood floor nailer when you have wall obstruction clearance. Don’t be afraid to waste a few strips in order to determine the strength requested to nails, secure it in place.

• See the hardwood floor nailing tips below: Lay out 6 to 8 rows of boards ahead of work position so as to mix lengths and shades, ensuring also that the end joints are not aligned and that the floor pattern is aesthetically pleasing

• Complete nailing the working strip flooring row, before starting nailing the following row. Don’t damage what your hands have taken so much care to build. Sweep up any sawdust and bits of waste bamboo floor. Undo cardboard boxes and spread them out to protect the floor surface during al the installation.

• The last row: Again, because of vertical wall obstruction, the last 4 to 5 rows must be installed in the same manner as the first rows. The use of the hardwood floor nailer is impossible. The drill, screw shank flooring nails, hammer and nail punch will do the trick. Note: that you may have to cut the last strip along the wall. Don’t forge to leave a ½ inch (1.3mm) space between the strip and the wall for expansion. Floor the last row, drill holes on the surface of the strip at approximately 1 inch (2.5cm) from the edge strip, nail it in place like the first row.

• Finally: Install the baseboards, wood vents and door sill. Following the initial installation, vacuum thoroughly and lightly spray HAWA bamboo floor cleaner on the terry cloth mop. Then wipe the surface

• clean by removing loose dirt or soil. DO NOT SPRAY DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR. Always keep a few spare strips from your initial installation, for possible repairs.

Bamboo Floor Nailing Tips

• Here are a few tips to make your job easier, should you decide to use a manual hardwood floor nailer:

• Prevent any scratches and indentations on the surface of the board by keeping the nailer plate (basic) lean, free from dicks and debris at all times. Set the nailer down on the plywood or on a piece of cardboard, not directly on the pre-finished floor.

• By adopting a standing position while using the manual nailer, you will deploy more strength when you drive the nails in. Nails that are nearly embedded can be driven in place by using a hammer and nail set.

• Hold the naier firmly in place and hit the head of the nailer with the rubber end of the mallet.

• Make sure the nailer base is squared and sits well on the edge of the strip, to avoid damaging the edges of the strips.

• Regular inspect the hardwood floor nailer and it’s working condition to prevent damages to the strips.

• Pneumatic nailer: Air pressure should be adjusted adequately for each species of hardwood floor installed (always try a test or sample board to adjust preserve and check periodically.

• Always use 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 inch nail

• Longevity bamboo floors is directly related to proper installation and a lifetime commitment to appropriate care and maintenance.