How To Install Bamboo Flooring

This is an age of people going back to nature and the time to trim down carbon footprints. That is why people today prefer eco friendly homes instead of using blocks of concrete. Thus, the popularity of bamboo flooring is increasing with each passing day. Now most people consider it as a replacement of hardwood flooring. There are other reasons also for this popularity. One of the major reasons is that it is more environment friendly than any other kind of flooring because the bamboo grass grows almost within five years, and it usually is harvested repeatedly from the same mother plant, whereas for hardwood the entire tree is cut down. Another reason is that it is cheap and so, affordable to everyone. Bamboo’s strength, durability, and adaptability are other factors which make it a favorite choice for people. Bamboo flooring can be installed on both wood and concrete floors. Read on the article to know more.

Measure the length and width of the room first. If the shape of the room is a little complex then divide the area into rectangles. Measure each rectangle and then calculate the square footage of each one. Make sure that there are no loose planks or tiles. Bring the flooring into the room one day before the installation because the flooring needs to acclimatize to the humidity of the room. If the floor is new, you should make sure that there are no screws or nails sticking up. Also, lay only a couple rows at a time, so that you don’t tear up unprotected underlayment while working. You should measure the width of a single plank of flooring for installing the floor. Select the wall from which you are going to start the flooring and measure the plank’s width with an addition of 1/4-inch from the wall. It is important to measure each end and mark the location for the first row. Leaving 1/4 inch width is important because due to change in temperature the bamboo flooring may expand and contract. The gap gives the planks room so that they do not break due to warping.

One of the disadvantages of bamboo flooring is that it is noisy and thus needs an agent to minimize the reverberation. Underlaying the flooring with foam prevents squeaks, adds a layer of insulation and the cushioning helps absorb the sound. It also adds to the longevity. Lay the underlayment in the same direction as your flooring.

Then lay the flooring. The flooring should be set according to manufacturer’s directions. You should take the measures of the remaining space when you get to the end of a run. You can cut the bamboo planks using a power miter saw. You must make sure to start the next row leaving a 1/4-inch gap from the wall. You may have to rip it off on the last row of flooring for it to fit properly. It is good to measure the gap between the previous row and the wall. Then subtract 1/4-inch and do the cut.

Finishing Touches
Most brands of bamboo floors have matching finishing strips. It includes thresholds, recuing strips, stair caps, and transition strips. You can choose correct finishing strips and install those flooring items. To cover the 1/4 inch gap around the room use prefinished shoe molding. Make sure that you paint the molding before installing so that later you don’t have to crawl around the room doing it. Once the entire floor has been installed, check for misaligned joints; exposed, frayed and damaged ends; and buckled sections. Rectify, in case it is so.