Ready to Install Bamboo Floors?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
If you're ready for a new look in your home, or you want something a bit more... exotic, then you might consider bamboo flooring.
I'm remodeling my home to make it more eco-friendly and "green." Green means that I want to use Earth-friendly products, materials that are good for the environment, and things that are more sustainable or even recycled. I want to lower my impact on our natural resources.
Using bamboo flooring is a great way to be more sustainable. Since it's a grass and not a hard wood from a tree, it can be replaced in just 4 to 6 years. The same amount of wood from a tree could take 20 to 40 years to grow.
How To Install Bamboo Floors - Step One
If you like bamboo and you're ready to install it, you need to do a little bit of preparation first.
After you remove the linoleum, vinyl flooring, or carpeting that was there before... you'll want to remove the carpet tacks, staples, or any dried glue that is left over on our subfloors. You want to install the bamboo planks on a smooth, even surface.
Next, you need to inspect your subfloors. If you've got wood or plywood subflooring, or if you have a concrete slab, you need to make sure it is level. If there are peaks or dips in the subfloor, it can put stress on the bamboo (or any material you use) flooring that will rest on top of it. If any of the subfloor is warped, cracked, or rotten then you need to replace or repair it.
If the floor is made of plywood, like mine is, then it was probably nailed down to the floor joists below it. More than likely you've got a squeaky floor and some of the nails might even be popping up. Get yourself some wood screws and screw them into the plywood. This will hold the subfloor down and give you a tight, firm base to put your new bamboo flooring on.
And it should stop most of your floor squeaks.
Next, remove the baseboards around the entire room. Most baseboards were installed lower than the height of the bamboo planks, probably to accommodate the carpeting or tile flooring. This is a great chance for you to also install more interesting baseboards! And perhaps some crown molding down the road.
Vaccuum up all the dust and debris from all your work.
If you're going to install the bamboo floors or if someone else will, it's important to make sure you pick up (or have delivered) the boxes of bamboo several days before you plan to do your work. And leave it in the room where it will be put in.
Letting the bamboo acclimate to your room temperature, humidity, and other conditions will allow it to adjust. Wood (and grass) tends to expand and contract based on weather conditions. To make sure your flooring doesn't want to move too much, after you install it, let it sit for 3 to 7 days first.
Next, I'll be installing the underlayment and the bamboo flooring planks.
Related Posts:
How to Install Bamboo Flooring
How to Install Baseboards
If you're interested in putting bamboo in your home, but don't want to try it yourself, you can always hire a professional to do the work for you. If you need to find a flooring installer, you can submit your request for free on ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast, easy way to find contractors.
Fill out a simply form and get calls from a few local flooring professionals. There is no cost or obligation. And it will save you time - you won't have to call a bunch of companies at random from the phone book.
They will call you.
I'm remodeling my home to make it more eco-friendly and "green." Green means that I want to use Earth-friendly products, materials that are good for the environment, and things that are more sustainable or even recycled. I want to lower my impact on our natural resources.
Using bamboo flooring is a great way to be more sustainable. Since it's a grass and not a hard wood from a tree, it can be replaced in just 4 to 6 years. The same amount of wood from a tree could take 20 to 40 years to grow.
How To Install Bamboo Floors - Step One
If you like bamboo and you're ready to install it, you need to do a little bit of preparation first.
After you remove the linoleum, vinyl flooring, or carpeting that was there before... you'll want to remove the carpet tacks, staples, or any dried glue that is left over on our subfloors. You want to install the bamboo planks on a smooth, even surface.Next, you need to inspect your subfloors. If you've got wood or plywood subflooring, or if you have a concrete slab, you need to make sure it is level. If there are peaks or dips in the subfloor, it can put stress on the bamboo (or any material you use) flooring that will rest on top of it. If any of the subfloor is warped, cracked, or rotten then you need to replace or repair it.
If the floor is made of plywood, like mine is, then it was probably nailed down to the floor joists below it. More than likely you've got a squeaky floor and some of the nails might even be popping up. Get yourself some wood screws and screw them into the plywood. This will hold the subfloor down and give you a tight, firm base to put your new bamboo flooring on.
And it should stop most of your floor squeaks.Next, remove the baseboards around the entire room. Most baseboards were installed lower than the height of the bamboo planks, probably to accommodate the carpeting or tile flooring. This is a great chance for you to also install more interesting baseboards! And perhaps some crown molding down the road.
Vaccuum up all the dust and debris from all your work.
If you're going to install the bamboo floors or if someone else will, it's important to make sure you pick up (or have delivered) the boxes of bamboo several days before you plan to do your work. And leave it in the room where it will be put in.
Letting the bamboo acclimate to your room temperature, humidity, and other conditions will allow it to adjust. Wood (and grass) tends to expand and contract based on weather conditions. To make sure your flooring doesn't want to move too much, after you install it, let it sit for 3 to 7 days first.
Next, I'll be installing the underlayment and the bamboo flooring planks.
Related Posts:
How to Install Bamboo Flooring
How to Install Baseboards
If you're interested in putting bamboo in your home, but don't want to try it yourself, you can always hire a professional to do the work for you. If you need to find a flooring installer, you can submit your request for free on ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast, easy way to find contractors.
Fill out a simply form and get calls from a few local flooring professionals. There is no cost or obligation. And it will save you time - you won't have to call a bunch of companies at random from the phone book.
They will call you.
Labels: Bamboo Flooring, Flooring Options, Floors
