Bamboo flooring, when
properly installed, is a beautiful durable floor-covering
material. The installer must be careful to protect the
flooring material from gaining moisture before, during
and after the installation of the product. this installation
instructions are intended to help the installer produce
a trouble-free floor. Should an individual piece of
bamboo be doubtful as to grade, manufacturer or factory
finish, the installer should not use the piece.
Before
installation
The bamboo should be delivered to the job-site at least
72 hours before installation. The boxes should be opened
and the heating or air conditions turned on so the floor
can acclimate to its environment. Do not unload flooring
during wet conditions such as rain, snow, sleet, etc.
Moisture absorbed by the flooring boards will cause
them to swell. if installed before acclimation, they
will subsequently shrink back to their in-service moisture
content. this shrinkage may produce gaps, which will
cause problems with the finished floor system.
Bamboo flooring can be installed on wood sub-floor,
the moisture content of the wood sub-floor at the time
of installation should be in the range of 8--10 percent.
During building construction, before the building is
enclosed, the sub-floor may absorb moisture from direct
exposure to rain and weather. the building must be enclosed
and dried out before the installation of the bamboo
flooring. sub-floors, which are built with "performance-rated"
3/4-inch thick oriented stand board (OSB)or plywood
will produce the best performing bamboo floors. Also,5/8-inch
thick plywood may also be used. but 1/2-inch sub-floor
products may lack stiffness and nail-holding properties
for good performance with bamboo flooring products.
Buildings with crawl space foundations should include
a vapor barrier installed between the ground and the
sub-floor. This barrier will minimize the effect of
moisture evaporating into the crawl space environment
that can migrate through the sub-floor and into the
bamboo flooring. The vapor barrier can be 4 to 6 mil
polyethylene sheets laid on the crawlspace floor. Proper
air circulation is important to prevent moisture build-up.
At least two vents should be left open year round. Furthermore,
the building should be completely enclosed with windows
and doors installed prior to flooring installation.
Freshly poured concrete slabs emits many gallons of
moisture as water vapor into the atmosphere of the building.
Therefore, no concrete should be poured after the flooring
is installed, and an adequate curing time (minimum 60
days) should be provided before installation of the
flooring.
Installation
Bamboo
flooring should be installed
in manger similar to that used to
other types of solid hardwood
flooring products. |
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Before
installation,the installer must be sure that the sub-floor
is solid, level, clean, and dry. Fifteen-pound building
paper (tar paper) should be laid directly onto the sub-floor.
This building paper minimizes squeaks caused by small
movements of the bamboo flooring after installation,
and helps to reduce some moisture problems. The difference
between the moisture
level of the sub-floor and the bamboo flooring should
be on more than 4%.Bamboo flooring can then be installed.
Bamboo is a product of nature. Because of the natural
color variation in bamboo flooring from piece to piece,
it is important to work out four to five boxes at a
time to assure a beautiful blend of shading.
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