Nail Down & Glue Down Installation

GENERAL INFORMATION

Solid bamboo floors are natural products containing nature variation in color tone, grain, streaks, nodal marks and other characteristics. They are normal and it does not mean the product is defective.

We proudly manufacture solid bamboo floors within strict tolerances accepted by the industry, which allows for up to 5% defective product (natural or manufacturing related) based on the original bamboo flooring purchase. Be sure to order at least 5% additional flooring material beyond actual square footage requirements to allow for cutting and grading of material. If your installation will be on a diagonal, order 10% - 15% extra material.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

SOLID BAMBOO FLOORING IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH BELOW GRADE INSTALLATIONS SOLID BAMBOO FLOORING MUST BE ACCLIMATED FOR AT LEAST 5 DAYS PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. DO NOT INSTALL THIS FLOORING OVER RADIANT HEAT FLOORING.

EQUALIZING YOUR FLOORING

During the final pre-installation inspection, sub-floors must be checked for moisture content using the appropriate metering device for floors. All solid bamboo flooring must be properly equalized before installation. Solid bamboo is porous material which expands as it picks up moisture in most environments relative to the humidity present in the surrounding atmosphere. It is this movement which can cause cracks, separation, and warping of your floor if not properly equalized before installation. Solid bamboo flooring should be stored in the environment in which it is expected to perform, should be delivered to an environmentally controlled site and handled with care. All bamboo will eventually acclimate itself to its environment, reaching the “equilibrium point” or equilibrium moisture content. If the bamboo is neither gaining nor losing moisture, an equilibrium condition has been reached.

JOB-SITE INSPECTION PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF FLOORING

Make sure that:

• The job-site environment and sub-floor surfaces meet all applicable local as well as construction and material industry standards,laying the floor should be the last step of your Installation.

• The building is structurally complete and the job site is properly enclosed with all doors and windows installed.

•Installer must hold out or cut off defective flooring material during installation.

• Concrete, plaster, masonry, drywall, paint, wall coverings, and the sub-floor are completely dry so as to not raise moisture (humidity) content within the building.

• HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS ARE FULLY OPERATIONAL AT LEAST 14 DAYS PRIOR TO FLOORING INSTALLATION AND REMAIN SO THROUGH OUT THE LIFE OF THE FLOORING AND INTERIOR CONDITIONS FOR THIS ENTIRE PERIOD MAINTAIN A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 60-75 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND AT 30%-50% RELATIVE HUMIDITY.

• Exterior grading is complete, with drainage directed away from the structure and all gutters and down-spouts should also be installed and functional.

• Solid bamboo floors are not recommended in full bathrooms.

• If flooring is to be installed on a sub-floor under which there is a crawl space, then the floor of the crawl space must be at least 18”- 24” from the ground to underside of joists, a ground cover of 6 mil black polyethylene must be utilized as a vapor barrier and joints must be overlapped 6” and sealed with moisture-proof tape. The crawl space must also have perimeter air venting equal to 1.5% of the crawl space square footage.

TESTING FOR MOISTURE CONTENT

The determination of moisture content is an essential part of quality control within the flooring installation process. Flooring installers must know the dryness of not only the bamboo flooring, but its sub-floor and the concrete slab beneath it, if one exists. A moisture meter is a critical tool to determine if floor boards are dry enough for an installation to proceed. Moisture is one of the most critical areas of concern. Monitor the flooring and the job-site conditions throughout the preparatory period and the installation process.

SUB-FLOOR REQUIREMENTS

Recommended Sub-Flooring:

3/4” CDX Grade Plywood or 3/4” (23/32”) OSB PS2 Rated Underlayment with a minimum 40 lbs. density Minimum: 5/8” CDX Grade Plywood with a minimum 40 lbs. density.

CAUTION: Do not use particleboard or similar products, including gypcrete.

• The sub-floor must be structurally sound.

• The sub-floor must be dry and free of wax, paint, oil and debris.

• Replace any water-damaged or delaminated sub-flooring or underlayment.

• Scrape smooth and sweep prior to installation.

• The sub-floor must be level, that is, within 3/16” over 10’ and/or 1/8” over 6’.

• If the sub-floor is concrete, a minimum of 30 days drying time for a reliable moisture reading is necessary.

• DO NOT use gypsum-based (white) patching compounds. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for applying the leveling compound. Areas containing new leveling compound must be completely dry (meeting moisture vapor emission tolerances) before proceeding with the installation of the floor.

• If the sub-floor is plywood or equivalent, high areas or joints must be sanded flat.

• If plywood or equivalent, the sub-floor must be properly secured with nails or screws every 6 inches along joists to reduce the possibility of squeaking after final installation.

• Appropriate moisture tests must be performed as outlined in the “Testing for Moisture Content” section listed below.

•Minimum thickness sub-floor material recommendations are satisfactory for 16” on center joist spacing. Thicker sub-floor recommendations will allow up to 19.2” joist spacing.

INSTALLING THE FLOOR NAIL-DOWN INSTALLATION

1. Work from several open boxes of flooring and “dry lay” the floor before permanently laying the floor (but never open more than a few boxes in advance). This will allow you to arrange the varying grains & colors in a harmonious pattern. It also allows you the opportunity to select out very dark/light pieces for use in hidden areas in order to create a more uniform floor. Remember, it is the installer’s responsibility to set the expectations of what the finished floor will look like with the owner.

2. Stagger the ends of boards at least 6” in adjacent rows. Installation parallel to the longest wall provides best visual effect.

3. Establish a starting line by leaving a minimum 1/2” expansion gap around all vertical obstructions.

4. An exterior wall is usually the straightest and best reference line to start the installation, establish a starting point and leaving an expansion gap to set up the baseline of installation. Do the same for the opposite of the starting wall, careful measure and calculate make sure do not end up less than 2 inches in width at the final wall.

5. On the first row of flooring used 6d or 8d flooring nail to top nail surface of flooring and countersink. Nail should hit joist whenever possible. To ensure proper alignment of flooring, make sure the flooring along the working chalk line is straight. Solid bamboo tends to crack,we strongly recommend you to screw holes before nail.

6. After nailing down the first 22 sqft, test to make sure that this section of flooring is firmly affixed.

7. Make sure to properly space nail every 8”- 10” along the length of the board with minimum of 2 fasteners per piece 1-1/2” from each end. Continue across the room until finished: remember to provide adequate spacing for expansion gap.

8. Install or re-install any transition pieces such as moldings, trip thresholds or reducer strips.

9. Thoroughly clean, sweep, and vacuum installed floor before further use.

INSTALLING THE FLOOR GLUE-DOWN INSTALLATION

Preparing and leveling the sub-floor:

• The sub-floor must be firmly fixed to the joists to avoid any panel movement that could cause creaking. Use flooring screws if necessary to prevent creaking.

• The sub-floor surface must be level. The difference in level must not exceed 3/16” over a distance of 6’. Eliminate small surface irregularities with a sander or floor

• The surface must be clean. Remove glue residue and staples, and drive in protruding nails.

Steps for glue down installation:

1. Use a chalk line to trace a starting line parallel to the starting wall at a distance of 5-3/8” , i.e., the width of a plank plus the 1/2” expansion joint. The space between the wall and the starting will be the last section of floor laid.

2. Nail the guide planks along the starting line on the side closest to the wall. The planks will serve as a guide for the first rows of planks.

3. Lay out 4 to 5 rows of planks ahead of time that match in terms of joints and color. Cut planks with imperfections or place them in less visible areas.

4. Using your trowel, apply adhesive at a 45 at angle from the starting line outward. It is important to use the trowel recommended in this manual in order to apply the proper quantity of adhesive.

5. Install the first plank along the starting line with the tongue facing you and the groove facing the starting wall. Always keep a 1/4” expansion joint at row ends with expansion shims.

6. Do a few small sections at a time to ensure the adhesive does not dry before the planks are laid.

7. Check for a tight fit between all edges and ends of each board. Occasionally lift a board to check for adequate adhesive transfer.

8. Proceed from left to right to install the other planks in the rows.

9. The last plank in the row will have to be cut. An easy way to measure the length of the plank that will finish the row is to turn it lengthwise to quickly establish the cut mark. Leave at least 6” in length to remain which will serve to start the next row.

10.For subsequent rows, insert the tongue end into the groove and lower the plank as close as possible to the adjacent one, avoiding contact with the adhesive as much as possible.

11.You may need to use a tapping block for best tongue and groove fit.

12.Use blue adhesive tape every five or six rows to ensure planks remain firmly in place.

13.Use a 100-150 lb. roller to apply pressure to installed sections while the adhesive is still active (app. 45-60 min.).

14.Repeat these steps for the rest of the floor.

15.For best results, stagger the joints 6” to 8” from the previous row and alternate board length.

16.Once the entire surface is covered, remove the guide planks and lay planks in the 5 3/8”, space left at the start of installation.

17.To maintain the expansion gap throughout the installation, use 1/2” spacers between floor board and wall or object.

18.Apply recommended urethane adhesive with an adhesive manufacturers recommended trowel. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for the application of the adhesive. DO NOT USE A WATER-BASED ADHESIVE WITH THIS FLOORING PRODUCT.

19.During Installation, immediately wipe any adhesive from the floor’s surface using the adhesive remover that is compatible with the adhesive used.