Glue Down & Floating Installation

GENERAL INFORMATION

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 engineered 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.

Our engineered bamboo flooring may be installed on grade, above grade, or below grade, subject to appropriate moisture vapor emission levels and compliance with industry standards and these instructions.

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 engineered bamboo flooring must be properly equalized before installation. 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.

Engineered 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 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.

•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

For Wood and Other Similar Sub-Floors Types:

Using a quality pin moisture meter, measure the moisture content of both the sub-floor and the engineered bamboo flooring. Sub-Floors must not exceed 12% moisture content and the difference between sub-floor and engineered bamboo flooring cannot exceed 4%. If sub-floors exceed this amount, do not begin or continue the installation until the source of moisture has been located and eliminated.

For Concrete Sub-Floors:

A minimum of 30 days drying time for a reliable moisture reading is necessary. Concrete is never completely “dry”; so, concrete sub-floors should always be checked for moisture prior to floor installation.

SUB-FLOOR REQUIREMENTS

Plywood (or equivalent) Over Wood Structural Panel:

Preferred – 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 or existing wood flooring. (3/4” x 3” wide maximum)

Glue-Down Application — In glue-down applications, a moisture barrier is not required unless moisture readings from the sub-floor are at unacceptable levels. Please refer to the above section entitled “Testing for Moisture Content”. 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. When joist spacing is greater than 19.2” on center, flooring will exhibit minimum performance. Minimum performance may result in movement, gaps, and/or noises. A second layer of sub-flooring material bringing the overall thickness to 1” to 1-1/8”, will provide optimum results when joist spacing exceeds 19.2” on center.  Bamboo flooring should, whenever possible, be installed perpendicular to flooring joists. Perform appropriate moisture tests.

Floating Application — Make sure sub-floor is level. A moisture barrier is required along with the appropriate foam padding or a 2 in 1 Pad may be used. Perform appropriate moisture tests.

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.

INSTALLING THE FLOOR FLOATING INSTALLATION

Preparing and leveling the sub-floor:

• The sub-floor must be level, i.e., a slope of no more than 3/16”over 10’.

• The surface should be relatively clean and free of particles.

• If below grade, lay a 6-mil polyfilm with seams overlapping 8”.

• Fasten seams every 18” to 24”with duct tape or poly tape.

• Run 4” of poly-film up against the perimeter of wall.

• Lay foam underlayment by butting edges and duct tape the full length of the seam

Steps for floating installation

1. Install leading brand pad with built in moisture barrier - 2 in 1 or 3 in 1. Follow pad manufacturer’s instructions.

2. Direction of finished flooring should be at right angles to the floor joists whenever possible.

3. Use a chalk line to trace a starting line parallel to the starting wall at a distance of a single plank width plus the 1/2” expansion joint.

4. 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.

5. Install the first plank along the starting line with the tongue facing you and the groove laid out facing the starting wall. Use expansion shims spaced every 12” along all walls to prevent movement during installation. Always keep a 1/4” expansion joint at row ends. First row must be square to ensure a true fixed base from which to build the entire floor.

6. Proceed from left to right to install the other planks in the row. Apply PVAc adhesive to upper inside of grooves on planks. Always apply adhesive to groove instead of tongue.

7. Start each subsequent row with cut-off end of last plank from previous row. Stagger end joints by minimum of 20” . Tighten each seam with knocking block and each end joint with last board puller or crowbar.

8. The last row will generally not fit perfectly, thus scribe row to allow expansion gap, engage all seams with last board puller.

9. Once the entire surface is covered, remove expansion spacers and reinstall base and/or quarter round moldings to cover the expansion spare. Install any transition pieces that may beneeded.

10.Tape may be removed within one hour. Allow 12 hours before placing furniture on floors and 24 hours before introducing heavy objects or full traffic.

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