Professional Installation is available throughout Southern California including, but not limited to, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego County, and all surrounding areas. Las Vegas, San Francisco, Sacramento, Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Tucson Arizona areas also available.
Customers in all other areas may purchase the flooring materials direct or through there local installer.
The information on this page is general and is designed to answer the most common questions on how to install regular bamboo flooring and strand woven bamboo flooring, as well as outline the steps necessary to prepare your home for your new flooring. and help customers understand the process.
In our oppinion the best method for installing Bamboo Flooring is by glue down or floating installation over a plywood or cement sub floor. Nail down to plywood method may also be used but can be challenging due to the nature of bamboo. The method of gluing to a concrete subfloor should be done on or above grade, and only when moisture levels are properly tested and appropriate. It is recommended that installation be done by an experienced hardwood flooring installer who practices flooring installation guidelines set forth by the National Hardwood Flooring Association (NWFA). Treat the installation of strand bamboo flooring the same as an engineered floor.
Strand Bamboo flooring planks come in a few different sizes but the industry standard for strand bamboo plank is generally 14mm or 9/16 thick by 3 5/8 wide by 72 inches long. These planks can be installed with any of the three installation methods. Please not that there is alot of the 11mm or 3/8 thick strand woven bamboo flooring on the market for a lower price but you are getting a thinner wear layer and a lower quality with these sizes.
Bamboo flooring should be stored in a dry environment prior to installation. In new construction projects, all work involving water or moisture should be completed prior to installing any new wood or bamboo flooring product. Please remember that bamboo flooring is made from natural materials so installers should identify color variations and customers design tastes and stagger boards accordingly.
Inspection of Materials
All flooring boxes must be inspected for damages and defects upon delivery. A written damage report and phototgraphs must be submitted within five (5) days of delivery. It is the responsibility of the customer/installer to report damages or defective planks and to insure that the desired product was received. The manufacture will not be responsible for any costs related to the installation of the incorrect or defective flooring.
Acclimation
Much like any other hardwood flooring, bamboo flooring should have an acclimation period. Flooring should be kept in the packaging and acclimated to the room temperature. Bamboo flooring should acclimate in the area for which it is to be installed for at least 72 hours. For areas of drastic climate variation and/or high humidity, longer acclimation periods are recommended. It is very important to maintain expected normal room temperature before and after installation.
Subfloors
Subfloor must be clean. Remove all oil, dirt, grease, wax, sealers, paint, adhesives, or any other substance that would hinder installation. Use the necessary tools, for example, a floor scraper.
Subfloor must be level to 1/4" per 10-foot span or 1/8" in a 6 foot radius.. To check, just stretch a 10-foot string or lay a 10-foot straightedge over subfloor. If the subfloor dips or crowns 1/4" or more in the span, it must be leveled. Use the appropriate leveling compound such as Ardex to level low areas in a cement subfloor. If the floor has a crown or rise, level it by sanding or grinding to meet 1/4" specifications. There are additional concerns an installer must take into consideration for each different type of subfloor (wood, concrete, light concrete, etc.) other than the requirements stated above. Follow recommendations outlined by that come with the flooring carefully.
OSB or plywood subfloors should be at least ¾" thick and must be level, clean, and dry. Installation on a concrete subfloor is recommended only after a moisture test is performed. Concrete subfloors less than 90 days old are generally too wet for solid wood and bamboo flooring installations.
Moisture tests
Moisture tests can only indicate conditions at the time of the test. Neither the manufacturer nor the flooring installation contractor can be responsible if moisture levels change in the in the subfloor in the future. We recommend Bostik MVP as a moisture barrier. Bostik provides a thorough warranty against moisture damage provided their product is applied per specifications. Please visit www.bostik-us.com for more information.Bostik MVP.
MVP® Moisture Vapor Protection is a one-part, trowel applied, elastomeric anti-fracture urethane membrane formulated to reduce moisture vapor transmission from the subfloor, and bridge cracks up to 1/8”, prior to the installation of engineered and solid hardwood flooring with Bostik’s Best adhesive.
MVP may be used over all substrates common to hardwood flooring installations including: concrete, plywood, particle or chip board (underlayment grade), well bonded vinyl, ceramic tile, cement backer board, cement patch/underlayments, radiant heat flooring, and terrazzo.
It is recommended that an appropriate moisture barrier be applied over a concrete subfloor if the moisture is high. Bamboo flooring reacts like any solid hardwood in that it requires a dry stable subfloor.
Nailing / Stapling
Leave a minimum 1/4"expansion gap from wall on all sides of installation area. To ensure that starter rows are secured firmly, blind nailing or wedging is advised. Additional rows should be blind nailed directly above the tongue at a 45-50 degree angle to the face. Air compressors should be set to 80 PSI (or manufacturers suggested PSI). If tongue damage occurs, lower the air pressure or hand nail where needed. To prevent splitting, nails should not be placed closer than 6 inches from the end of the plank. With nail down installation a 15 lb. Felt paper barrier is highly recommended. We do not warranty for any pucking or nippling in bamboo flooring caused durring the nail down process.
Glue Down Installation Proceedure
Gluing down your bamboo floor is only advised if your subfloor has been properly tested for moisture and prepared. A minimum of 1/4" expansion from each wall in room is required. We recommend the use of Bostik's Best Wood Flooring Adhesive for glue down application. Follow Bostik's directions for trowel size etc. The use of non-recommended adhesives will void the product warranty. Be certain that adhesive and moisture barrier/sealant is compatible for this application and as recommended by Bostik's Best Glue and the MVP system for moisture protection. Link to Bostik Glue Website.
Floating Installation Proceedure
This our first choice method for installing strand woven bamboo over cement, radiant heating systems, or a plywood sub floor. If you have old wood flooring and want to install new flooring on top floating is the way to go. The floor is installed on a pad that sits on the subfloor and is glued together in the tongue and groove with a wood workers glue such as "Tite Bond II " This is available at most home improvement centers. Here are pictures of the process link
General Warranty Information
Each of our suppliers or factories have there own specific warranty that is availalble at the time of purchase.
This is a general overview that covers all the major points on them all. Each manufacturer warrants there product, in their original manufactured state, to be free from defects. There is also a lifetime guarantee against plank delamination. This is a replacement or exchange guarantee of defective products. Bamboo is a natural product, containing natural variations in color, tone, and grain. The manufacture cannot guarantee against natural variations in each plank, nor minor differences between sample and the color of the floor, once the floor has been installed. The installer is responsible for inspecting each plank for color, finish, size and other quality issues before installation. Should there be any defects, The manufacture will replace the defective planks.
The manufacture also offers a full twenty five year finish warranty for residential installations against wear through of the finish. The warranty wear-through period for commercial installations is two years. This warranty specifically excludes the following: 1. Mechanical problems such as indentation, scratches or surface damage caused by lack of proper maintenance; 2. Moisture problems such as dishwasher, tub or toilet overflow, or moisture migration; 3. Material installed with obvious defects or unacceptable color variation; 4. Material exposed to rain or moisture on jobsites prior to installation 5. Buckling or cupping due to inadequate expansion space left around objects such as walls, fireplace hearths, and staircases. Accessories such as stair nosing and reducer are covered by a three year wear warranty for residential (one year for commercial) subject to the above exclusions.Should the finish wear through on any part of the floor, or the floor delaminate or The manufacture will furnish material of the same type at no charge. None of the exclusions listed above must apply. The manufacture will make reasonable attempts to match the color and shade of the flooring, but as flooring is a natural product, The manufacture cannot guarantee a perfect match. Your bamboo flooring must be acclimated for 72 hours on the premises before the floor will be installed.
Additionally, the manufacture guarantees against all manufacturer defects prior to installation up to and including the appropriate acclimation period. The manufacture does not assume liability for damages or flooring performance failure resulting from installation not provided by us. We make no warranty and assumes no liability with respect to the cost of removal of defective products or installation of replacement products. The inspection period should act as the owners' opportunity to point out any defects other than delamination of planks or finish before installation.
California Bamboo Flooring does not guarantee the quality or workmanship performed by the DIY homeowner or any independent installer hired by you. It is highly recommended that the installer be a qualified hardwood flooring installer. We disclaim liability for any errors or improper conduct or workmanship that may occur during the installation of its products by an outside contractor.
