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Bamboo Flooring Installation: Choosing The Right Material

By: Ernest Jarquio

Bamboo flooring is a beautiful addition to any home and on top of that it is also known to be a long lasting floor material. Its durability can be attributed partially to the fact that it is resistant to insects. It is because of these qualities that it has become a favorite among people who are in the process of building or renovating their homes.

Finding the Right Bamboo Floors for You

Before choosing bamboo flooring, find the right color that will be a good match to the room you intend to use it in. Bamboo flooring comes in different colors so to make sure it will be a good fit or complement to the room, it's important to first have an idea of what color would work best.

For the best deal consider different suppliers. Looking at what they have to offer not only in price but also in terms of quality will ensure you get exactly what you want for how much you want.

Next, determine which type of bamboo flooring you prefer. There are three types: the solid bamboo flooring , engineered bamboo flooring and the strand woven flooring. The solid bamboo flooring comes in different lengths and as its name suggests, made from one length of bamboo. The engineered bamboo flooring is the equivalent of the laminate while the strand woven flooring is made with woven bamboo strands to produce a highly durable plank.

Another consideration you need to take is the size of the room where the flooring will be installed. If it's a small room, you will want to go with fine-grained bamboo, also known as vertical grain. For bigger rooms, you will be better off with horizontal grain because this provides wider grain for the bamboo flooring.

Setting Up Your Bamboo Flooring

You should keep in mind that you should not install the bamboo floor immediately after they arrive from the supplier. This is because flooring, specially those made from natural products, will tend to expand or shrink when they are placed in a new environment, depending on the ambient moisture and temperature. Therefore, it must be acclimatized by leaving them in the room where they will be installed for a period of 48-72 hours at the least.

Before installing bamboo flooring, make sure that you have a sub-floor. This is usually a concrete or wood surface on which you will be placing the bamboo planks. Keep this surface as smooth and as even as possible. An uneven sub-floor causes installation problems later on. Keep the sub-floor dry to prevent any moisture from seeping through the bamboo planks.

If you want to take damage protection a step further put down an underlay such vinyl or a similar material. When fixing your bamboo floor to your sub-floor, glue works best for concrete, while a floating installation is good for heated flooring, and nails will work well for a wood sub-floor.

Once you have the sub-floor ready, determine your starting wall. This will help you mark your working line. Make sure the starting wall is as straight as possible. Before installation, try to lay out the bamboo flooring to see how the floor will look like. Natural floor has slight variations in color and knowing which plank to place where will help you maximize the final look of your flooring.

Leave about half an inch or a quarter of an inch space out from the wall and mark it with a chalk line. This space is for expansion of the planks and will be covered by the molding. The straightest bamboo planks should be used first because these will become your guide for the rest. Drill pilot holes evenly, these will be for the finishing nails. Face-nail the planks to the sub-floor.

Now for the second row, align the planks unevenly from the first. The end of each plank should be at least six inches along from that of the previous one. Drill pilot holes at each end at a forty-five degree angle and then drill spaced every ten inches on the tongue of the plank. Make sure each board fits closely against each other. To do this you need to tap it, but use a piece of tapping wood. If you hit the bamboo directly you may harm it.

Continue with this procedure to install all the other rows of bamboo planks, always making sure to tap them into place. When you get to the last row, you will need a block and a pry bar for tapping; then the baseboard molding should be ready to be put in.

Maintaining Bamboo Flooring

Treat bamboo flooring as you would other types of wood floors. Regularly clean it with a cotton mop or soft broom to prevent the accumulation of dirt, dust and sand. Sand and other rough dirt can scratch the surface and break the finish, making the bamboo flooring more vulnerable to damage and moisture.

A vacuum cleaner with soft brush head is also a great way to clean in the grooves. Clean up spills immediately. If you notice wear spots, apply a paste wax to keep a beautiful finish.

Article Source: http://www.essentialgardenguide.com/gardening-articles

The author: Find great info about bamboo flooring installation and glueless bamboo flooring from Ernest Jarquio's website created for DIY enthusiasts just like yourself.
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