Bamboo floors are lovable products. It is a type of the timber material which puts a glamour into your house without that "ecological guilt". Bamboo is not exactly a tree. It is a grass which hardens over time. The plant is easy to grow in tropical climates. The hardened bark is treated with non toxic chemicals, laminated and often pre-finished. There is no compromise on the quality with bamboo floors. The difference between bamboo and solid timber floors is in the look.
The bamboo floor installation is not much different from other timber floor installations.
The process requires preparation, pre-installation and finally fixing the actual boards.
The preparation and pre-installation must ensure that the floor is dry, clean and leveled.
The moist boards will quickly decay.
Dirt will reduce the bond between panels and the unleveled subfloor will cause squeaking sounds while walking.
In more severe situations, the excessive gradient can lead to chipping and peeling.
It comes without saying that the bamboo floor cannot be installed unless old nails, staples, wax and glue are removed from the subfloor.
You should also try to install the boards when humidity level is between 40%-60%.
Before placing the actual bamboo floors, you should let the material stay at the installation room for about 72 hours.
This allows the bamboo timber to adjust to the climatic conditions of the area.
Always ensure that at least 5% of the product is set for allowances.
The manufacturer's instructions must be followed at all time.
For example, you need to use an appropriate adhesive to join the bamboo floor elements.
Inappropriate glue will prevent floorboards to expend and contract, leading to the damage.
You will seldom get a bamboo floor material without a pre-finish. Most distributors offer bamboo floors with 5-6 coats of Klumpp finish. This gives an exceptionally glossy character to the product. The good news is that the pre-engineered boards do not require further polishing and will last a very long time. The bad news is the price. Regular, pre-finished bamboo floors cost around $50 per square meter. The more exclusive options sell for $70 per square meter.
Bamboos come from the fully renewable resource. Currently, there is no danger to the existence of the bamboo plants. What's more, the time to grow bamboo is only 5-7 years. This is in sharp contrast to the timber products which need 15-60 years to mature.
Timber floors are great to reduce the effects of asthma. A bamboo floor has an additional ability to control humidity. What's more, the chemical treatment of the bamboo floors is non-toxic to humans but repels insects such as termites. The process of installation is also quicker and cheaper than in the case of other timber counterparts.