Mistake #1.  Not reading the installation instructions

• Read the manufacturer’s installation guide. This seems like a no-brainer, but 99% of installation errors can be avoided by taking 20 minutes to read the bamboo floooring installation instructions.  Save yourself future headaches and keep from voiding your warranty.
• Read the manufacturer’s maintenance guide. In order to keep bamboo floors looking good for a lifetime, follow the recommend maintenance instructions to ensure you’re cleaning the floor properly and protecting them from long-term damage.

Mistake #2.  Not acclimating the flooring the right way, or for long enough

HOW TO AVOID IT

• Acclimate for at least 72 hours and make sure the boxes are prepped correctly. All hardwood and bamboo flooring must acclimate to it’s environment before acclimation.  Most high quality bamboo floors can be acclimated in as little as 72 hours.  If you live in a more dry or humid area it’s recommended you acclimate for at least 10 days.  Make sure to cut open each box down one entire length as well as the interior plastic, and do the same on the end flaps.  Cross-stacking is always best, otherwise ensure to leave at least 3 feet between your stacks to allow for air flow.

• Always acclimate in the rooms in which the flooring will be installed, and make sure the climate control is turned on.  Bring the boxes in to acclimate in the same rooms they’re going to live in.  The climate control system must be turned on for at least 48 hours before you bring the boxes in to start acclimating, and must stay on from that point forward.  Thereafter, turning the climate control off for any extended period of time can result in dry-cupping, also known as “the greenhouse effect.”

• Do not acclimate on top of concrete or over a crawl space unless sealed, or unless you lay down a vapor barrier first.  Moisture emitted by concrete and crawl spaces can cause warping after installation if not properly addressed.  Make sure to first lay down at least a 6mm vapor barrier/tarp, and extend an apron out at least 18 inches away from the boxes, and make sure the boxes are sitting on top of a pallet.

Mistake #3.  Improper glue down over concrete, resulting in cupping

HOW TO AVOID IT

• Use a vapor barrier glue with it’s compatible trowel and make sure to get 100% coverage of glue on the slab. Concrete slabs emit moisture for decades after being poured.  If you don’t get 100% coverage/spread of the vapor barrier adhesive on the slab, the gaps in the glue will allow the moisture to come up, and voila - cupped floor!  Furthermore, using the wrong trowel – or using the trowel improperly – can result in less than 100% coverage of the glue on the slab.  See the diagram below for a pictorial representation of good vs bad troweling.

Photo below showing only 20% glue coverage on slab, which resulted in cupping

• Always perform a calcium chloride test.  Most installations over concrete only require a vapor barrier adhesive with a 15 lb upper moisture limit.  BUT some slabs emit more than 15 lbs – and it’s the responsibility of the installer to determine if the adhesive being used has a moisture limit that is suitable for the specific slab they’re installing over.  So do yourself a favor – always test the slab first!  If the vapor emissions are above 15 lbs you may need to upgrade to a glue that provides an unlimited moisture limit (more expensive, but preferable to thousands of dollars in repairs).

Mistake #4.  Installing a floating solid floor over long distances

HOW TO AVOID IT

• If your runs are longer than 25 ft wide by 45 ft long, opt for a glue down or nail down floor.  The big advantage to a glue down or nail down floor is that there are no limits on the successive distances (aka “runs”) of flooring, and if the humidity drops below normal you’ll just get small gaps that develop between the planks (normal behavior for hardwood floors).

• Only install solid floating floors in stable humidity environments. Like hardwoods, bamboo will change shape slightly depending on the humidity.  On floating floors these effects multiply and then radiate out to the edges of the installation and at doorways.  One of the most common problems experienced by homeowners is related to their solid floating floors shrinking when the humidity drops.  If the indoor humidity isn’t stable year-round (within the same 20% range) and you want to install a solid floating floor, be prepared to install transitions/breaks every 15 feet across the widths and every 25 feet down the lengths.

• Engineered floating bamboo floors are more forgiving.  If the home doesn’t have stable humidity you can install engineered floating bamboo floors, which provide for increased run limits of 25 ft across the widths of the planks and 45 ft down the lengths of the planks.

• Do your research about the bamboo brand you’re considering.  Always do your homework online about the brand you’re considering by looking for complaints and online reviews before making a purchase.  Stick to a high-quality bamboo flooring brand – avoid shrinkage, cupping and  myriad other problems that plague low-quality brands.

Mistake #5.  Letting glue / adhesive cure (dry) on top of the flooring planks

HOW TO AVOID IT

• Use adhesive remover wipes to clean up the glue while it’s still wet.  Ensure you use adhesive remover wipes to clean the glue up as the floor’s being installed, while the glue is still wet!  If the glue cures on top of the plank - fugghedaboutit - it can then be impossible to remove and will often result in stripping of the top coats of the finish, which will leave cloudy marks.

Mistake #6.  Using the wong size nail gun and cleats to nail down strand bamboo floors

HOW TO AVOID IT

• Always use an 18 gauge pneumatic nailer.  Cleat sizes larger than 18 gauge may result in dimples on your floor.  Always opt for an 18 gauge cleat nailer when installing strand woven bamboo, which Janka tests show is the hardest wood flooring in the market.

Courtesy of Wood Floor Business Magazine

• Ensure that the nail gun has the proper PSI setting.  Test it out on several sacrificial planks until you get the exact right pressure setting.  This will prevent splitting of the tongue, dimpling and damage to the planks from excessive force.  After each row is installed check to make sure the nails are properly set. Take care when using the gun, as swinging the mallet too hard or using abnormally high pressure settings can result in damage to the planks where the nail is driven in.

• Rent a high quality 18 gauge nail gun.  Problems can arise if the gun is not set properly, if the installer is leaning too far forward, if the hoses connected to the air compressor have leaks, or if the firing mechanism is compromised.  We recommend renting a Primatech Q550 ALR, which in our opinion is the best 18 gauge pneumatic nailer on the market.  Some customers have reported positive results also with Powernail 50P Flex nailers.

• For moldings & trim use a 23 gauge micro pin nailer.  Strand bamboo moldings are just as hard as their flooring counterparts.  We recommend using a Bostitch 23 Gauge Micro Pin Nailer found commonly online.

Mistake #7.  Cleaning up with mineral spirits or other abrasive cleaning agents

HOW TO AVOID IT

• Avoid mineral spirits and other abrasive cleaners.  Most bamboo floors come with uv-cured urethane finishes, which can be damaged by mineral spirits or other abrasive cleaners.  When cleaning glue up always use adhesive remover wipes.  For general cleanup use an approved bamboo floor cleaner, or test your specific cleaner on a sacrificial plank to ensure it doesn’t dull or damage the finish.

Have a recommendation for a common Bamboo flooring installation error?  Have technical questions about installing bamboo flooring?  Please feel free to reach out to our installation experts at Ambient Bamboo Floors at (301) 498-0234 or let us know in the comments section below!

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