Choosing Bamboo Flooring

The first thing to consider when buying bamboo flooring is the color. Because it comes in many colors and hues, it's a good idea to consider the space where you're going to set it up.

If you want to get the best value for your dollar - high quality at a lower price - there is one basic thing that you must make sure you do: canvass at least 3 sources of bamboo so that you can compare their offerings.

After determining the color that you want, you need to decide on the style of bamboo flooring that you need. You can choose from 3 different makes. There is engineered bamboo floor, which is in fact the laminate version of bamboo. Secondly, the most durable version is strand-woven bamboo floor. Third is solid bamboo flooring, which is in fact similar to hardwood flooring in that it is made directly from the bamboo material and is available in varying lengths.

The grain of the bamboo flooring is also important. If the grain is very fine, it's a vertical grain. If the grain is wider, it's a horizontal grain. Usually, you might want to use horizontal grain in larger, wider rooms while smaller rooms will look best with vertical grains.

Installing Bamboo Flooring

Like any other wood, bamboo contracts and expands with temperature. Therefore when it arrives make sure to let it adjust to your room. Do this for approximately two or three days. Make sure there is no humidity in the environment and regulate the temperature during this time.

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.

Before you start affixing your bamboo flooring permanently, lay it out to see which arrangement will look best. Natural fibers often have a slight variation in color and knowing where to put what will help you achieve the look you want. When you have your sub-flooring prepared, choose the straightest wall and start from there.

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.

For the next row, drill 45-degree pilot holes through both ends of the tongues in the planks and every 10" along the length of the flooring. Make sure the end joints of adjacent rows are not aligned. They should be at least 6" away from each other. Drive finishing nails to fasten. Using a short piece of tapping block, tap this row tightly next to the first row. Avoid hitting the bamboo floor directly because this will damage the wood.

Carry on with this method until you each the final row. Ensure that you have each row snug against the last. For that you will need to use a block and pry bar for the tapping before the baseboard molding.

Keeping Your Bamboo Floors In Tip Top Condition

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.

Vacuum regularly, making sure to use a brush attachment to clean up any gaps. If spills occur, wipe with a dry, soft cloth immediately. Repair finishes as soon as wearing begins and keep the beauty of your bamboo flooring by using paste wax to protect the finish and keep the shine.