Installation of bamboo flooring is similar to the installation of most other hardwood floors. In many instances Oriental Bamboo Eco-Logic bamboo flooring requires less installation skill, as it is a pre-finished product and therefore does not require sanding and sealing and is already tongue and grooved, or is installed via a easy to use click locking system and has the option of a factory installed underlay applied directly to the flooring plank.
These guidelines are provided as a courtesy and for information purposes only.
Acclimatization
P
rior to delivery of the flooring to the job site, the building should be closed in with outside windows and doors in place. All concrete, masonry and framing should be thoroughly dry. In warm months the building must be well ventilated; during winter months heating should be maintained near occupancy levels at least five days before the flooring is delivered.
The flooring should be placed in the room where it will be installed and removed from all packaging. The flooring should be stacked so that it gets maximum exposure to the air. For example, it can be stacked in a grid pattern, with the first layer laid out with 5-8 cm of space between each plank, then stack the next layer on top of the first layer perpendicular to the first layer, also 5-8 cm apart. The flooring can be stacked in this way up to 90-120 cm high. The flooring should be stacked top-to-top and bottom-to-bottom to avoid unnecessary wear on the finish. The flooring must remain like this for five days before being installed.
Complimentary Products
The following products are proven for a floated floor (dependent of chosen installation method):
- Elastilon Basic 3 mm
- Sika Sikabond T52
- Bostik Durabond D332
- Rubberlay RL200E
- Damp proofing membrane (DPM) – 250 micron thick, must be SABS approved.
- Sika or other glue gun or notched trowel
- Bostik D250 or D261 Moisture Vapour Barrier
- Sika SikaFloor 156ZA Moisture Vapour Barrier
Installation Methods
Oriental Bamboo suggests the Elastilon and Sika range of products for installation. Please follow the manufacturers guidelines when applying these products.
The following are three of the most common methods of installing a bamboo floor:
Floated Floor
On concrete sub-floors, flooring must not be installed if the moisture content of the concrete screed exceeds five percent (5%). If the moisture content is higher than 5%, corrective measures should be made before installation of the floor. The screed must be of a good quality and applied according to the SABS standard.
- The concrete should be checked for flatness and low spots should be filled to a minimum of 5 mm in a 3 m radius or 3 mm in a 1.85 m radius. High spots should be ground down to level.
- Ensure that the screed has properly bonded to the concrete below and is of a good consistency.
- The surface must be free of all dirt, debris, oil, and solvents.
- Very important:- an expansion gap of 12 – 15 mm must be left around the perimeter of the floor.
If you are using the Elastilon installation method, please follow these guidelines.
- First a layer DPM is laid over the entire floor. Ensure an overlap of 300 mm between sheets.
- On top of the DPM layer, the underlay is laid without any overlap. In the case of Rubberlay, the coarse side must face down. The bamboo planks rest on top of the underlay.
- The glue is applied into the groove of the bamboo plank using a glue gun, before inserting the tongue of the adjacent plank.
- Tap the planks firmly together using a rubber mallet to ensure the planks are tightly fitted together.
- Excess glue can wiped off using Mineral Turpentine, whilst the glue is still wet. If the glue has dried a specialised cleaning product will be required.
- The planks will require strapping together with tape until the glue has dried.
When using our unique Eco-Logic Click-Lock + Underlay flooring planks, none of the gluing steps above apply, simply click the planks together in the desired pattern.
Glue Down
The glue down method yields optimal results for minimal floor movement and superior acoustics.
On concrete sub-floors, flooring must not be installed if the moisture content of the concrete screed exceeds five percent (5%). If the moisture content is higher than 5%, corrective measures should be made before installation of the floor. The screed must be of a good quality and applied according to the SABS standard.
- The concrete should be checked for flatness and low spots should be filled to a minimum of 5 mm in a 3 m radius or 3 mm in a 1.85 m radius. High spots should be ground down to level.
- Ensure that the screed has properly bonded to the concrete below and is of a good consistency.
- The surface must be free of all dirt, debris, oil, and solvents.
- Very important:- an expansion gap of between 12 – 15 mm must be left around the perimeter of the floor.
Moisture Vapour Barrier
It is essential that the moisture content of the floor be tested with a hygrometer and that the moisture level be below 6% (six). If the moisture level is below 3%, the application of a Moisture Vapour Barrier is not essential (but recommended). Above 6% and the moisture barrier will be ineffective and wooden flooring should not be laid. If the moisture content is higher than 5%, corrective measures should be made before installation of the floor.
Please follow the manufacturers guidelines for applying the moisture vapour barrier – this is essential to ensure the proper moisture protection and to avoid moisture problems with the floor. As a guideline, depending on the quality of the screed, a litre of Sikafloor 156ZA will cover between 3–5 square meters. An average of 4 square meters per liter is used
Glue application
There are two types of glue applications:
Full surface bond – for floors greater than 15 mm in thickness. A full surface bond also gives added sound deadening qualities. This requires 1.2 litres per square meter (sqm). Please refer to manufacturers instructions when applying the glue.
Bead application – for floors less than 15 mm thick, triangular beads of 10 mm high by 8 mm wide are drawn 150 mm apart, perpendicular to the floor plank. This is done using the Sika sausage gun fitted with the correct nozzle. One 600 ml sausage covers one square meter. Please refer to manufacturers instructions when applying the glue.
Nail Down Installation
- Planks are to be laid square with the room and parallel to its longest dimension. You can achieve this by positioning with a chalk line, leaving a 6 mm expansion space from base plate or wall.
- Ensure starter rows are firmly in place by wedging or face nailing.
- Once initial rows are secure, second and further courses can be blind nailed directly above tongue at a 45 to 50 degree angle to the face.
- Fasteners need to be spaced at 250 mm to 300 mm intervals, with a minimum of two fasteners per piece.
- Nails or cleats should not be placed closer than 150 mm from the end of planks to prevent splitting.
Special considerations for Decking Installation
Decking planks require acclimatisation before installation, please use the same guidelines described elsewhere in this document.
Please ensure the cut ends are also oiled before installation.
After installation, it is recommended that the deck be oiled again within a maximum of three months. Thereafter, the requirement for oiling depends on the severity of the weather, to which the deck is exposed. Typically, oiling can be performed bi-annually, but harsher conditions may require more regular oiling.
As with other natural woods exposed to outdoor weather conditions, it is recommended that an expansion gap be left between the planks to allow for normal movement due to weather conditions. Bamboo, just like any other solid wood will expand if submerged in water. It is recommended that the installer ensures the decking planks are installed in such a manner to avoid excessive water pooling around the planks. It is also recommended that the planks are installed in such a way as to allow air to flow freely around the planks in order that the planks may “breathe”.
Radiant Heat / Floating Floor Installation
Bamboo, like all solid woods is a poor conductor of heat, so is not ideally suited to underfloor heating installations. We do offer a specially designed Radiant Heat bamboo plank.
With radiant heat, the heat source is directly beneath the flooring, so the flooring may gain moisture or dry out faster than a similar floor in a home with a conventional heating system.
Flooring can be installed over radiant heat as long as you understand radiant heat, how it can impact the flooring, and what precautions to take. Please consult you local underfloor heating specialists
The following installation systems can be used successfully over radiant heat: Glue Down; Direct Nail to Sub-floor and floated floor.
The installer should refer to the recommendations of SAWLFA or the NWFA for specifics involving the installation of hardwood flooring over radiant heating systems. The Radiant Panel Association (www.rpa-info.com) is helpful with information and installers.
Oriental Sourcing (Pty) Ltd makes no warranty or guarantee as to the quality of the chosen installer’s workmanship and disclaims all liability for errors in the installation by an installer.
