Article Search:
Free Articles on Home Improvement and many other topics
Another free Home Improvement article for you

Home | Home & Family | Home Improvement


Bamboo Flooring Installation: Choosing The Right Material - By: Ernest Jarquio, Posted on: 2007-08-09

The environmentally friendly properties of bamboo flooring make it a favorite among many home buyers. Not only does it naturally resist insects, it also adds a great feature to any room. If you think bamboo is for you, why not take a look at these tips on selecting, setting up and maintaining this durable and eye-pleasing material.

Deciding On Your Bamboo Flooring

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.

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.

Bamboo Floor Installation

Once the bamboo flooring has arrived, place the planks in the room where you will be using them and let them air for about 2 to 3 days. Acclimatization is important in most natural flooring to make sure they adjust properly to the room's temperature and humidity level. The bamboo can then shrink or swell accordingly, so you will be ready for any warps or gaps later. Make sure the room temperature is maintained during the acclimatization period and that no moisture is present in the room.

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 prefer, you can also add an underlayment like vinyl to ensure you have a reliable moisture barrier. The sub-floor type will also determine what type of installation method to use. The glue-down installation method will work with a concrete sub-floor while a nail-down will work best with a wood sub-floor. If you have radiant heat floors, the floating installation method will be the best choice.

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 you're done with the first row. For the succeeding rows keep in mind that the joints of the planks should be approximately six inches away from those of the adjacent row - they should not be lined up. These planks will require pilot holes every ten inches on the plank, as well as at the two ends of the tongue. These must be drilled at forty-five degrees, then the finishing nails can be driven in. To make each row fit snugly with the previous one, you need a short block to tap it in. Just make sure you don't tap on the surface of the bamboo plank directly, else you might wreck its appearance.

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

Like any other wooden floor they need to be cleaned regularly. Get rid of grit and dirt as this may scratch the wooden surface. Use a soft broom or mop.

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.

Article Source: http://articleowner.com

The author: Ernest Jarquio's website features well-researched articles on bamboo flooring installation and glueless bamboo flooring.
Don't reprint the same version as everyone else. Get your own unique content bamboo flooring installation article here.

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Home Improvement Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Home & Family | Home Improvement
HOME
Sign Up for a free account or learn more.
Article Directory Software
Click here to download Article Directory software & Start Your Own Websites Like www.articlelover.com,
www.articlevally.comStart your own article directory today!
Submit Articles
Member Login
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds
New Stuff
About Us
Site Blog
Forum
Link to Us
Add Your Site Link
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
article marketing info page

Highly Recommended

WIN $1,000,000
BY JUST CLICKING ADS

"Your Money Making Portal, Make Money At Home!"
pixel advertising information page
Pixel Advertising,for High Traffic!
CatererGlobal
Copyright ©2006Articleowner.com a free article directory to submit articles for fresh web content for websites & article writing submission for internet article ezine email marketing,for top ranking for search engines link building backlinks by rss feeds by self publishing, adsense, make money at home online money making home based business work at home opportunities for online information quality articles directory & stress management, free articles on insurance review, wealth, pixel advertising, web content, traffic, software, money making ideas & articles
Terms of Service | Submission Guidelines | Contact Us | Link to Us| Privacy Policy | About Us
Get PAID to Watch Never Before Seen Movie Trailers
Get a Free psychic reading

Powered by Article Dashboard