How to Install Bamboo Flooring

In my quest to reduce my carbon footprint, I have been slowly incorporating green building material and energy saving measures into my home.  I’ve become a more informed consumer and whenever possible, have opted for sustainable choices in upgrading my home.  However, along the way, I have realized that most of these steps have been incremental and until I shrink the size of my home, I am still using way too much energy and raw materials – renewable or not.

So I have decided to move to a small farm house that is less than 1,000 sf - shrinking my overall footprint by more than 50%. But before I can move in, the house is in need of a complete overhaul.  I took it down to the studs and have been slowly remodeling it in the evenings and weekends.  This weekend’s project… installing bamboo floors.

I have never installed any floor and this project made me a little nervous.  But with a little research and the right tools, I found installing a bamboo floor to be quite easy and rewarding.

Pros and Cons of Bamboo Flooring The first thing I did in choosing my flooring was to do a little research at the Better Living Show.  There were several green flooring options to choose from, but I finally landed on a bamboo floor from Interstate Flooring Company. I like the idea of bamboo’s renewable quality and the look is fantastic. The general rule of thumb when choosing bamboo flooring is to pick a horizontal grain bamboo floor with a natural shade.  The bamboo used should be three years old or older as young bamboo is not very strong.  If you are careful when selecting the bamboo flooring, your maintenance will be about the same as any other hardwood floor.  Inferior bamboo flooring, however, can be extremely susceptible to scratching and denting.  And should not be used in bathrooms or kitchens where there is excessive moisture.

Tools Needed to Install Bamboo Flooring

With my bamboo flooring in hand, it was time to install it.  Like any project, success or failure is dependent on having the right tools.  And since I did not have them, I rented them.  Here is a list of the tools you will need to install your bamboo flooring:

Nail set

Hammer

Finish gun

Chop saw

Skill saw or table saw

Air compressor

Rubber Mallet

Crow bar

Eye protection

Tape measure

Steps to Install Bamboo Flooring

I let the bamboo floor planks acclimate in the room for a few days as I am told that this will prevent buckling or warping. I made sure the sub floor surface was clean, smooth and dry.  My room is very square so I did not have to do any adjusting of the flooring.  I simply started my first board with the grove side towards the wall and attached it along the outside edge with the nail gun making sure the nails were close enough to the edge to be covered up by the baseboards. I continued along the entire wall slipping the tongue and grove together and nailing until I got to the other side. Since bamboo expands with any increase in moisture content, I cut the boards approximately  1/2" short of the wall for expansion space. This too will be covered by the baseboard. If you have trouble getting the last board in a run snug, place a crowbar between the wall and the board and push it against the other board for a tight fit.

I used the nail set and a rubber mallet and put staples along the tongue every eight inches or so. Now with the first run firmly in place I cut a short board to start the second run.  You want to make sure the bamboo boards are staggered for looks and strength.  Using the hammer and a small piece of scrap wood, I gently tapped the board so it fit snuggly into the first run with no spaces, and then stapled it in place. I continued this until the last two runs which were too close to the wall to use the nail set.  In this case I used the nail gun and carefully put finish nails where the staple would go on the second to the last run and along the edge of the board for the final run. Remember, the nails on the last run of bamboo flooring will be covered by the baseboard.

I know this sounds too easy, but it actually was.  I simply took my time to make sure the boards were very well seated against each other. And I was careful about using the nail set gun making sure the staples would all be hidden.  I made one mistake on a board and used the crowbar to remove it.  But other than that, I had no issues and now am enjoying my new bamboo floor and the richness it adds to my home.

Bamboo Flooring – A Green Option

Most bamboo flooring contains urea-formaldehyde which is a volatile organic compound (VOC) and harmful to indoor air quality. Look for bamboo flooring products that avoid formaldehyde.

Tongue and grove bamboo flooring can be used without using adhesives at the time of installation and this will cut down the VOC’s as well.

The bamboo species most often used to make flooring, Phyllostachys pubescens is harvested every three years then regrows.  It does not require fertilizer or pesticides.

Look for bamboo flooring which contains the Forest Stewardship Council seal.

Carbon emissions and pollution from importing bamboo flooring from China is a downside. However, ocean freighters are relatively efficient at transporting goods compared with trucks used for transporting domestic goods.