Hi
I Know this is going to be a real newbie question, but after searching I did not find an answer.

I am planning to lay a 5/8 thick by 6' long by 6" wide bamboo floor

the subfloor is 3/4" thick sound and level.

question one is how long and wide should the staples be? I am a little concerned that if they went through the subfloor they might hit some wiring or something.

The retailer does not provide any real instructions only a blurb.
The brand of floor is "green beneath".

I will be using a bostik MIII floor stapler.


my other qestion is how many staples is too many.
The last floor I put in was a 3/4 maple about 6 or 7 years ago, and I used a 16 gauge brad gun and just put in a nail every 2 " or 3" inches. (that floor has not moved at all).


thanks cart

 

Use 1 1/2" staples. Use as many as you can without splitting the tongue. I use cleats so can't tell you how many staples. General standards dictate every 8-10".
You really should use a bead of elastomeric adhesive under the groove edge or about 2" in to help hold it down. That is not written in the book but you cant screw and plug a prefinished. The problem with boards that wide is not enough nails per sq inch. My bamboo importer does recommend it.

 

thanks that helps a lot.

I dread having to work with messy glue as well, but it does sound like a good idea to help hold it down.
Having never worked with a prefinished wood before, I am looking forward to see how it works out.


Thanks for your help

 

Make absolutly sure the manufacturer recommends fastening the bamboo down. A lot of bamboo is gluedown only. It will leave pimples every place a fastener is placed on the edge, if it is fastened. I have yet to fasten down a bamboo. Only gluedown as the manufacturer recommended.

 

LOL

Now I dont know what to do.

I have contacted the seller/importer.
To seek more info.
Has anyone used "green beneath" bamboo from Fair Pacific Bamboo?
And if so perhaps you could let me know how you got on?

Thanks
Paul

 

Having contacted the sellers, they have stated the following.

1 """""If you are installing over a plywood subfloor, we typically
recommend nailing. """""

2"''' As
with all wood flooring, cupping is not affected by installation, only by
moisture, so you must ensure that you do not have moisture issues using
standard measurement techniques."""""



Any comments on the above?

thanks
cart