How to Fix a Bubble in Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is considered to be an eco-friendly substitute for hardwood flooring. It is made of flattened bamboo, which is a type of giant grass growing in Asian countries. It is tough and durable when processed properly for flooring.

Step 1 – Assessing the cause of Bubble Formation

Surface bubbles on a bamboo floor or any other wooden floor for that matter can have two major reasons. The first reason is normally that the polyurethane finishing varnish (the thing that gives a glossy finish) is applied incorrectly, leaving behind bubbles. This is relatively easy to deal with compared to the second cause of bubbles on a bamboo floor. The second major cause of bubbles in bamboo flooring is that the concrete under the floor was not treated for moisture control and was not leveled. It is also important to acclimate the flooring before installation.

Step 2 – Taking Action: Dealing With Bubbles in the Varnish

Dealing with laminate bubbles is easy. For this, you will be required to sand the area with fine-grit sandpaper or you can use a sanding machine. Sand off all the polyurethane varnish, making sure you do not damage the flooring itself.

Step 3 – Reapplying the Laminate Coating

Once the bubbles have been sanded off, reapply the varnish for a clean, neat finish. You might need to sand a large portion of the floor to give an even finish.

Step 4 – Bubbles due to Moisture

In most cases, bubbles in the flooring are due to the up travel of moisture from the concrete. This leaves behind large swollen bubbles in the floor often followed by discoloration and fungal growth within the floor. If it is not immediately dealt with you might have to redo the entire flooring.

Step 5 – Removing the Affected Flooring

Therefore as soon as you spot a large bubble with slight discoloration you will have to remove the flooring in that area.

Step 6 – Measuring the Moisture Content and Temperature Condition of the Room

Once you have removed the flooring, measure the moisture content of the floor, and keep a check on the temperatures in the room. If the moisture in the floor has an evident cause you will have to deal with that first.

Step 7 – Treating the Concrete and Dealing with the Cause of the Moisture

In conventional wood floor application, the concrete is pretreated: sanded, leveled and a moisture block is applied to protect the flooring to be installed on top of it. But sometimes there are still leaks. If the moisture problem is only in that particular area, you may apply the concrete moisture barrier in that area again. But if there is an overall raised level of moisture in the concrete you will have to remove the entire flooring and retreat the concrete, otherwise, the new bamboo flooring will be wasted.

Step 8 – Cautionary Steps When Installing Bamboo Flooring

Bubbles in varnish are easy to remove as mentioned before but moisture is a cause of great concern in most wooden flooring. Therefore before installing bamboo flooring, take your time to treat the concrete underneath. Never clean bamboo flooring with a dripping mop.