Installation Guide

Installation Instructions
Engineered Bamboo HDF Flooring
For Assistance, Call: 1-800-956-8538
HomeDepot.com/HomeDecorators
Products Description
Engineered Bamboo HDF
Click-Lock joints
Grade Levels
Above Grade / On Grade
Below Grade
Warranty
Limited Lifetime Residential
Installation Method
Floating
Full Spread Glue
Covers 25.88 sq. ft./Case
Model: YY2017CD
Online: 742 251
HOMEDEPOT.COM/HOMEDECORATORS
Please contact 1-800-956-8538 for further assistance.
WARNING: CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: This product can create wood dust and emit formaldehyde of which are known to the State of California to cause cancer.
CAUTION: ASBESTOS IN EXISTING FLOOR: Home Decorators Collections product does not contain asbestos. Existing installed resilient ooring and asphaltic adhesive may contain asbestos llers or crystalline silica. Do not
sand, dry sweep, dry scrape, drill, saw, bead-blast, or mechanically chip or pulverize existing resilient ooring, backing, lining felt, asphaltic “cutback” adhesive or other adhesive. See “Recommended Work Practices for Removal
of Resilient Floor Coverings” (rfci.com) for detailed information and instructions on removing all resilient covering structures.
CAUTION: WOOD DUST: Sawing, sanding and machining this product can produce wood dust. It can cause respiratory, skin and eye irritation. Avoid prolonged exposure to wood dust. Power tools should be equipped with a dust
collector. If possible, perform wood dust generating activities outdoors. If high dust levels are encountered, use an appropriate NIOSH-designated dust mask.
Safety and Health Precautions
Power tools can be dangerous. Operate in strict accordance to manufacturer’s operating instructions and safety precautions. Unsafe and improper use can cause serious injuries. Avoid inhalation and exposures to wood dust by
mechanical means and by wearing personal protective equipment. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) which includes NIOSH or OSHA approve dust masks, safety goggles and work gloves.
Warranty
This ooring product comes with a manufacturer Limited Lifetime Warranty. The warranty applies to the original purchaser of the ooring and guarantees that the surface will not wear-through or peel off. Bamboo is a natural product
which may lead to some color variation from board to board. Installation of the product conrms your acceptance of the product. Failure to follow Pre-Installation and Installation guidelines will void the manufacturer’s warranty. The
warranty does not cover damage from improper use, care or maintenance, including scratching, exposure to moisture and humidity, water damage, denting, fading, or staining.
Pre-Installation
OWNER/INSTALLER RESPONSIBILITY
The owner is advised to be at home during the installation for consultation/direction. The owner and installer
should discuss installation and layout to maximize satisfaction. If this is not possible, consultation should be
done prior to installation. Installers should be familiar with installation guidelines from National Wood Flooring
Association (woodoors.org). The owner/installer assumes all responsibility for product quality of completed
installation.
PERFORM PRE-INSTALL INSPECTION. FOR CLAIMS PURPOSES, OPEN AT A MINIMUM 4 BOXES FOR PRODUCT
INSPECTION. INSPECT ALL OF THE PLANKS IN THESE BOXES CAREFULLY. EXAMINE FLOORING FOR COLOR, FINISH,
AND QUALITY. IF YOU DISCOVER THAT PRODUCTS ARE DEFECTIVE, OR IF MATERIAL IS QUESTIONABLE, YOU
SHOULD CONTACT THE RETAILER. IF YOU ARE SATISFIED, PROCEED WITH INSTALLATION. INSTALLATION OF PLANKS
CONSTITUES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRODUCT.
Prior to installation, rack up planks from several boxes to ensure uniform distribution of colors, shades and
characters in the installed ooring. Planks having similar widths should be placed together in the same row to
minimize gaps between boards.
Bamboo oors are natural products containing natural variations in color, tone, grain, streaks, nodal marks and
other characteristics found from plank to plank. They are normal and it does not mean the product is defective.
Purchase ooring to be installed in one large area at the same time. Product purchased at a later time than the
rst purchase may vary beyond your expectations.
Accessories, trims and moldings are manufactured to coordinate with the varied appearances of the oor planks.
Any exact matches are coincidental. Non-matching accessories are not defective products.
This product is manufactured according to strict quality standards. In the event that defects are discovered in the
eld, the industry standards permit a defect tolerance not to exceed 5%. Order an additional 5% extra for cutting
wastage and grading allowances (10% for diagonal installations).
During installation, inspect the planks continuously. Defects that can be seen from a standing position should be
cut off or held out. Installing defective planks implies acceptance.
Squeaking and clicking noises are the result of interactions among ooring, joists and suboors when they
move. Limiting the movements of the ooring system usually eliminates most of these noises. Sometimes, it is
impossible to eliminate them completely and minor squeaking or clicking noises are to be accepted as normal
ooring phenomenon.
Minor scratches can generally be repaired with the use of putty, stain or ller. It is an industry standard practice
of ooring installation and it should be accepted as normal by the home owner.
To assure the warranty is not inadvertently voided, before proceeding with any activity that is not covered in this
manual, please contact our Customer Support Team at 800-956-8538.
JOB SITE CONDITION
Prior to installation, the installer must ensure that at the time of installation, the job site conditions including
suboor/substrate, ambient temperature and relative humidity, and all impacting variables will not negatively
affect the oor. The manufacturer will decline responsibility for damages associated with improper installation
or poor site conditions.
STORAGE AND CONDITIONS
Do not store ooring in uncontrolled environmental conditions. For example, garages and exterior patios are
not acceptable areas to store ooring. Handle and unload bamboo ooring with care and store within the
environmentally controlled site in which it is expected to perform. Flooring stored on a concrete slab should be
elevated at least four in. to allow air circulation under cartons.
EXISTING HOME
An existing home should have a consistent room temperature of 60°F-80°F and relative humidity (RH) of 40%-
55%. Continual deviation from these conditions will affect the dimensions of ooring, especially bamboo. When
using a heater during winter months, humidity may be much lower than the acceptable range. A humidier is
recommended to prevent excess shrinkage in bamboo ooring due to low humidity levels. During the warmer
months, maintain humidity levels using an air conditioner, dehumidier, or by turning on your heating system
periodically.
NEW CONSTRUCTION OR REMODEL
All work involving water, such as pouring basement concrete oors, drywall and plasterwork, plumbing,
etc. must be completed well in advance of the oor delivery. Ensure that the building is enclosed. Where
building codes allow, permanent heating and/or air conditioning systems should be operating at least ve
days preceding installation and should be maintained during and after installation. If it is not possible for
the permanent heating and/or air conditioning system to be operating before, during and after installation,
a temporary heating and/or dehumidication system that simulates normal living (occupied) conditions
can enable the installation to proceed until the permanent heating and/or air conditioning system is fully
operational. Your job site should have a consistent temperature of 60°F-80°F and relative humidity (RH) of 40%-
55% which should be maintained continuously thereafter.
BASEMENTS AND CRAWL SPACES
Concrete slab or ground must be dry. The ground in the crawl spaces must be completely covered using 6 mil
black polyethylene. Crawl space clearance between the earth and underside of joists should be no less than
18 in. and the perimeter vent area should be equal to 1.5% of the total square footage of the crawl space or as
mandated by code.
ACCLIMATION AND IN-SERVICE CONDITIONING
NOTE: To obtain accurate moisture content readings, one must use a moisture meter designed for use with
bamboo ooring.
Acclimation is the process of adjusting (conditioning) the moisture content of bamboo ooring to the environment
in which it is expected to perform. The bamboo ooring is fully acclimated when its moisture content and
dimensions (width and length) are stable. For example, the averaged dimensions and moisture content remain
constant for 3 consecutive days. Bamboo ooring must acclimate for as long as necessary to reach fully
acclimated stage. Acclimation time varies depending on geographical area, interior climate control and time of
the year. Minimum acclimation time is 72 hours. The recommended time for this ooring is 7 – 10 days.
Open the box and plastic wrap. Elevate cartons from the oor by placing them on 2x2 in. lumber or equivalent.
Acclimation temperature range is 60°F-80°F and relative humidity (RH) of 40%-55%. Conditions in which the oor
was acclimated should be maintained continuously thereafter.
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
Concrete suboors must:
□ Have minimum rated strength of 3000 psi.
□ Be level to within 1/8 in. in a 6 ft. span or 3/16 in. in a 10 ft. span; no bumps or low spots. High spots can
be removed by grinding; depressions can be lled with patching compound formulated for use in oor
installation.
□ Be clean; no construction debris, soil, mud and any other objects on or adhering to the oor; if necessary,
scrape and sweep away before the installation; no protrusions of nails, debris, metals should remain.
□ New concrete slab must cure for at least 60 days. It must have a minimum 10 mil polyethylene sheet
between the ground and the concrete.
□ Be free from moisture related conditions which can damage the installed ooring.
CONCRETE MOISTURE
Test all concrete suboors for moisture content and document the results. Visual checks are not reliable.
Perform tests at locations around exterior doorways, near walls containing plumbing, near foundation walls
and in the center of the room. Minimum sample size is 3 samples per 1000 sq. ft. of area and one test for every
additional 1000 sq. ft. thereafter.
Moisture content should meet one of the following criteria:
□ 4.5% when tested using Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounter.
□ Less than 3 pounds per 1000 sq. ft. per 24 hours when using Calcium Chloride test (ASTM F 1869).
□ 75% when using Relative Humidity Testing (ASTM F-2170).
NOTE: Concrete moisture content may be acceptable the time of the test. These tests do not guarantee a
perpetual “dry” concrete slab. The concrete slab moisture content can vary at other times of the year. We are
not responsible for moisture-related damage to installed ooring.
LIGHT WEIGHT CONCRETE
Light weight concrete is concrete with a rated strength that is less than 3000 psi. Perform a quick check by
drawing a nail across the top; if it leaves an indentation, it is probably light concrete.
For glue-down applications, the concrete must possess shear strength greater than the glue. If concrete rated psi
is unknown, contact the adhesive manufacturer for guidance.
WOOD SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
The suboor must be clean; no presence of construction debris, soil, mud and any other objects on or adhering
to the oor; no protrusions of nails, debris, or metals should remain. If necessary, scrape and sweep the suboor
before the installation.
The suboor must be structurally sound and stable; no movements or squeaks; no loose panels or loose nails; no
signs of ply de-lamination or other damages. Repair all shortcomings before installation.
The suboor must be at and at least 3/4 in. thick; no visible bumps or low spots; the suboor should be at to
within 1/8 in. in 6 ft. span or 3/16 in. in 10 ft.. Test for moisture using a reliable moisture meter. Perform tests at
locations around exterior doorways, near foundation walls, near walls containing plumbing lines and in the center
of the room. Measure 20 locations per 1000 sq. ft.. Moisture content of the suboor should be less than 12%.
Moisture content difference between the suboor and ooring should be 2% or less.
PLYWOOD OR ORIENTED STRAND BOARD (OSB) SPECIFICATIONS
On truss/joist spacing of 16 in. (406 mm) O/C or less, the industry standard for single-panel subooring is a
minimum 5/8 in. (19/32 in., 15.1 mm) CD Exposure 1 plywood suboor panels (CD Exposure 1) or 23/32 in. OSB
Exposure 1 suboor panels, 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheets. Expansion gap between panels should be 1/8 in. (3 mm). If panels
are not tongued and grooved and there is not sufcient spacing or is inadequate, cut in the required spacing with
a circular saw. Do not cut in expansion space on tongue and groove panels.
PARTICLE BOARD OR FIBER BOARD
Only for oating installation.
EXISTING FLOORS
Installation over existing oor requires the installer to consider potential issues related to moisture damage,
adhesive failure and fastener failure. Contact the adhesive and fastener manufacturers respectively for their
specic instructions, recommendations and requirements.
Acceptable oor coverings include: solid hardwood, linoleum, terrazzo, ceramic tile and other “moisture sealing
oors.”
Unacceptable oor coverings include: carpet, needle punch felt, edge glued linoleum and other “moisture
absorbing ooring.”
RADIANT HEATED SUBFLOOR
This product can be installed over a radiant heated suboor. Operating surface temperature must be less
than 84°F. Decrease temperature before installation. Increase temperature gradually after installation. Glue
down installation may require additional installation requirements. Contact the glue manufacturer for specic
recommendations. Contact the heater manufacturer for specic installation instructions.
MOISTURE BARRIER AND MOISTURE RETARDER
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR
For oating installation, use 6 mil polyethylene lm or other means with equivalent permeability. Overlap the
edge seams and tape it together. Extend moisture barrier up to the wall about 1 in. high.
For direct glue installation, use a moisture barrier if moisture levels exceed the requirement (see Concrete
Moisture section).
WOOD SUBFLOOR
Use asphalt-saturated kraft paper or #15 or #30 felt that meets ASTM Standard D4869 or UU-B-790, Grade
D. Overlap along the edge seams 2 in.- 4 in. wide. This retards moisture movement from below. Extend the
moisture retarder to about 1 in. from the walls. Secure to the suboor as necessary.
SOUND CONTROL UNDERLAYMENT
Check with the sound control manufacturer for application guidelines. Generally, the less compressive
underlayment is preferred.
EXPANSION GAP
A required gap width of 1/2 in. is required around the perimeter of the oor and between the oor and all
vertical obstructions. Do not place permanently mounted structures such as kitchen counters/cabinets on the
installed oor.
TRANSITION MOLDING
Floating installation, transition T-molding is required in the following cases: oor spanning greater than 35 ft.
in length or width; oor areas interrupted by wall sections extending out of the wall; oor areas which are not
rectangular; wall openings-with or without doors; L shaped rooms or otherwise not rectangular rooms requires
T-molding to split it into rectangular sections.
ADHESIVE
Use premium ooring adhesive which is non-water based, formulated for engineered bamboo ooring
installation. The preferred type is moisture cure urethane oor glue.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS BASICS
Tape measure • Moisture meter (wood, concrete or both) • Chalk line & chalk • Hammer • Electric power saw •
Carbide tipped saw blade for ne cut • NIOSH-designated dust mask • Hand saw or jamb saw • Eye protection
• Straight edge or Spacers • Pry Bar • Mallet • Broom • Color matched wood putty • Tapping block • Pull bar
Additional Supplies for Glue-Down Method: Flooring adhesive • Trowels • Adhesive remover for selected
adhesive • Clean rags • Weight roller • Painters tape
BOND FAILURE
Bond failure is NOT a ooring product defect. Most installation failures, including bond failure, result from
jobsite moisture.
Do not unpack or deliver ooring to the jobsite until moisture problems are corrected. Read adhesive
manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Certain wood ooring adhesives may have special requirements and
limitations of use. Some existing oors may not be acceptable. Not following the adhesive manufacturer’s
recommendations can lead to installation failure or product damage and will void your warranty.
GLUE SPOTS ON FACE OF FINISHED FLOOR
Adhesive can damage the oor’s nish, especially when it has dried. It is extremely important to take
precautionary steps NOT to leave nger prints or footprint marks on the face of the board. Preventive actions
include wearing gloves when spreading glue and discarding the glove when nished. Use clean gloves before
placing the oor planks in the adhesive layer. If glue comes in contact with the face of the board, remove
immediately with the adhesive remover recommended by the adhesive manufacturer. Use clean towels,
changing frequently to prevent haze and adhesive residue. If the spot removal damages the appearance of the
boards, replace the board.
Helpful Pointers
GENERAL TIPS
□ Make sure your work area is well lit. Good visibility ensures that color is consistent and that visually defective planks are detected and removed.
□ The minimum length of the rst and last plank is 12 in. If the last plank will be less than 12 in., adjust the length of the rst plank. The remainder of the last plank can be used as a starter board on the following rows.
□ Using a shorter piece at undercut door jams will help when tting ooring in place.
GLUE-DOWN INSTALLATION TIPS
□ ALWAYS REFER TO THE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FLOORING ADHESIVE LABEL. The information given here is for typical installations. Adjust it according to adhesive manufacturer’s instructions.
□ Dry-lay means the glue has to set before placing oor planks in it. Wet-lay means the glue does not need to set before placing ooring on it.
□ Use a trowel design specied by the adhesive manufacturer.
□ Continuously check the transfer of adhesive THROUGHOUT the installation process. If the adhesive no longer transfers to the back of the ooring material, it must be removed and new adhesive applied.
□ Work your way out of the room.
□ After the installation is completed, keep the oor free from daily foot trafc for a minimum of 24 hours to allow adhesive to properly cure.
CUTTING THE LAST ROW TO WIDTH
□ Most often the entire length of the last row will need to be cut so that it is narrow enough to t the remaining space.
□ Measure the distance between the oor face edge (exclude the tongue) to the wall. Subtract 3/8 in. from this measurement for expansion gap. Draw a line. Cut through the line. Discard the excess piece. Proceed with the
installation
Preparing for Installation
□ Ensure suboors are clean.
□ Understand the locking part of the ooring plank. The tongue is the thinner extension coming out of the side
of the planks. The groove is the wider extension coming out of the other side of the oor plank. The ends
do not have tongue and groove. There is an upper drop-lock end on one side and a lower-drop lock end on
the other side.
□ Lay out several cartons. Randomly rack planks to ensure good color and shade mixture and end joint
spacing. Minimum end stagger is 6 in.. Inspect plank quality and grading.
□ Lay out trim moldings in advance and nd planks whose shade closely matches. Set these aside for future
use.
□ Remove the existing base, shoe molding or threshold carefully. They can be used to cover the ½ in.
expansion gap left around the edge of the room. Undercut doors and casings using a handsaw laid at on a
piece of scrap ooring.
□ Install the underlayment (if used) parallel to the ooring according to the underlayment manufacture
instruction. Any overlap (top) should be on the same side as the groove of the ooring so that the oor
planks will slide smoothly into place. Tape all seams. Secure the underlayment material as necessary to
prevent excessive movement.
Floating Installation
1 INSTALLING THE FIRST ROW
a. When possible, begin installation from the straightest wall.
If possible, install the oor perpendicular to the oor joists.
b. Cut off the tongue from the rst row planks.
c. Allow a 1/2 in. expansion gap between the plank and the
walls. Use spacers or board.
d. Place the rst plank with the groove sides facing away
from the walls.
e. Place the upper drop-lock end of the second plank on the
lower drop-lock end of the rst plank. The ends do not click
lock. Maintain a straight edge along the rows.
f. Continue placing the succeeding planks to complete the
row until you come to the last plank.
1/2 in.
1/2 in.