Installation Guide

Installation Instructions
Solid Bamboo Flooring
For Assistance, Call: 1-
Homedepot.com/homedecorators
Products Description
5/8 in., 9/16 in., 1/2 in., 3/8 in., Thick;
Solid; Tongue and Groove
Grade Levels
On Grade
Above Grade
Installation Methods
Full Spread Glue
HOMEDEPOT.COM/HOMEDECORATORS
Please contact 1-8
for further assistance.
CAUTION: ASBESTOS IN EXISTING FLOOR:
of Resilient Floor Coverings” (rfci.com) for detailed information and instructions on removing all resilient covering structures.
CAUTION: BAMBOO DUST: Sawing, sanding and machining products can produce bamboo dust. It may induce respiratory, skin and eye irritation. Avoid prolonged exposure to bamboo dust. Power tools should be equipped
with a dust collector. If possible, perform bamboo 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 Wear Warranty. The warranty applies to the original purchaser of the ooring. It warrants the original purchaser that the nish surface will not wear through for the duration
of the stated warranty from the date of purchase. Contact our Customer Service Team at
to request a written copy which provides detailed terms of coverage and limitations.
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, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO OPEN UP TO 4 BOXES FOR
PRODUCT INSPECTION. DO NOT OPEN ALL THE BOXES. OPENING ALL THE BOXES CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE
OF THE PRODUCT. INSPECT ALL THE PLANKS IN THESE 4 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.
Prior to installation, rack up planks from several boxes to ensure uniform distribution of colors, shades and
minimize gaps between boards.
one, grain, streaks, nodal marks and
other characteristics. 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.
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%. An additional 5% (10% for diagonal
installations) should be factored in for cutting wastage and grading allowances.
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.
oors when they
impossible to eliminate them completely and minor squeaking or clicking noises are to be accepted as normal
ooring phenomenon.
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 .
ACCLIMATION AND IN-SERVICE CONDITIONS
NOTE: To obtain accurate moisture content readings, one must use a moisture meter designed for use with
dimensions (width and length) are stable. For example, the averaged dimensions and moisture content remain
acclimated stage. Acclimation time varies depending on geographical area, interior climate control and time of
the year. Minimum acclimation time is 72 hours. Open the box and plastic wrap.
maintained continuously thereafter.
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
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
installation.
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.
CONCRETE MOISTURE
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
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
scrape and
nails; no signs of ply de-lamination or other damages. Repair all shortcomings before installation.
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
MOISTURE BARRIER AND MOISTURE RETARDER
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR
WOOD SUBFLOOR
JOB SITE CONDITION
Prior to installation, the installer must ensure that at the time of installation, the job site conditions including
or poor site conditions.
STORAGE AND CONDITIONS
environmentally controlled site in which it is expected to perform. Flooring stored on a concrete slab should be
elevated at least 4 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 35%-
periodically.
NEW CONSTRUCTION OR REMODEL
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,
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 35%-
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.
EXPANSION GAP
obstructions. Do not place permanently mounted structures such as kitchen counters/cabinets on the installed
area, interior climate control and time of the year.
ADHESIVE
Use premium ooring adhesive which is non-water based, formulated for 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 •
• 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
jobsite moisture.
recommendations can lead to installation failure or product damage and will void your warranty.
GLUE SPOTS ON FACE OF FINISHED FLOOR
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.
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 installation is completed, keep the oor free from daily foot trafc for a minimum of 24 hours to allow adhesive to properly cure.
Preparing for Installation
Lay out the board from several cartons. Rack the boards to give you the appearance you want. Colors and shades should
be mixed up evenly. End joints should be staggered; minimum ends stager is 6 in. and varied.
Inspect plank quality and grading. If ooring is defective, contact the dealer or the store immediately and discontinue
installation.
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 1/2 in. expansion gap left
around the edge of the room.
Clean suboors.
Undercut doors and casings using a handsaw laid at on a piece of scrap ooring. This eliminates difcult scribe cuts.
Always use a protective foot/pad and proper height adapter plate on the fastening machine to prevent face damage, mallet
damage, and edge bruising.
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 3/4 in. from this measurement for expansion gap. Draw a line. Cut through the line.
Discard the excess pieces. Proceed with installation.
EXISTING FLOORS
adhesive failure and fastener failure. Contact the adhesive and fastener manufacturers respectively for their
RADIANT HEATED SUBFLOOR
PLYWOOD OR ORIENTED STRAND BOARD (OSB) SPECIFICATIONS
a circular saw. Do not cut in expansion space on tongue and groove panels.
PARTICLE BOARD OR FIBER BOARD
Do not use.
MANUFACTURER’S REQUIRED MINNESOTA DISCLOSURE - IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE: SOME OF THE BUILDING MATERIALS USED IN THIS HOME (OR THIS BUILDING MATERIALS) EMIT FORMALDEHYDE. EYE, NOSE,
AND THROAT IRRITATION, HEADACHE, NAUSEA AND A VARIETY OF ASTHMA-LIKE SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING SHORTNESS OF BREATH, HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS A REULST OF FOMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE. ELDERLY
PERSONS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, AS WELL AS ANYONE WITH A HISTORY OF ASTHMA, ALLERGIES, OR LUNG PROBLEMS, MAY BE AT GREATER RISK. RESEARCH IS CONTINUING ON THE POSSIBLE LONG-TERM
EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE.
REDUCED VENTILATION MAY ALLOW FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS TO ACCUMULATE IN THE INDOOR AIR. HIGH INDOOR TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY RAISE FORMALDEHYDE LEVELS. WHEN A
HOME IS TO BE LOCATED IN AREAS SUBJECT TO EXTREME SUMMER TEMPERATURES, AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM CAN BE USED TO CONTROL INDOOR TEMPERATURE LEVELS. OTHER MEANS OF CONTROLLED
MECHANICAL VENTILATION CAN BE USED TO REDUCE LEVELS OF FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANTS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF FORMALDEHYDE, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.