Installation Guide

Tongue-and-Groove Installation Guidelines
phone [phone] fax [phone] page 108/19/2009
Solid Bamboo Flooring
Introduction
Thank you for choosing Wellmade Performance
Bamboo Flooring! You have selected one of the highest
quality bamboo floors available. As you might expect,
Wellmade is always looking for ways to improve the
quality of our products and related services. Please
carefully read the following in order to ensure that you
know what to expect, and so that you can enjoy your
new bamboo floor for many years to come.
Please keep in mind that bamboo flooring will
scratch and dent like any other hardwood flooring.
Because bamboo is a natural product, you may
experience shading variations. Although we sort
into shading categories, there will still be shading
variations within the cartons. When installing, you
should work out of at least several cartons, and mix
them in a natural random shading pattern that is
pleasing to your eye. If you find very dark or very
light planks in the carton, DO NOT INSTALL. It is
the responsibility of the person installing the floor to
inspect the flooring for defects and shading issues
prior to installation. All wood flooring will expand
and contract. This means that gaps may appear
between the planks during low humidity conditions,
and are considered normal. Scratches, dents, and
shading are not covered by our Warranty, as we
cannot control the conditions under which they
can occur.
Tips for a Successful Installation
1. Read all instructions/warranty first: Get all your
questions answered before you start installing the floor.
2. Amount of flooring needed: Buy enough flooring to
equal at least 105% of the square footage of your room,
for waste allowance.
3. Before installing, open all boxes and let flooring sit
in room for 3 to 4 days to acclimate to temperature and
moisture. Run air conditioning or heat, as it will be in
normal living conditions. Normal living conditions can
be defined as having and maintaining a temperature
between 50° - 70° and relative humidity (air) between
35% - 55%. It is recommended that humidifier/de-
humidifier be used to maintain relative humidity. The
bamboo flooring is kiln dried and leaves the factory
between 8% - 10%. Always avoid installing the floor
under very dry or very humid conditions, it is best to
install when conditions are about the same as it will
be most of the year.
4. Be aware of moisture problems: Moisture can
ruin any floor. Always look out for potential moisture
problems, especially in basements and crawl spaces.
5. Checking for moisture: Use a Delmhorst J-4 (or
equivalent) moisture meter for wood, or a Tramex
Concrete Moisture Encounter meter (or equivalent) for
concrete. You can also use a calcium chloride test for
concrete. If the Tramex moisture meter is more than
4.5%, or the calcium chloride test is more than 3 pounds
per 1000 square feet, you will need to consult with a
professional to correct the problem. Always check for
moisture in at least several areas of the sub-floor, as
well as the flooring. The moisture difference between
the sub-floor and the bamboo flooring must be no more
than 4%.
6. Dealing with moisture before installation: If you have
or suspect moisture problems, don’t install your floor
yet. Contact a professional flooring installer to improve
sub-floor to an acceptable level of moisture.
7. To ensure a clean cut without any splintering, tape
the area to be cut and/or use a fine-toothed circular saw
with a carbide blade. Generally this is not necessary as
it will be covered.
8. Place all nails/staples at 6 – 8 inch intervals along
the tongue of the boards, and not closer than 3” from
the end.
9. Room/entryway preparation: Undercut door casings
are much better than trying to scribe the flooring to
fit there.
10. Leave expansion gaps: Leave a 3/8" – 5/8” space
at each wall, beneath door jambs, and at transitions for
expansion of flooring. Base molding and transitions will
cover this gap.
11. Tapping block: You can use a 6 – 8 inch scrap
of flooring for this purpose. NEVER HIT FLOORING
DIRECTLY AND BE CAREFUL NOT TO FRACTURE
FLOOR EDGES.