Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Mar 20, 2012 2:30 pm Yes sorry another bamboo question! HN might be able to help me out.... We are getting a few quotes to install bamboo flooring (I've taken the advice that it's probably better to get a pro in). So anyway we have 42sqm of tiled floor. kitchen, dining, and two halls which we are either going to rip up or lay the bamboo on top (we're not worried about small steps into bedrooms off the halls etc). Now ideally the tiles should be ripped up to have a cleaner looking finish however we discovered the tiles were laid on top of an old cork floor as we pulled out our freestanding stove and found the tiles stopped where the stove is. The bamboo companies have said that you cannot install bamboo floor on top of cork as it is not a solid surface, is this correct? Is it because the boards will creak? they also said that the cost for not only ripping up the tiles but also the cork would sky rocket the cost of the project. So is this really true or are they just lazy and can't be bothered with all the floor prep? No issues with having the bamboo on top of the tiles? some might suggest to rip everything out myself but I don't have the time tbh. Cheers Bamboo installation question 2Mar 20, 2012 3:17 pm Hi What's under the cork? Is it a concrete slab? When we had a floating floor installed we had to get some ceramic tiles taken up first. It only took them about 4 hours to take up about 40m2 using electric jack hammers and we were left with the clean concrete slab. I can't imagine that cork would pose much more of a challenge to the jack hammers. Paul Re: Bamboo installation question 4Mar 20, 2012 8:05 pm sco77k Yes sorry another bamboo question! HN might be able to help me out.... We are getting a few quotes to install bamboo flooring (I've taken the advice that it's probably better to get a pro in). So anyway we have 42sqm of tiled floor. kitchen, dining, and two halls which we are either going to rip up or lay the bamboo on top (we're not worried about small steps into bedrooms off the halls etc). Now ideally the tiles should be ripped up to have a cleaner looking finish however we discovered the tiles were laid on top of an old cork floor as we pulled out our freestanding stove and found the tiles stopped where the stove is. The bamboo companies have said that you cannot install bamboo floor on top of cork as it is not a solid surface, is this correct? Is it because the boards will creak? they also said that the cost for not only ripping up the tiles but also the cork would sky rocket the cost of the project. So is this really true or are they just lazy and can't be bothered with all the floor prep? No issues with having the bamboo on top of the tiles? some might suggest to rip everything out myself but I don't have the time tbh. Cheers Hi sco77k, So you have a timber sub floor with cork tiles on it, with ceramic tiles installed over that and you want to install the bamboo over the tiles ? Yes. Ideal situation is to remove it back to the particle board flooring and float the bamboo. However, the beauty of a FLOATING floor is that it can indeed float over existing hard surfaces. Question is does your tiled floor installed over a cork floor equal a hard floor ? Our answer would be yes. If you are comfortable with the finished height variation and your tiles are not cracking and coming apart and the floor is level (3mm variation in height per metre) then you can lay a quality bamboo floor without any issues. Your tiled floor, if uneven, can be levelled with a primer and self levelling compound. Harvey Normans professional installers can do this for you as part of the installation if required. Back to the words "quality bamboo". We say quality because the nastier versions ( every man and his dog is importing these floors nowadays) on the market will use inferior click profiles and also will not have sufficient wax on the profiles to reduce squeaking. Harvey Normans Naturally Bamboo has a LIFETIME structural warranty and a 25 Year Surface Wear Warranty. Unbeatable warranty. Nothing else comes close in terms of warranty (especially when it comes from a National retailer the size of us). If you are having any doubts, we would suggest contacting Claude from the Auburn Store or Jamie from the Castle Hill Store (from memory these two stores are close to you). Both are industry professionals with many years experience. As the franchisees, they are also able to package you an advantageous deal. Harvey Norman have some of Sydney's best installers contracting to them and will be able to ensure you get a top finish without the complications you have experienced to date. PS. Even if you only had the cork down on its own, it would be perfectly fine to go over it with any floating floor providing the floating floor was of a good construction with a decent clicking profile. In actual fact, one of the best acoustic underlays on the market is made from cork and rubber and is purpose made to go under floating floors !!! So it would be our opinion that the information you have been told is not right. Please understand though that we are only judging it on what information we have on hand here and haven't seen your situation first hand. Call either Claude or Jamie up and either would be happy to personally assist you. Best wishes. CALL 1300GOHARVEY www.harveynormanflooring.com.au Carpet, Rugs, Timber, Bamboo, Laminate, Vinyl & Vinyl Tiles TIMBERMAX Real Australian Hardwood Flooring IN STORES NOW Re: Bamboo installation question 6Mar 22, 2012 10:36 am On the topic of installation, we're getting our floors installed next week and I had a quick question about underlay. We're getting a 3mm foam underlay with moisture barrier. The installer has also advised for extra moisture-protection to lay down a moisture sheet ontop of the tiles. Question I have is this foam 3mm underlay good or just the cheap crap? It is lined with foil (moisture barrier) but I'm just wondering if it's going to give that "crackling sound" when we walk over it as the foil is pressed down? Re: Bamboo installation question 8Mar 22, 2012 1:43 pm sco77k Hi Cenz, so you're going over tiles also? May I ask why you chose this option and not removing the tiles? Losing 16mm of height doesn't phase us as much as paying to remove and dispose of tiles (along with the mess it will make) Re: Bamboo installation question 10Mar 22, 2012 3:37 pm sco77k Yeah same with us. What company is doing your floor? I think we are going with iflooring we know a few ppl who recommend them. Have you been to Auburn or Castle Hill yet to see the Naturally Bamboo range ? CALL 1300GOHARVEY www.harveynormanflooring.com.au Carpet, Rugs, Timber, Bamboo, Laminate, Vinyl & Vinyl Tiles TIMBERMAX Real Australian Hardwood Flooring IN STORES NOW Re: Bamboo installation question 11Mar 23, 2012 9:58 am HN Flooring Team sco77k Yeah same with us. What company is doing your floor? I think we are going with iflooring we know a few ppl who recommend them. Have you been to Auburn or Castle Hill yet to see the Naturally Bamboo range ? Going this weekend! Re: Bamboo installation question 12Mar 23, 2012 1:35 pm sco77k Yeah same with us. What company is doing your floor? I think we are going with iflooring we know a few ppl who recommend them. We're going with Royal Timber Flooring on Windsor Rd, Baulkham Hills I need to replace the worn mohair seal on my sliding window, but I can't get access to the end to slide the old one out & push the new one in. I could probably rip the old… 0 5196 Thanks Simon, I guess I'm no concerned with the volume of the noise rather that dead and hollow sound and feel that is associated with floating floors. But I'm not sure… 3 6146 |