bamboo flooring

Budwah · Sep 24, 2006 8:07 pm

I have heard good reviews about this. we will be putting in onto concrete slab. Any ideas? cost/ feedback?

3timesbuilda · Sep 25, 2006 4:09 pm

I put down some bamboo floor onto concrete. Used sikaflex glue and covered about 50sqm. Looks really great, I laid it myself and took great pride showing it off, but not an easy job by any means, esp if not experienced like me. Probably 10x more difficult than if I had gone with click lock flooring but I still think it was worth it. Most difficult around doors and things.

I think we paid about $3600 for materials including glue so divide by 50 and add in labour if not doing it yourself. I seem to remember that we aere quoted something like $40 or $50 per sqm to lay it. The type we used was the multiple thin strips glued together. I found it hard wearing but it can be damaged and scratched so take care. Repairing this stuff once down is not easy thanks to the glue and the tongue in groove mechanism. Also make sure that it is well laid, as creaking boards are not going to be easy to fix.

Hope this helps a bit, I'll try to answer any specific questions.

3timesbuilda

Michelle · Sep 25, 2006 10:32 pm

I used to sell this flooring when I worked at Carpet Court, its great flooring!

Much thicker and stronger than the timber clip lock flooring.

You won’t regret it.
In fact my boss from C/C put it through his new house so it must be good!

Dukekamaya · Sep 26, 2006 2:02 pm

Make sure you put down a membrane between the floor and the slab. Never put any type of timber flooring directly over a concrete slab

Michelle · Sep 26, 2006 2:47 pm

If your buying this flooring from a store they should not let you buy it without the underlay, it is very important as Dukekamaya has said. Dampness in a slab could cause the backboard on the Bamboo to warp then rot …not good!

Budwah · Sep 26, 2006 6:54 pm

this is great everone- I must be onto a good thing as I didn't really want to lay tiles. We are currently in the process of finalizing the contract for the house and there are certain things we want to do ourselves i.e. the flooring!!! So thanks everyone!

3timesbuilda · Sep 27, 2006 12:54 pm

I think the membrane is normally used when using something like clicklock floor which is laid but not glued.

With Bamboo floor, you use a special rubber based glue which is waterproof and acts as a barrier between the concrete and the bamboo. You should of course wait until the concrete is properly dry.

- get a square metre of plastic and lay it on the concrete.
- use packing tape or similar and tape all edges to the concrete creating a sealed pocket between the concrete and the plastic
- wait 24 hours then inspect
If the concrete or plastic is wet (condensation), your concrete is not dry and you need to wait.

A neat trick is to get a sample of the bamboo flooring you are thinking of buying. Put it through hell, try scratch it using household furniture legs etc. Use a hammer and tap on it harder and harder to get an idea of what it will sustain until it marks. Use scissors to make a deep scratch and see how it looks, can it dissapear with a bit of oil? Finally, drop it in a bucket of water for a few days and check reguarly to see how it is coping.

3timesbuilda

Dukekamaya · Sep 27, 2006 8:22 pm

3timesbuilda

A neat trick is to get a sample of the bamboo flooring you are thinking of buying. Put it through hell, try scratch it using household furniture legs etc. Use a hammer and tap on it harder and harder to get an idea of what it will sustain until it marks. Use scissors to make a deep scratch and see how it looks, can it dissapear with a bit of oil? Finally, drop it in a bucket of water for a few days and check reguarly to see how it is coping.

3timesbuilda

sounds like fun