Installation Directions
Upon Receipt of Product
All Bamboo flooring is quality inspected before packaging and shipping. A final job site inspection of your flooring, however, should be performed
for grade, color, finish and quality, before installation. Use
adequate lighting for proper inspection. We cannot accept responsibility for flooring installed
with visible defects; expect a standard 5%-7% rate of flooring imperfections. If there is more than this, please contact us before installation.
Requirements
for the Job site
• Before the installation of flooring,
the installer must ensure that the job site and sub-floor meet the
requirements of these instructions. We are not responsible for floor failure resulting from unsatisfactory job site and/or sub-floor conditions.
•
Flooring cannot be laid below grade or in a high humidity area such as a bathroom and still be under warranty.
• Any work involving
water or moisture should be completed before floor installation.
•
One week before installation set a jobsite room temperature of 60-70 F degrees, and a humidity range of 40- 60%. It is highly recommended that room temperature and humidity of installation area be consistent
with normal, year-round living conditions.
• Dragonfly® Bamboo flooring should be one of the last items installed
on any new construction or remodeling project.
Acceptable Subfloor Types:
•
Plywood or OSB 3/4"
• Concrete slab
Subfloor must be:
1. Clean:
Thoroughly swept and free of all debris
2. Structurally
sound
3. Level: Flat to 3/16" per 10-feet radius
4. Dry: Subfloor must remain dry year-round. Moisture content of wood
subfloor must not exceed 12%.
5. In any situation when
there is a question about the moisture content of the sub-floor, we recommend the use of
a moisture vapor protection system. Such as Silencer HD. The moisture level of the subfloor should be within 3% of the finished bamboo flooring.
6. Wood subfloors must be dry and well secured. Nail or screw the subfloor every 6" along
joists to avoid squeaking. If not level, sand down high spots
and fill low spots with an underlayment patch.
7. Concrete
must be fully cured, at least 60 days. If not level, grind down high spots and fill low spots with leveling compound. The concrete subfloor must be flat to 3/16" per 10 foot radius. Do not
install on concrete unless you are sure it stays dry year-round.
All concrete must be tested for moisture. If the specified testing results
are met, our bamboo floors can be installed below grade.
8.
Radiant heat: Subfloor should never exceed 85 degrees F. Check with manufacturers suggested guidelines for correct water temperature inside heating pipes. Switch on the heating unit seven days before
flooring installation. Room temperature should not vary more
than 15F degrees year-round. For glue down installations, leave
the heating unit on for three days following installation.
9.
Floating: A high-density moisture barrier membrane needs to be used as an underlayment, such as Silencer HD.
Getting Started
Bamboo can have a wide range of color hues
within a single product, and needs to be laid out before installation
to avoid blocking of colors. Store the flooring at installation
site for 72 hours before installation to allow flooring to adjust
to room temperature and humidity. Do not store directly
on concrete or near outside walls. All flooring should be unpacked
and stacked in a overlapping “criss-cross” pattern.
(See drawing)
To lay out flooring, the distance you measure from the wall should be the
width of a plank plus 1/2" for an expansion space. Installer
is responsible for the lay out of the floor. If outside wall is out of square, adjust working
line to make it straight for the rest of your installation.
Nail Down Installation:
. • First lay down a vapor barrier
. • Install flooring perpendicular to floor joists.
. • Snap a chalk-line following it when laying the first planks. Lay the first plank inside
the chalk line with
grooved edge toward wall. If spacing
between wall and first rows of flooring does not allow room for nail gun, fasten
by face nailing, gluing, pre-drilling and edge nailing by hand -with hammer and nail set- or a combination of these.
. • Counter-sink
finish nails below surface and fill with matching wood putty. Always leave at least a 1/2"
expansion space between flooring and all walls and vertical objects such as pipes and cabinets.
Use wood or plastic spacers during installation to maintain this
expansion space. Lay subsequent rows with nail or staple gun appropriate
for 1/2" or 11/16" flooring. Nail each board every 6-10 inches and within 2" of each end. Remember to stagger end joints from row to row and use cut ends to begin and end following
rows.
. • Set your pressure and leveling shoe and
test a few pieced before proceeding. If you have problems re-check your
equipment for adjustments.
Gluing Down Installation
. • A vapor barrier can be used with glue downs as well. Silencer HD can be glued on both
sides.
. • Use a Urethane Adhesive. Always follow
ALL instructions of the adhesivebeing used. Read adhesive
instructions
carefully for proper trowel size and adhesive set time. Never use “wet" or “loose lay" method of installing (installing the flooring immediately after spreading adhesive.)
This method will trap moisture under the floor and could cause
the flooring to warp.
. • Starting at outside wall,
spread as much adhesive as can be covered byflooring in one hour (or as
recommended
by your adhesive instructions
. • Once adhesive has
tacked, lay the first row of flooring and continue layingflooring until adhesive is covered. Always check your working lines to be sure the floor is still aligned. Be careful not to let installed
floor move on the wet adhesive while you are working.
. • When first section is finished, continue to spread adhesive
and layflooring section by section until
installation is
complete. Remove any adhesive that gets on flooring surface immediately.
•
Always leave at least a 1/2" expansion space between flooring and all walls and vertical objects (such as pipes and cabinets). Use wood or plastic spacers during installation to maintain
this expansion space.
. • Walk each section of flooring
foot-by-foot or roll within the adhesive working time to ensure solid contact with
the adhesive. Flooring on perimeter of room may require weighting until adhesive cures enough to hold them in place.
.
Floating floor installation
• Do not float over radiant heat
• The membrane underlayment has to be a minimum of 2mm
thick. This underlayment works as a sound proof barrier and a
moisture barrier.
• Always leave a 1/2” space
between all walls and other vertical barriers when laying Dragonfly
bamboo.
• Use 1/2” strips of cork to fill gaps
along floor’s edges.
• Glue the tongue and groove,
use a bead along the length and the end. Use a wood glue, Dragonfly
recommends using Titebond2. Any floor over 18’ width or 24’ length will need to be
divided with additional 1/2” expansion joints. These can be covered with “T” molding.
You
MUST stagger all joints (see drawing)
Installation over radiant heat
. • Subfloor should never exceed 85 degrees F. Check
with manufacturers suggested guidelines for correct water temperature
inside heating pipes. Switch on the heating unit seven days before flooring installation.
. • A new concrete slab needs to have cured for at least 60 days.
. • Room temperature should not vary more than 15F year-round.
. • Have heat running for at least 7 days before installation.
. • Do not float.
. •
For glue down installations leave the heating unit on for three days following installation.
. • Heating should be increased and decreased gradually under the bamboo flooring, AVOID
ABRUPT TEMPERATURE CHANGES, in order not to cause warping or
cracking.