While it may be tempting to carry out this project on your own, professional bamboo floor installation in Winston-Salem can help you ensure the best results. Reliable experts take precise measurements, ensure proper acclimation, and provide a seamless experience, saving you potential headaches down the road. Join us today as we give you an insight into what you can expect from a professional installation so you can enjoy a flawless process and long-lasting results. 

How are bamboo floors installed?

Whether you’re upgrading your home or starting fresh, bamboo flooring can enhance both functionality and style of your space and professionals can help you minimize any errors, extend the floor’s lifespan and ensure a perfect finish. Here’s what you can expect:

Inspection & preparation

Your installers will start by evaluating your subfloor to check for any moisture issues, leveling needs, and debris. In case there are any uneven areas, they may need to sand them down or fill to create a flat surface. If necessary, they’ll perform a moisture test to make sure the subfloor doesn’t contain excess moisture, which could lead to warping or even mold growth. 

Acclimation

It’s necessary for bamboo planks to be stored in the room for 3 to 7 days before installation to adjust to your home’s temperature and humidity levels. This step is very important because bamboo is a natural material that expands and contracts based on environmental conditions and skipping this step could lead to gaps or buckling after installation.

Subfloor preparation

Depending on your subfloor, your experts will add a moisture barrier or underlayment. This helps protect the bamboo from excess moisture and also provides soundproofing. If you have concrete subfloors, it may be necessary to add a vapor barrier to prevent moisture from seeping in. If you’re installing over plywood, the surface should be securely fastened and free of squeaks or movement.

Laying the flooring

The method experts will use for the step depends on the type of flooring you choose:

• For solid bamboo flooring, they’ll either nail or glue the planks down securely. Nailing requires precise placement to ensure stability, while gluing involves applying a strong adhesive to keep the planks in place.
• When it comes to engineered bamboo flooring, they usually use a floating method, where the planks are interlocked over an underlayment. This method is flexible and allows for quicker installation.
• Strand-woven bamboo, which is known for its high durability, can be installed using any of these methods, though it requires specialized tools because of its density. Installers usually use carbide-tipped saw blades to cut the planks without splintering.

Expansion gaps

Because bamboo naturally expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity, installers leave small gaps, usually about ¼ inch, along the walls to allow for this movement. These gaps are later covered with baseboards or quarter-round molding to maintain a seamless look. 

Finishing touches

Once all the planks are in their place, your pros will add trim, baseboards, and transition moldings to complete the look and ensure a polished finish. They’ll also inspect the floor for any minor gaps or uneven areas and make any necessary adjustments before completing the process. 

Who provides comprehensive bamboo floor installation in Winston-Salem?

Whether you’re considering refinishing your bamboo floors, you want to make sure you maintain them properly, or you’re looking to find out more about the advantages of bamboo flooring, reach out to our experts at Premier Hardwood Flooring. We’ll carefully listen to your needs and work with you to craft quality solutions that meet your needs. Whether you’re near the Reynolda House Museum of American Art or across the region, you can count on our expertise. Call today!