If you’re
planning to nail down your new Morning Star Bamboo floor, this guide will
assist you with tips, directions and helpful hints. Remember, this isn’t
all-inclusive and we highly recommend consulting a professional flooring
installer on your specific installation. You can always call your local Lumber
Liquidators and our Tech & Installation team at (800) 366-4204 with additional
questions.
Preparing to Install
Natural Variations
Bamboo is
a product of nature, characterized by distinct variations in grain, pattern and
color which should be expected. They aren’t flaws or defects! Instead, it is
the natural beauty and uniqueness of bamboo.
Stained
products will have the most uniform color or shade.
Inspection
The
customer/installer is responsible for final inspection of quality and moisture
testing of the subfloor and bamboo.
Boards
deemed unacceptable can be used in closets, near walls or simply not used at
all. Inspect the flooring often. Pieces with defects that can be seen from a
standing position should be cut off. Order 5%-10% extra for board selection.
If more
than 5% of the material is unusable, contact your local store or Customer Care
(800-366-4204) immediately.
Acclimation
Size and
shape of bamboo changes with the absorption or release of moisture. The amount
of change varies with each species, cut and type of flooring.
Check the
installation instructions of the product for proper temperature and humidity
settings, and maintain those levels. For most products, the room should be
conditioned to between 60 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a 30%-50%
humidity level.
To speed
up acclimation, open the ends of the boxes.
Remove any
plastic around the outside of the boxes.
Do not cut
the plastic support bindings or remove from packaging until ready to install.
Cartons
should be placed as close to the center of the installation area as possible.
Keep out
of direct sunlight.
Keep away
from heat/air vents.
Not
following these instructions can impact the board performance and cause
excessive movement, squeaks, gapping, cupping, and other related issues which
aren’t manufacturer related, and therefore are not covered by warranty.
Moisture Testing
Most
installation failures result from jobsite moisture!! Complete proper moisture tests.
Wet trade
involving water or moisture (plumbing, ceramic tiles, drywall finish, painting,
etc.) should be finished with ample time allowed for complete drying prior to
bamboo installation.
Do not store
in buildings without climate controls (garage, shed, outside, etc.)
Heating,
Ventilation and/or Air Conditioning systems should be fully operating and
running at least 7 days before delivery.
Subfloor Preparation
A flat
surface is very important when gluing down flooring. To minimize squeaks and
gaps the final surface must be flat to within ¼” in 10’ radius or 3/16” in 6’
radius (using mechanical fasteners 1½” and longer). Sand or grind down high
spots. Allow extra drying time for the leveling compounds
Nailers, Staplers and Fasteners
(for board sizes 3/8”, ½”, 5/8”,
9/16”)
Pneumatic
Nailer
Norge
2-in-1 Nailer/Stapler, 16 gage cleats, 1½” to 2” L
Power
Nailer 445
Bostich
MIIIFN
Pneumatic
Stapler
Norge
2-in-1 Nailer/Stapler, 15.5 gage staples, 1½” to 2” L
Bostich
MIIIFS
Power
Nailer 445FS
Cleat
Nailer
Powernail
Flex 50m, 50p or M200, M250
Primatech
Q500, Q550, 18-20 gage cleat nails ½” long
Cleat
Stapler
Powernail
445FS, Bostich MIIIFS 15 gage staples ½” wide, 1½” long
For the
best nailing results, use an 18 or 20 gage Powercleat nail that is at least 1½”
in length. Powercleats will perform the best as they do not fold or bend and
won’t damage the tongue. The biggest benefit to using a cleat nail is that they
will allow for the natural expansion and contraction of the floor as it goes
through changes of seasons. Staples have too much holding power and will
restrict the necessary movement of the flooring as it goes through these same
changes.
Place fasteners every 10” – 12” within 3” – 4” of board ends. Use a
minimum of two fasteners in every board.
Approved Underlayments
15 lb Felt
Paper- do not overlap seems
White
Silicon Vapor Shield
Bellawood
Premium- film side up (flooring minimum >3/8” thickness)
Eco Silent
Sound HD- film side down (flooring minimum >3/8” thickness”
Dream Home
Insulayment- smooth side up (flooring minimum >3/8” thickness)
Dream Home
Cork- smooth side up (between 3/8” and ¼” max thickness)
Pre-Installation
Inspection
- The
installer is the final quality inspector.
- Lay
out each piece to visually inspect for imperfections that can be cut out, or
adjustments that should be made.
- Set
aside defective boards. These can be used in hidden places such as a closet. If
the defect is unacceptable, the installer should cut it out or set it aside
completely.
- Using
stain, touch-up pens or filler sticks for correction during installation is
normal.
- Lumber
Liquidators recommends moisture testing and the use of moisture barriers.
Test the Nailer
Tongue fracture and
surface dimpling during
installation is common and can be minimized by (1) Installing the flooring in proper lighting (2) using the correct nail thickness, (3) using the recommended shoe
adaptor, or (4) changing the
angle of nail entry. Many installers will sometimes temporarily adjust the
nailer angle by applying layers of duct tape to the bottom foot plate of the
nailer.
To further
reduce the occurrence of surface
dimpling and tongue fracture the use of flooring nailers with a thinner
18-20 gage cleat nail may be needed for the Bamboo. In addition, the use of an
over-size base or foot plate to distribute the nailing force is encouraged.
If surface
dimpling or tongue fracture occurs when nailing the harder Strand Bamboo, drilling pilot holes
and hand nailing may be
required. Gluing down bamboo is also an option to avoid board damage.
Use
caution when fastening the harder exotics with Staplers. The drive bar in Staplers
are wider and if fasteners are overdriven can act like a wood chisel, splitting
tongues. Do not mix fasteners when nailing. Staples and cleats hold differently
when mixed can result in irregular seasonal gapping and or movement. When face
or top nailing, pick areas of the grain or pattern that would best hide
touch-up fillers.
Forcing or pounding
floor boards together with a rubber mallet during assembly may burse or damage
unprotected board edges.
Tips
Install
flooring in normal proper lighting.
Do not
install flooring under permanent or fixed cabinetry.
Avoid
board grouping, board sizes should be intermingled.
Use
breathable materials like paper when covering a newly installed floor.
The
customer is advised to be home during the installation for
consultation/direction.
Customer
and installer should discuss installation and layout to maximize satisfaction.
Floor
should be installed from several cartons at the same time.
Save the
item number found on the packaging box ends for future questions.
Use
caution when using staples on bamboo. Staples may increase the risk for tongue
fracture and surface dimples.
Do not mix
fasteners when nailing. Staples and cleats hold differently and when mixed can
result in irregular fastening and/or may allow excessive movement.
When face
or top nailing, pre-drilling is recommended. Pick areas of the grain or pattern
that would best hide touch-up fillers.
Do not use
significantly bowed, crooked or twisted boards. Use a wood spline or slip
tongue whenever a change in board direction is needed. Splines should be glued
with PVA wood glue and nailed into place. Forcing or pounding floor boards
together with a rubber mallet during assembly can bruise or damage board edges.
Installation Instructions
Grade:
Bamboo
flooring can be glued:
Above
grade
On grade
Subfloor:
Bamboo
flooring can be glued to:
OSB (2/4”
min)
Plywood
(5/8” min)
Firm
linoleum
Firm
kitchen vinyl
We
do not recommend bamboo for use over radiant heat flooring. For greater thermal insulation and
sound isolation, the floor can be glued over an approved underlayment (see
Approved Underlayments above).
Proper Board Placement
Boards
with similar widths should be placed together in the same row to minimize gaps
between boards.

Steps:
- The first three rows MUST BE STRAIGHT.
- Determine the starting wall, usually the longest or outside
foundation wall. At the two opposite ends of this wall, measure out and mark on
the subfloor the width of the new floor plus an expansion gap. An Expansion gap
or space must be left around the perimeter and at all vertical obstructions.
This space is normally the same as the thickness of the new flooring, for
example; 1/2” flooring requires 1/2” expansion.
- Keep the flooring straight, snap a chalk line on the floor
connecting the two floor marks. Align the tongue side of the first row of
boards on the chalk line with the groove side towards the starting wall,
maintain the expansion space.
- Pre-drill and top nail the first row of boards only. Hand
nail the following rows until nailing machines can be used. Ensure that the
nailing machines do not damage the pre-finished edges or surface. Nail into the
tongue side not the groove side, refer to picture.
- Complete the floor.
- Rip-cut final row of boards to fit. If the final board row is
less than 1˝ in width it should be edge-glued with PVA wood glue and fastened
to the last secure row.
For best matching of sheen
or milling save a box of flooring for future repairs.
Have more questions? Call
our Tech & Installation team at 800-366-4204 for additional assistance!