Solid Plank Bamboo Flooring over cement slab - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

mikep-s · 05-25-2009, 06:27 AM

Homeowner purchaed several hundred sq ft of solid plank bamboo flooring to be installed over a plywood sub-floor. They have since moved to a home (ranch) with a cement slab approximately 11 years old and in good shape. They want the flooring glued to the slab as it obivously cannot be nailed.
Any advice on this installation.

Thanks

rbsremodeling · 05-25-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikep-s

Homeowner purchaed several hundred sq ft of solid plank bamboo flooring to be installed over a plywood sub-floor. They have since moved to a home (ranch) with a cement slab approximately 11 years old and in good shape. They want the flooring glued to the slab as it obivously cannot be nailed.
Any advice on this installation.

Thanks

Liquid nail bamboo floor adhesive. Home depot paint isle, third shelf from the top

**loneframer** · 05-25-2009, 07:32 AM

Bamboozle Bamboo Floor Adhesive.
"You ain't been stuck, till you've been Bamboozled."

PrecisionFloors · 05-25-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

Liquid nail bamboo floor adhesive. Home depot paint isle, third shelf from the top

Nah I heard contact adhesive was the way to go.

Rkeister · 05-25-2009, 08:48 AM

Absolutely no to some of the above responses. For any kind of solids you MUST use a urethane based wood adhesive. Some Products suitable would be:
Roberts 1408
Bostick's Best
Dritac 7400

**Floorwizard** · 05-25-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Absolutely no to some of the above responses.

Some?

that's funny!

Rkeister · 05-25-2009, 02:33 PM

I was trying to be nice! this way each person didn't know which one i was talking to!

PrecisionFloors · 05-25-2009, 04:33 PM

Sarcasm. You may have heard of it....you can find it at the Home Depot Pro Desk.

Rkeister · 05-25-2009, 04:36 PM

Haha, ok i feel better about you now

To thread creator, just make sure you get a urethane wood adhesive not an acrylic.

rbsremodeling · 05-25-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrecisionFloors

Sarcasm. You may have heard of it....you can find it at the Home Depot Pro Desk.

Can you get this sarcasm you speak of on will call?

Floordude · 05-26-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rkeister

I was trying to be nice! this way each person didn't know which one i was talking to!

Mikes first post...

Claims to be a General Home Improvements, when he should already know the answers to the question he asked. Obvious DIY question. There is a sister site for the DIYers

Gluing Bamboo to concrete is very very very risky... did I say very risky.

There is a lot more to it then slopping some urethane glue on the concrete and cutting boards.

I highly suggest he call the manufacturer of the bamboo flooring and get very specific installation requirements for this obviously DIY'er job.

strathd · 05-26-2009, 12:05 PM

Funny how these guys dont repost. Hack or DIY there all the same.

naptown CR · 05-26-2009, 12:08 PM

sounds like a HO to me. I don't think I could ever recommend putting solid strip flooring on concrete. OP doesn't mention if it is above or below grade. On slabs engineered is the only way to go.

Rkeister · 05-26-2009, 12:24 PM

Yes, Mike will have to check with his specific Bamboo Manufacturer on the below grade issue. Most "solid" Bamboo is 5/8. & suitable for glue down installation." Bamboo is a very stable product & even solid bamboo is really an engineered product. As long as the manufacturer of his product gives the A-OK to glue down in a below grade application a good quality urethane wood adhesive will do the job.

PrecisionFloors · 05-26-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

Can you get this sarcasm you speak of on will call?

A big orange bucket of it is on hold for you as we speak

Be sure to bring 3 forms of I.D. or hire two of the brown "contractors" out in the parking lot to pick it up for you.....they don't seem to need credentials

naptown CR · 05-26-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

Can you get this sarcasm you speak of on will call?

Actually it's the only thing they will deliver for free

THDTile1229 · 05-26-2009, 08:53 PM

Hmm - Well I'd be falling into the category of DIY'er, but more knowledge then some of the hacks I've seen here so far- its inevitable...
True Hardwood + Cement = Issues
Engineered is def the way to go- but still can't say I believe in that product 100% here at my Orange corner of the world...
Wouldn't it be damn near guaranteed to be an issue just glueing this stuff down? Unless the Bostiks best (which in my store has actually been removed from stock-or is on clearance anywho) has some kind of vapor barrier like quality (which I'll be checking out the specs)...
Flat out don't like this idea...

Rkeister · 05-26-2009, 11:05 PM

Solid Bamboo isn't like Solid Hardwood. That's why most manufacturer's will allow a glue down application of their product. Bamboo has extroardinary structural stability and the product is pressed and glued together in manufacturing. It's also only 5/8" thick rather than a full 3/4". You will have to check with the specific manufacturer but every manufacturer of bamboo that I display in the store is suitable for glue down using a urethane based wood adhesive. (bosticks best, dritac 7400, roberts-1408) You will have to also check with the manufacturer if they will warrant the floor below grade, that's my larger concern, not the glue down on concrete.

I did some research for you, the below grade is going to be an issue for the bamboo. If it was on grade slab, you would have gotten the A-OK. Look into USfloors they have some great bamboo products.

Floordude · 05-27-2009, 11:49 AM

Bamboo over concrete, using Bostik's Best

PrecisionFloors · 05-27-2009, 12:09 PM

^^ Something tells me a moisture test was not even thought of.