Standard Bamboo Floor Installation

Before You Begin
A final jobsite inspection of your flooring should be performed for grade, color, finish and quality. Ensure adequate lighting for proper inspection. If you find an irregularity in your flooring, please contact the manufacturer immediately for replacement. The manufacturer cannot accept responsibility for flooring installed with visible defects.

Jobsite Requirements
Prior to installation of any flooring, the installer must ensure that the jobsite and subfloor meet the requirements of NOFMA's instructions. The manufacturer will not be responsible for floor failure resulting from unsatisfactory jobsite and/or subfloor conditions.

Bamboo flooring should be one of the last items installed on any new construction or remodel project. All work involving water or moisture should be completed before floor installation.

Room temperature and humidity of installation area should be consistent with normal, year-round living conditions for at least a week before installation. Room temperature of 60-70ºF and humidity range of 40-60% is recommended.

Store your bamboo 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. This flooring may not be acceptable for full bathroom installations because of moisture associated with such locations.

Acceptable Subfloor types:

• Plywood or OSB _" o Concrete slab
• Existing wood floor _" or greater

Subfloor must be:

• Structurally sound
• Clean: Thoroughly swept and free of all debris
• Level: Flat to 3/16" per 10-feet radius
• Dry: Subfloor must remain dry year-round. Moisture content of wood subfloor must not exceed 12%, concrete moisture content must not exceed 3 lbs.

Wood Subfloors must be dry and well secured. Nail or screw every 6" along joists to avoid squeaking. If not level, sand down high spots and fill low spots with an underlayment patch.

Concrete must be fully cured, at least 60 days. If not level, grind down high spots and fill low spots with leveling compound. Must be flat to 3/16" per 10 foot radius. Do not install on concrete unless you are sure it stays dry year-round. UAll concrete must be tested for moisture.

Getting Started
Remember to begin installation next to an outside wall. This is usually the straightest and best reference for establishing a straight working line. Establish this line by measuring an equal distance from the wall at both ends and snapping a chalkline. The distance you measure from the wall should be the width of a plank plus about _" for expansion space. 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 a 15lb. felt paper vapor barrier, and install flooring perpendicular to floor joists. Lay first plank inside chalkline 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 5/8" 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 5/8" 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.

We recommend the Stanley-Bostitch staple gun for 5/8" flooring or the Powernail model#445. Make sure your nail gun is properly adjusted and does not damage the floor or finish on installation. Set your pressure and leveling shoe and test a few pieced before proceeding. If you have a problem re-check your equipment for adjustment or call Smith & Fong technical. Smith & Fong cannot take responsibility for flooring damaged on installation. All installation procedures should follow NOFMA recommendations.

Gluing Down Installation

• Bostik's Best Urethane Adhesive is our recommended adhesive. Read adhesive instructions carefully for proper trowel size and adhesive set time. Never use the "wet lay" or "loose lay" method of installing. This is when you install the flooring immediately after spreading adhesive. This method will trap moisture under the floor and can cause the flooring to warp.
• Starting at outside wall, spread as much adhesive as can be covered by flooring in one hour (or as recommended by your adhesive instructions). Spread with trowel at a 45º angle.
• Once adhesive has tacked, lay the first row of Plyboo® and continue laying flooring 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 lay flooring section by section until installation is complete. Remove any adhesive that gets on flooring surface immediately.
• Always leave at least a 5/8" 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.

Finishing the job

• Remove expansion spacers and install base and/or quarter round moldings to cover the expansion space.
• Install any transition pieces that may be needed (reducer, T-moldings).
• Do not allow foot traffic or heavy furniture on floor for 24 hours or as adhesive manufacture requires.
• Vacuum your floor to remove any dirt or debris.

Cleaning and Maintenance The maintenance program for Plyboo® flooring is designed to be user friendly. The latest advances in finish technology are used in our manufacturing process to help aid product performance and maintenance. The following simple steps should be used to ensure the best performance and appearance. The use of other products like wax, water or oil soaps should be avoided.

After your floor has been installed, floor protectors should be placed under the legs of chairs and tables. Doors leading outsides should have floor mats placed both inside and out.

Your floor should be cleaned weekly with the use of a suction vacuum, no abrasive rotary brush vacuums, to remove grit and debris from the surface of the flooring. Higher traffic floors may require more frequent cleaning to keep floor free of grit and abrasive debris that can damage your floor and finish.

As needed: We recommend the Bona-X Cleaning System or other similar cleaning systems. Bona-X will remove minor scuffs and foot traffic film with an odorless VOC compliant product. The use of this product will not create future maintenance issues if and when re-coating the floor becomes necessary.

If there are areas that will not clean up with the Bona-X System, the use of Goof-Off will. Goof-off is a water-based cleaner that will remove paint, ink, adhesive residue, and chewing gum without harming the finish. This product is available over the counter at most building material or paint stores.

Refinishing:
When refinishing is necessary and the floor has been maintained properly, it can easily be recoated by a process of cleaning, light abrasion and reapplication of an appropriate finish material. We recommend a system employing an initial coat of Bonatech Prep Sealer, and two top coats of Bonatech Mega or Traffic finish. Other brand name quality finishes will work as well.