Installation guidelines
Craftsman prefinished, wide-plank, solid-strip flooring
Please read Teragren LLC's warranty, maintenance instructions, and ALL of the following guidelines before opening any packaging or beginning your flooring installation. This information is provided as a courtesy to our customers and intended as an installation guideline only.
Teragren LLC recommends using the services of a professional hardwood flooring installer. For more information and guidelines on the installation of hardwood flooring, please contact the National Wood Flooring Association (800.422.4556).
Because bamboo is a natural fiber, it is not uncommon for natural variations in color to occur within and between individual flooring planks. Teragren's warranty does not cover variations in color either in individual planks, between the planks, or the variations in color between our product samples and the installed flooring. An industry standard of 5% material overage should be added to the actual square footage required for cutting and grading allowances.
Prior to installation, the installer and/or homeowner should inspect all material to ensure the material received matches the work order. Any visible defects or discrepancies should immediately be reported to your distributor or dealer. Installation of any material serves as acceptance of that material as delivered.
It is considered the installer/owner's responsibility not to install flooring having finish, manufacturing, or unacceptable naturally occurring material variations. Individual planks with defects should not be installed or the defect should be cut-out prior to installation. The Teragren warranty does not cover materials with visible defects once they are installed.
Teragren LLC makes no warranty or guarantee of the quality of the chosen installer's work or of a particular installation performed by the installer. Teragren LLC disclaims all liability for any errors or improprieties in the installation of its products by an installer.
Pre-Installation Notes
It is considered the sole responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the job site's sub-floor and environmental conditions are suitable for the installation of Teragren flooring and trim.
Teragren flooring should be allowed to acclimate on the job site for a minimum of 3 days. Open each box and remove the shrink-wrap and foam, and stack the flooring planks off the ground to allow for complete air circulation. This acclimation period should occur at expected normal room temperature and humidity levels before and after installation. Damp or cold conditions before and during installation should be avoided. The maximum difference in moisture content between the sub-floor and the flooring material should be no more than 3%. On-site humidity levels should remain between 40% and 60%. It is important to note that gaps in the floor may come and go seasonally due to temperature and relative humidity changes. The amount of movement depends upon the temperature, moisture content of the flooring and sub-flooring (wood moves as moisture content rises and falls) and the dimensional stability of the material.
Teragren Craftsman prefinished 6' x 6" wide-plank bamboo flooring is best installed by one of the methods outlined below. Note: the method you choose will be dictated by whether or not the flooring is being installed above or below grade (above ground level or below ground level).
Above or on grade: Craftsman flooring may be installed by floating, nailing, stapling or gluing planks directly to a wooden or concrete sub-floor. Note: do not nail or staple planks to a concrete sub-floor.
Below grade: Craftsman may be floated above a wooden or concrete sub-floor.
Teragren Craftsman may also be installed over radiant floor heating systems above or below grade (see Radiant Heating Systems section below).
Note: Teragren manufactures other prefinished bamboo flooring styles for installation below grade.
Tools Recommended
Nail or Staple Installation: Hammer (1 lb.), tape measure, chalk line, carpenter's square, scribing block, flat bar, 1⁄2" wedges, saw, chop saw, manual or pneumatic tongue-and-groove flooring stapler or nailer, 1-1⁄2" to 2" long 15-1⁄2 gauge 1⁄2" crown staples or equivalent, or for the nailer 1-1⁄2" to 2", 15-1⁄2 gauge cleats, moisture barrier such as 15-lb. asphalt saturated felt paper or equivalent.
Glue-down Installation: Hammer (1 lb.), tape measure, chalk line, pencil, carpenter's square, scribing block, flat bar, 1⁄2" wedges, saw, chop saw, premium wood flooring adhesive, low-adhesive painter's tape.
Floating Installation: Hammer (1 lb.), tape measure, chalk line, pencil, carpenter's square, scribing block, flat bar, 1⁄2" wedges, saw, chop saw, low-adhesive painter's tape, 6mm polyethylene vapor barrier, floating floor approved 1⁄ 8" underlayment.
Sub-Floors
Wood sub-flooring surfaces must be clean, dry and, if gluing the flooring, free of contaminants that would interfere with an adhesive bond. A moisture-vapor retardant such as 6-mil polyethylene film should be placed in crawl spaces. Fix any squeaks or movement in the sub-floor prior to installation. The sub-floor surface must also be level and smooth prior to the installation of any flooring. High spots should be sanded flat. Teragren recommends using 3⁄4" CDX plywood as a nailing substrate or for a glue application, 5⁄8" CDX plywood for 12" on center and 16" on center floors, and 3⁄4" CDX plywood for 24" on center floors. A sub-floor of 1-1/8" plywood over joists at 16" on center is recommended for an optimal installation.
Concrete sub-floors must be tested for moisture in more than one place for consistent readings. Teragren recommends using the Calcium Chloride Test Method to quantify the volume of moisture vapor radiating from a concrete slab surface over time and if vapor pressure exceeds 3 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. in 24 hours to not install the floor. Concrete should be checked for flatness prior to installation and any low spots or voids should be filled to a minimum of 3/16" within a 10' radius or 1⁄8" in a 6' radius, and high spots ground to surface. Surface must be smooth and free of debris, oils, grease and solvents.
Nail or Staple Down
Prior to installation, place a 15-lb. asphalt saturated felt paper or equivalent, meeting ASTM D4869 standards, over the entire sub-floor following the manufacturer's instructions. Installed flooring should be square with the space and perpendicular to the joists, leaving a 1⁄2" expansion space from base plate or wall. Starter rows should be held firmly in place by wedging or blind-nailing. Once starter rows are secure, additional rows should be blind-nailed directly above the tongue at a 45° to 50° angle to the face of each plank. Fasteners should be spaced at 10" to 12" intervals per plank. Nails or cleats should not be placed closer than 6" from the end of planks to prevent splitting of the tongue. When choosing a nailer, be certain the model is appropriate for the tongue-and-groove profiles so as not to damage the edge or surface of the flooring. Successful installation testing has been performed by the manufacturers of the following staplers and nailers:
Bostitch Mark III & Mark III Foot Kit
Port-A-Nails Model 402 Manual Nailer
Port-A-Nails Model 421 Portamatic Nailer
Port-A-Nails Model TL Portamatic Nailer Hammerhead
Port-A-Nails Model 472 Stapler Hammerhead S
Other staplers and nailers may work equally well.
Glue-down Installation
For glue-down applications, Teragren recommends using a premium wood-flooring adhesive (for example, Bostik's Best). The sub-floor must be extremely flat, and the flooring should be square with the space and run perpendicular to the joists leaving a 1⁄2" expansion space from base plate or wall. Starter rows should be held firmly in place by wedging or blind nailing. Once the starter rows are secure, apply the adhesive in a Wet-Lay or Walk-on-Work method of installation. It is helpful to apply weight to hold flooring down during drying time. All adhesive spillage should be removed immediately, using methods defined within the adhesive manufacturer's instructions, to prevent permanent damage to the flooring.
Wet-lay Method: Apply adhesive directly to substrate with a suitable trowel. Immediately place flooring onto "wet" adhesive. Follow all of the adhesive manufacturer's instructions.
Walk-on-work Method: Apply adhesive directly to substrate with a suitable trowel and allow it to develop tack (which could take an hour or more depending on temperature and humidity). Once the adhesive is tacky begin installing the flooring directly onto the adhesive. Immediately roll finished installation with 150-lb. roller. The room, flooring and adhesive should all be conditioned at room temperature for 72 hours before and after installation. Follow all of the adhesive manufacturer's instructions.
Floating Installation
Install a 6mm polyethylene vapor barrier over the entire sub-floor surface. Overlap polyethylene sheets by 16" and then tape together, creating an airtight seal. Next, roll out 1⁄8" padding (underlayment) one roll at a time over the vapor barrier, being careful not to poke holes through or damage either material during installation. Run padding up walls 1" to 1-1⁄2" and secure in place with tape. Join padding sections to one another with tape. Make sure to tape down all loose edges. A "2-in-1" foam padding/moisture barrier may be substituted for polyethylene. Cut all doorjambs to the proper height to accommodate the new floor. Place a board next to the jamb using it as a guide for the saw. Allow a minimum of 1⁄2" for expansion space along all walls and fixed objects (e.g. doorframes, pipes, threaded joints, electrical installations, etc.). Set a distance of 1⁄2" around the wall by using wedge spacers that will later be removed. If the doorframes are not shortened, then an expansion joint of at least 1⁄2" between the flooring and any vertical element will be required.
For rooms with floors having dimensions exceeding 25' in any direction, additional expansion space should be added at the rate of 1⁄16" for every 3' of flooring, using one or both of the following methods: To add expansion space in the middle of a room, leave an appropriately sized gap between planks and cover the gap with a T-style molding. Expansion space may be added at the perimeter by leaving extra space between the edge of the flooring and the wall. Add additional expansion joints in doorways and archways, covering the gap with a T-style molding.
First Row: No fastening to the sub-floor is required in a floating-style installation. Walls are often not straight; therefore, it is very important to square the first row. Use a chalk line to ensure the rows are perfectly straight. Place a spacing wedge of the desired thickness against the wall. Prior to placing your first plank, squeeze the adhesive into the upper edge of the groove at the end of the plank. Lay the first plank with the long groove edge facing the wall and the tongued end against the spacing wedge. After applying glue to the groove on the end of the second plank, place it at the end of the first plank and gently tap into place. Repeat as required to complete first row. All adhesive spillage should be removed immediately as it occurs to prevent permanent damage to the flooring. Always follow the adhesive manufacturer's instructions as to how to remove unwanted adhesive.
Second Row: Begin the second row using the cutoff from the end of the first row as a starter plank for this row. This assures randomly staggered end joints. Apply adhesive to the end and side grooves and engage the planks. Use a tapping block to put the planks together (tap gently until a snug fit is achieved). Continue this process until all but the last plank is finished. Never strike the planks directly in order to engage the tongue and groove. Always use an approved tapping block and hold it tightly pressed to the tongue of the flooring. If you do not, damage to the top layer could result. It is extremely important that each completed row be secured to the adjacent row with straps or tape. If using tape, be certain that the tape is meant for the purpose of securing prefinished floating floors. Caution: The use of tape other than that specifically designed for prefinished flooring may remove the finish from your floor when the tape is removed.
Completing Floor: If necessary, cut planks lengthwise as required to fit planks for the final row. Remove all spacing wedges. Install molding as required to hide expansion gap. Remove all tape and or straps.
Note: If any adhesive has been used, allow 8 hours (or per the adhesive manufacturer's recommendations) before placing furniture or allowing traffic on newly installed floor. Do not install cabinets or walls on top of the floating floor.
Radiant Heating Systems
Teragren Craftsman prefinished 6' x 6" wide-plank bamboo flooring is suitable for installation over many radiant heating systems as long as the surface temperature of the installed flooring never exceeds 85°F. Due to the fact that radiant heating systems create "dry" heat, it is essential that the relative humidity in the installation environment be maintained between 40% and 60% and that the maximum difference in moisture content between the sub-floor and the flooring material never exceed 3%. When floating the flooring, the underlayment may insulate the heat slightly from transferring up through the floor. The owner/installer assumes sole responsibility for ensuring that the job site has environmental conditions/controls suitable for the installation of Teragren bamboo flooring over the chosen radiant heating system. The radiant heat system needs to be in operation for at least 7 days prior to installation, shut off 4 hours prior to installation, and then returned to operation once the installation is complete. When choosing an installer for application over radiant heat, consider a member of the Radiant Panel Association. Please refer to the Radiant Panel Association for more information.
Maintenance
Teragren recommends vacuuming or sweeping in order to remove dirt and grit prior to cleaning the flooring. When a spill occurs, make sure to soak up the bulk liquid promptly. As with all natural products, exposure to the sun and ultra-violet rays can accelerate the oxidation of bamboo. Because caramelized bamboo products will lighten and natural bamboo products will tend to darken over time, periodically rearrange rugs and furniture to allow for even aging of the flooring. Use area rugs in high traffic areas. Install wood guards on the feet or legs of furniture.
Do not use wax, oil soap or other household cleaners. Teragren recommends using WoodWise Floor Cleaner by Design Hardwood Products (800.424.7092) or Bona Swedish Formula® MicroPlus Hardwood Floor Cleaner by BonaKemi USA, Inc. (800.574.4674).
Proper care and maintenance can extend the life of your floor for many years; however, at some time a re-coat or total refinishing may be desirable. To re-coat your floor and remain in conformance with the Teragren warranty, follow the manufacturer's instructions at either of the following:
Basic Coatings Tykote Sandless Re-coating System (800.441.1934) or BonaPrep™ Re-coating Adhesion System by BonaKemi USA (800.872.5515).
Contact your Teragren distributor or retailer for more information or email tech support