Cali Bamboo Installation over existing hardwood floor

6 years ago

Hi,

We are installing Cali Bamboo over our current hardwood floors (there is possible asbestos below the wood floors and therefore not removing).

My question is, what do we need to put down below the Cali Bamboo? Do we need a sheet of plywood and then the underlayment? Can we just do underlayment directly above the wood floor, followed by the Cali Bamboo?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thank you

Comments (5)

User
6 years ago
There are several very experienced folks in the Flooring forum, try posting questions there.
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
6 years ago
Cali Bamboo makes DIFFERENT types of floors. Each one has it's own installation instructions. We can't offer advice until we know WHICH type of floor you are installing. Floating, engineered, vinyl, solid???? So many different options for each floor = we can't help until you tell us which one you are working with and how you plan to install it (floating, glue, nail/staple).

Please offer the name/type of floor you are purchasing from CaliBamboo and we will have a look. And then more information about the current floors. Are they solid? Engineered? How were they installed? Factory finished vs. site finished? Photos would REALLY help.

Please give us more information.
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nysmallspace
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you for the message! The cali bamboo that we are using is: Vintage Moonlight Fossilized Bamboo Flooring (https://www.calibamboo.com/product-grey-hardwood-floors-vintage-moonlight-9009008001.html)

We are planning to glue it down.

Current floors are hardwood floors installed over 20 years ago and site finished. Per a few flooring contractors, there is no room to further sand them down. Parts of the current floor creak as well and parts of it are sagging a bit. Below is a picture:
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
6 years ago
Uhhhhhm...you do know the "wide click" or "click" system is NOT allowed to be glued??????

https://www.calibamboo.com/content/installation/instructions/Cali-Bamboo-Engineered-Cork-Flooring-Installation-Angle-Lock-Guidelines.pdf

And another thing you want to know: "glue" does NOT like to be applied to a finished hardwood. If you want to glue down anything over top of an existing hardwood, the finish needs to be sanded down to raw wood.

The floating bamboo is a great idea (assuming you can maintain indoor humidity for bamboo). Cork underlayment would a great idea for noise...but you still have to deal with the lack of "flatness". Cork won't correct that...flatness still needs to be achieved before you install a rigid floor.
PRO
Cali Floors
6 years ago
Hi there!

We're excited for your installation and happy you chose such a beautiful floor!

Just to clarify a few things, the installation guide pasted above is for our cork flooring, not the solid bamboo, and they install a little differently. Our solid click bamboo flooring as well as our solid tongue-and-groove bamboo flooring is 100% warrantied to be glued down (as well as nailed down or floated).

However, if you're planning to glue-down over the existing hardwood, it's true that you'll need to either sand off the existing finish or add a plywood subfloor on top of the current flooring.

If you need any more details, you can find the appropriate installation guide below, or you can give us a call at 888-788-2254 and we'll hook you up with a bamboo installation expert!

https://www.calibamboo.com/bamboo-floor-installation/

Best of luck! Can't wait to see photos!

Cali Bamboo Installation over existing hardwood floor

Comments (5)

User

Cancork Floor Inc.

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Cali Bamboo Installation over existing hardwood floor

Comments (5)

User

Cancork Floor Inc.

Related Discussions

nysmallspaceOriginal Author

Cancork Floor Inc.

Cali Floors

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

nysmallspace
Original Author