Glue down bamboo on concrete slab

6 years ago

I'm on a concrete slab in the lowcountry of SC and I would like to install the Russet Strand Bamboo flooring from LL. Ice already done it in one small room but now I would like to add another 200 sq ft for my master bedroom. I realize that 3/4" oak on concrete is a bad idea and my bamboo is only 3/8" but it's twice as hard as oak so I'm a little worried. The glue is already increedibly expensive but if necessary I could get the one with the moisture barrier in it. I have a moisture meter for wood but I'm not sure if it will give an accurate reading for the concrete and ice already tried a moisture test with a piece of plastic and it passed that. Does anyone have any suggestions or alternatives? I chose this floor because it's the PERFECT color to match the floors in my living and dining room that were slready here, it can handle my two dogs and it's only $1.19/sq ft. Thanks so much for your help!!

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Comments (5)

Ron Natalie
6 years ago
Bamboo is less sensitive to dimensional stability than just about any other kind of wood. I'm not sure which bamboo you're looking at exactly, but another option is to float the floor. You glue the bamboo to itself but not to the floor.
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Disaster in the making without a waterproofing layer first on the concrete and then a polyurethane glue. Bamboo is mostly glue, not grass. And there are tons of claims with it glued down and cupping. Tons. Much less to start life with gawdawful LL crapola.
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We just had BR-111 brazillian cherry 5/16 installed on a slab. This was the first time this flooring company had installed 5/16 solid wood. The 2nd day after install floors started cupping just as pictured above. Some areas were worse then others. They sent out one of the flooring inspectors and he measured for moisture. Everything seemed fine and he could not figure out any moisture issues. The next day the owner came out. He brought out commercial dehummidifiers. He kept insisting it was moisture although no proof. My husband issisted on a qualified wood flooring inspector. He was to come the next day. The owner of the flooring place left. Less than 2 hours later he called on the phone and said he was sending some guys out to pull up all 1000 square feet of flooring in my whole downstairs. What was the problem??......... They had used the wrong glue. BR-111 rep said they had a new specific glue for this flooring on a slab. Flooring company had just assumed they could use glue that they usually used on all hardwood. The areas that were the worst were the areas that they had done the second day(thay were here 2 days laying floor) on the 2nd day they used a glue that was more like honey consistincy. These areas were really bad the flooring that was layed the first day did not look near as bad. If they had not changed glue the second day We may not have noticed. The other glue would not have shown the problem so drastically right away. it may have taken several weeks for the other areas to start cupping. This is the information that the certified inspector told the owner of the store. Needless to say he had 2 office personel out at my house tearing up 7500 worth of wood floor in there dress shirt, kakis, and dress shoes. They re-installed a couple of days ago with the glue from BR-111 and so far no problems. What a hassel it has been and I am installing a new kitchen.
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PRO
Johnson Flooring Co Inc
6 years ago
Gluing solid strand Bamboo to concrete is like playing Russian roulette with five bullets in a six shooter. If you're going to do this, take some bullets out of the gun. Buy moisture barrier adhesive that's approved for glue down of solid flooring and use the correct trowel(!!!). Remove the material from the cartons and stack it so air can circulate around the pieces to acclimate, the longer the better. Hopefully the indoor humidity is at a level that's moderate compared to the highs and lows for the year.

It would cost less and be less risky to float the floor over a poly sheet moisture barrier and decent foam like Floor Muffler but it appears the material isn't approved for floating installation.

https://www.lumberliquidators.com/ll/c/Russet-Brown-Strand-Bamboo-Major-Brand-BAMRB3/10043250
SJ McCarthy
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Ouch. Lumber Liquidators Bamboo at $1.19/sf....yikes. Run away! Far, far away! Glue down over slab in "lowcountry" South Carolina is a recipe for disaster. These areas with HIGH WATER TABLES (slab on grade) are the very reason man created FLOATING FLOORS.

And no - your wood moisture meter is useless on concrete AND bamboo. Yah. Bamboo is NOT wood. It is grass. It contains SO MUCH GLUE (30% is common) that a cheap wood moisture meter (something LESS than $300) will not be able to deal with bamboo.

And the glue on slab will be stupid expensive. I mean $3 per square foot type of expensive! And then you need to know HOW to apply it. And how thick. And what trowel.

And that does NOT guarantee it will survive a wet spring.

Please pick something else. And just for fun....go ahead and google Lumber liquidators - bamboo - lawsuits - dangerous off gassing.

I would not touch this bamboo with a 400 foot pole.
PRO
Cinar Interiors, Inc.
6 years ago
Bamboo is pretty but I will not install it, floating or glue down. Too many headaches in the past. I'm located in TX

If you want a glue that acts as a moisture barrier, use an urethane glue like Bostik EFA or Mapei 995

Glue down bamboo on concrete slab

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Ron Natalie

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