Suitable Sub-floors

Ultimate Flooring Solid Strand Woven Bamboo flooring is suitable for any subfloor that is structurally sound, clean, and dry and level such as;

• Concrete Slab.
  
  
• Sheet flooring such as plywood or particleboard.
  
  
• Existing Strip timber floors.
  
  
• Tiles.

Note: Bamboo flooring is not suitable for installation over heated sub-floors.

Concrete Slab

• The concrete slab should be dry, clean and free of dust, wax coatings, adhesives, curing compounds or oil and grease.
  
  
• The slab must be flat with no more than +/- 3mm in a 3m radius at any point. If any deviations are greater than this then leveling will be required and it may be necessary to engage the services of a licensed professional floor leveler.
  
  
• At all times when installing on to a concrete slab the moisture content should be measured and recorded using an appropriate moisture meter and a moisture barrier must be installed to ensure coverage under product warranties.

Plywood and Particleboard

• These sub-floors should be free from wax and dirt.
  
  
• The sub-floor must be flat with no more than +/- 3mm in a 3m radius at any point. If any deviations are greater than this then leveling will be required and it may be necessary to engage the services of a licensed professional floor leveler. It may also be necessary to sand or plane the joins if any lipping or unevenness is present.

Tiles

• Tiles should be check to ensure that there are no “drummy” or loose tiles. These will need to be removed and the “hole” left filled with a high quality leveling compound.
  
  
• The entire surface of the tiles should be ground to remove sufficient glaze or finish to ensure proper adhesion.
  
  
• The surface must be flat with no more than +/- 3mm in a 3m radius at any point. If any deviations are greater than this then leveling will be required and it may be necessary to engage the services of a licensed professional floor leveler.

Existing Timber Floor

• Timber flooring must be rough-sanded to remove any cupping, rough material or unevenness.
  
  
• Sand to remove any existing wax or other surface finishes.
  
  
• The timber sub-floor should be free of gaps.
  
  
• If the above is not practical then a plywood base should be installed to act as the sub-floor.

Installation – FLOATING FLOOR

NOTE: Only Ultimate Flooring Solid Strand Woven Click is suitable for installation as a floating floor

• Unroll the underlay with the pre-attached moisture barrier face down.
  
  
• The underlay should butt together with the overlap fully taken up and adhered with the attached strip of double-sided tape.
  
  
• It is recommended that the boards be installed parallel to the longest wall.
  
  
• A minimum expansion gap of 8-10mm should be allowed on all edges.
  
  
• For floors in excess of 10m in width or 20m in length either a larger expansion gap may be required or an expansion join may be needed. Contact your supplier if you require further information.
  
  
• Start new rows with a board at least 450mm shorter or longer than the strip used in the previous row.
  
  
• Any excess adhesive must be removed immediately as you work using white or methylated spirits.
  
  
• Around walls standard skirting boards of sufficient minimum thickness can be used to cover the expansion gap. Scotia or trims may be needed at points where skirts are inappropriate.

Installation – Direct Stick

• A moisture barrier must be used on all concrete sub-floors. See the adhesives recommendation for appropriate products. In any event a moisture barrier should be used in all cases where the sub-floor moisture content is greater than 5.5%.
  
  
• The use of either Sikabond T55 or Selleys Liquid Nails Direct Stick adhesives is recommended. The Adhesive manufacturer’s instructions must be followed utilizing the appropriate notched trowel. Sufficient adhesive should only be spread for a small amount of boards at a time.
  
  
• It is recommended that the boards be installed parallel to the longest wall.
  
  
• A minimum expansion gap of 8-10mm should be allowed on all edges.
  
  
• For floors in excess of 10m in width or 20m in length either a larger expansion gap may be required or an expansion join may be needed. Contact your supplier if you require further information.
  
  
• Start new rows with a board at least 450mm shorter or longer than the strip used in the previous row.
  
  
• Any excess adhesive must be removed immediately as you work using white or methylated spirits.
  
  
• Once laid the boards should be in constant firm contact with the sub-floor until the adhesive has cured. Application of appropriate weights will hasten this process but if used they should not be removed until the adhesive is dry.
  
  
• Around walls standard skirting boards of sufficient minimum thickness can be used to cover the expansion gap. Scotia or trims may be needed at points where skirts are inappropriate.

NOTE: It is of particular importance that all excess adhesives be removed from the surface of the boards immediately as you work as they can result in damage to the factory finish. This guide is not intended to be exhaustive and you should contact your supplier before proceeding if you have any questions.