floating or nailed bamboo flooring

[rlwhitetr3b]

Due to water damage we are going to be replacing the bamboo flooring in our great room. The flooring we will be using is Cali Bamboo wide T&G. When the builder installed the original floor he did the glued floating type install. This product can also be nailed. Is there an advantage to one method over the other? To insure a consistent color, the entire floor will be replaced. So what was done originally will not impact the new install. If we nail it can it go under the kitchen cabinets? The floating style needed an expansion space around all fixed in place items.

 

[duneslider]

Its a preference. If it is nailed it is harder to take out later, especially if it goes under cabinets. I look at nailed down flooring as a more permanent solution where floating is a temporary. Nailed down has a different sound, doesn't sound hollow like floating.

As long as the manuf instructions are followed either install method should be fine. Not sure what the specs are on Cali Bamboo but a lot of wide flooring also requires being glued to the floor as well as nailed. May want to look into that and decide how you feel about it. That makes is much tougher to remove later.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Floating. Use the time you save to remove the base boarded and re-install them on top.

 

[snickers muncher]

I've often wondered if the floating style might be easier on the feet and joints because it should have a little more bounce or give---not as much of a difference as walking on concrete vs wood flooring, but some.

 

[duneslider]

I've often wondered if the floating style might be easier on the feet and joints because it should have a little more bounce or give---not as much of a difference as walking on concrete vs wood flooring, but some.

There would be a slightly more forgiving feel to a floating floor. It is a consideration for older individuals or individuals with bad knees, hips, etc.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

I had not looked at this for awhile. I like the idea that it might be easier on the knees as my wife has bad ones and is trying to delay replacement for as long as possible. We had already decided to float it, but that is another reason. The 1.5 tons of flooring was delivered, curb side delivery which was my oversight, on 9/27/21 and is current acclimating in the great room. Love the Johnny Bucket Jr on the cub cadet! It was a life saver.

 

[steve308]

I have bamboo floors. When purchased and installed three years ago it was recommended to be done 'floating'. The first winter the shrinking and expanding cause multiple gaps. It all floats back into place in the warmer months and I've had a couple of 'expansion joints' installed between rooms. The supplier has now changed it's recomendation to glue or nail so I'm guessing I'm not the only one with the issues.