Bamboo: Hire a Professional or DIY?

The process of installing bamboo floor depends on the base-surface on which is applied and the type of flooring you have purchased. After understanding the process, you can decide for yourself if you want to do it yourself or call in a professional. Because there are different types of bamboo flooring, you need to take in consideration the tools and the time required to complete the installation process in order to have a full picture of the work load.

Using a Professional Installer

One of the best options for most people is hiring someone specialized in this kind of work. The cost of the equipment needed to install the flooring can get pretty high. On top of everything, the effort and time that someone needs to put into this can be a lot for a person with a busy schedule. If you choose not to do it yourself, you should inquire some aspects from your potential workers before deciding upon one.

The professional you pick should be somewhat familiar with the type of bamboo flooring you have chosen to have installed and you need to make sure he has a license and insurance to work in your area. Before signing a contract, ask to see pictures of finished jobs and feel free to ask around for references.

The two types that put up some effort in installing are the glue-down type and the nail-down bamboo flooring. In the glue-down method, the flooring is fixated to the sub-flooring with a strong adhesive. The nail-down method means fixating the bamboo flooring to the sub-floor with special staples or nails, and because of the higher difficulty in installing, hiring a professional will make the process go much easier.

Do It Yourself

For some of you, the do-it-yourself method is the better option. If you have experience in installing flooring or have a pleasure in redecorating or remodeling projects, than this is a well-suited option for you. The easiest method of installment is the “floating” method, in which the flooring does not require nails or adhesives to fixate the product to the sub-floor, but you still obtain a beautiful and sustainable finished product.

Floating bamboo floors come in two options: click and glue. Also known as snap lock, the click flooring is popular amongst the DYIers because of the easiness of the installation process: the planks just click together. The glued floaters, on the other hand, require to have applied an adhesive into the grooves of the planks during the installment. Although both methods are sustainable, the glueless-click flooring has seen an increase in popularity.

Regardless of the method chosen, bamboo flooring is a great choice because of its durability and beauty, and because of the fact that it ads to the value and the aesthetics of your home or business. No matter what type of installation you choose, professional or do-it –yourself, both methods result in high quality finishing. The decision to hire a professional or to do it yourself is totally up to you, to your time and experience and last, but not least, to your convenience.