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Glue down bamboo on concrete slab

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!!

Comments (5)

  • 8 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.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 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.

  • PRO
    8 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

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 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
    8 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

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