Flooring – Should I install floating solid bamboo flooring

flooring

I have been looking at flooring choices for my new home. The house currently has carpeting on the upper story and a cheap laminate floor on the ground floor. I'm planning on replacing both.

I've been very interested in stranded solid bamboo flooring, due to the environmental advantages of bamboo, the hardness of the stranded product, and the style.

Many of the floors I have been looking at can be installed either with glue, nails, or as a floating "click and lock".

The floating installation is obviously less expensive since there is less labor involved. So what would be the benefits and downsides of choosing a floating installation instead of nailed?

Best Answer

Benefits are:

  • cost (less expensive)
  • easier to install (can = less cost if labor costs are involved)
  • easier to remove (in case the future owner hates it and/or you need to make repairs)
  • uses less finished wood (arguably more 'green' though with bamboo, it's already fairly green to begin with)

Downsides:

  • the finished surface is thinner, so you can't refinish the floor as much as you can with solid wood
  • being thinner, you may have a different 'feel' underfoot.
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