Bamboo and Exotic Wood Floors - Bamboo on tile?
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gulickgurl
12-07-07, 08:09 AM
I have read one of the earlier posts but I am not sure this is the same situation...
I have a "sunroom" that's about 200 sqft that was added onto our home in the '70's. It is on a slab off the back of the house and they tiled the floor with porcelain tiles that are 4"x6" kind of look like bricks (red colored~).
I would really love to put a bamboo floor over the tile, but have been told by someone at Lowe's that you can't put something above/below the grade? I don't really know this term, so I thought I'd run it by you all here.
This sunroom does have a step down from the main living area so it is lower than the house really. If that is the grade, then that makes sense, but it's also above the ground on a slab. Is the main concern here moisture coming through the slab, tile and then into the wood floor? Can't you put down a moisture barrier to help prevent this?
The other issue is that they installed cabinets in the room and tiled only to those cabinets. We'd love to remove the cabinets, but will be left with an area on the floor that has no tile. So we're not sure if we could fill that in, or if we're just stuck with the cabinets.
Any ideas on all of this? I really don't want to try to remove all of the tile and start from scratch...too expensive and way too much work/problems to run into that direction.
Thanks guys!
I have a "sunroom" that's about 200 sqft that was added onto our home in the '70's. It is on a slab off the back of the house and they tiled the floor with porcelain tiles that are 4"x6" kind of look like bricks (red colored~).
I would really love to put a bamboo floor over the tile, but have been told by someone at Lowe's that you can't put something above/below the grade? I don't really know this term, so I thought I'd run it by you all here.
This sunroom does have a step down from the main living area so it is lower than the house really. If that is the grade, then that makes sense, but it's also above the ground on a slab. Is the main concern here moisture coming through the slab, tile and then into the wood floor? Can't you put down a moisture barrier to help prevent this?
The other issue is that they installed cabinets in the room and tiled only to those cabinets. We'd love to remove the cabinets, but will be left with an area on the floor that has no tile. So we're not sure if we could fill that in, or if we're just stuck with the cabinets.
Any ideas on all of this? I really don't want to try to remove all of the tile and start from scratch...too expensive and way too much work/problems to run into that direction.
Thanks guys!
erkleboy
12-07-07, 07:25 PM
On grade simply means that the bottom of the cement slab is basically setting on ground level.
It may be possible if the floor is flat(it won't be level if it was a sunroom)and the tile is well adhered with out any loose areas.
If that is the case, I would purchase a calcium cloride test kit and test for moisture being careful to follow the instructions to the letter. If it tests OK for what the manufacturer recommends, then you should be allright. IIRC the test is about 15 dollars.
One additional item to be wary of is that you will be adding a relatively thick floor over a relatively thick floor. It may be difficult at transitions to others rooms as well as exterior doors. Toekicks under cabinets will be reduced in size as well.
It would not be a problem to fill in the cabinet area.
You may want to test a small area to determine how difficult the pavers are to remove.
Good luck.
It may be possible if the floor is flat(it won't be level if it was a sunroom)and the tile is well adhered with out any loose areas.
If that is the case, I would purchase a calcium cloride test kit and test for moisture being careful to follow the instructions to the letter. If it tests OK for what the manufacturer recommends, then you should be allright. IIRC the test is about 15 dollars.
One additional item to be wary of is that you will be adding a relatively thick floor over a relatively thick floor. It may be difficult at transitions to others rooms as well as exterior doors. Toekicks under cabinets will be reduced in size as well.
It would not be a problem to fill in the cabinet area.
You may want to test a small area to determine how difficult the pavers are to remove.
Good luck.
340valnt
12-07-07, 10:07 PM
if this is a true bamboo it is impervious to water simply put it does not absorb moisture as standard wood flooring Your problem is how to attach it to the tile without great expense. Engineered flooring may work but definitely not laminate
erkleboy
12-08-07, 06:35 AM
if this is a true bamboo it is impervious to water simply put it does not absorb moisture as standard wood flooring Your problem is how to attach it to the tile without great expense. Engineered flooring may work but definitely not laminate
I don't agree. Bamboo contains moisture, and that % of moisture will change with site conditions. Bamboo will expand with increased moisture content and shrink when it dries out.
I don't agree. Bamboo contains moisture, and that % of moisture will change with site conditions. Bamboo will expand with increased moisture content and shrink when it dries out.