Hi,

Have been reading the site for the past two weeks or so, everything here is awesome. I'm having a bit of trouble finding information related to what I'm using, so any advice/suggestions are appreciated. I'm planning out my first install, and I have a decent idea of what I want, I was just hoping for a sanity check.

Install:
~240 sq. ft in bedroom, upper level of a relatively new townhouse (2010, in Maryland).
Once I complete this I plan on doing the rest of the house

Currently has carpet/carpet pad, pretty basic base molding all around. I believe the subfloor is pretty basic plywood, but I have not had a chance to pull it up because of furniture, etc. I plan on using existing molding and adding quarter round.

Using "Golden Arowana Uniclic Bamboo Flooring" - apparently manufactured by Wellmade, sold at Costco. Was approximately 2.71/sq.ft. Website here: http://www.bambooflooringinstaller.com/uniclic/. Has anybody used this before?
It's a floating floor, and I think it's engineered (not sure on the terminology, but it clicks together for a glueless installation).

Am currently in the process of purchasing tools (don't want to rent). Have a Hitachi SCMS from Craigslist, am willing to pay for quality tools but would obviously like to save money somewhat.

Questions:
1) Underlayment: The manufacturer's website is fairly vague, recommending 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 underlayment. Is there a preferred/recommended brand of underlayment? I was also somewhat considering cork, not sure of the benefits/needs for each. Should I go for something like Silent Stride, or a cork underlayment, or something else? How about plywood?

2) I guess this mostly depends on the underlayment, but I was thinking of 18 gauge staples/nails to attach it to the subfloor. Any problems with this (I've seen the debate between the two, and I'm really just wondering whether the 18 gauge is a good size). It should be nailed/stapled straight down, correct?

3) Has anybody used the Costco stuff? I can still return it if need be.

4) Saws. I have the SCMS, and I was planning on buying a table saw, but I saw the Skil 3600 Flooring Saw (http://www.amazon.com/Skil-3600-02-120-Volt-Flooring-Saw/dp/B0037KM8TQ and was wondering whether there was any reason I shouldn't just get that. There were a few positive comments on it on this forum about two years ago, haven't seen anything since. Other option is a Dewalt DW745.

5) Compressor. I'm looking at the Makita MAC700 2HP compressor. Am also considering the Porter Cable pancake compressor. Any thoughts between the two?

6) Guns. I'm thinking I need two guns - one to attach the underlayment, and one to attach the quarter round (to base molding). For the underlayment, I'm thinking some sort of 18 gauge nailer/stapler. Or should I go for a larger (16, 15 gauge) one? I saw a reference to a discussion between them, but I couldn't find the topic.
For the quarter round, what's the recommended way to attach this? I was thinking 18 gauge brad nailer unless somebody recommends otherwise. Also, do I need to predrill if I'm using a brad nailer?

I know it's a lot of reading, but any comments are greatly appreciated .

Thanks,
Justin

I did some of that Golden stuff outa costco around a month ago in two bedrooms. Goes together really tight. But looks good. I was surprised. Now the client wants to rip out the old bamboo which has big gaps. It was non-click, floated and installed by the previous owner and I swear they used gorrilla glue in the joints.

As far as underlayment goes that product has cork on the bottom already. If your on plywood and it is nice and dry with no crawl space under it you need nothing else. Another layer of cork couldn't hurt though.

If your going to go over concrete all you need is 6 mil plastic.

Thanks, Stephen!

Guess it's time to start unwrapping everything

I saw a decent number of positive reviews of QuietWalk, so I might pick up some of that.

I think I've settled on 18ga brads for the quarter round. Still gotta pick up flooring/table saw, compressor, brad nailer, and misc. tools.

Justin

New tools are always a good thing. To bad none are made in the good ole U.S.A anymore.

Justin,
It sounds like you might be a little confused, I hope i'm not too late. If I'm reading you wrong, i apologize. Our Uniclic bamboo flooring is not an engineered bamboo, it is a solid multi-layered bamboo floor. When referring to Underlayment, it is a padding, and doesn't need to be fastened, it's just best to tape the seams and let it float. If you are installing over a concrete slab, or a crawl space we require a minimum 2 in 1 underlayment pad,(moisture barrier plus pad) a 3 in 1 is an upgraded pad which has better acoustical and thermal properties. We do require a padding under our Uniclic bamboo floating floor. The cork on our product is a backing, and is not sufficient enough to act as a pad. It will enhance any padding you choose. Remember, moisture tests, acclimation, and expansion joints around the perimeter are the keys to a good install.
Good luck, and enjoy your new bamboo floor.

Don Zimmerman
Tech for Wellmade Floors Int.

Don,

I actually talked to somebody from your company over the phone a few days ago, and heard slightly different. In any case, I've settled on QuietWalk (will be installing on third floor over plywood), and will not be fastening anything down (other than the quarter round trim, directly to the walls and not to the floor).

Thanks for the reply,
Justin

Thats odd Don, I don't remember reading that in your installation literature. As a matter of fact I am certain it says on the box that it has an attached cushion, even on the display at Costco.

I'm going back to that job next week because the lady decided after the fact she wants it run into the closets. And I'm going to have to pull half the room up probably anyway. Unless Howards Board Bully works on it. But if I got to pull the whole thing up I will . But I tell ya what I am not going to be a happy camper. I mean what manufacturer puts an attached cushion on a click floor and then tells you you should have an additional layer?!

Don, as I suspected the instructions on the back of your boxes say you do NOT need another underlayment. On the front it says it has an attached cork cushion. Either you do not know what your talking about or your an imposter, I got pictures of your box, front and back if you'd like to read it.

Oh, BTW I pulled out a partial plank that was delaminating due to low rh in the house. Yes, of course I told them to get a humidifier. But still the fillets should not delaminate even in dry conditions. Gots pics of that too. I will definetly post those.

Boy, four weeks after the install and your flooring is already falling apart. You must be a busy guy.

My boxes also say no underlayment needed, but I somewhat get the impression that Wellmade has similar-but-not-identical flooring lines - one of which might need underlayment. Regardless, I'm going to be installing QuietWalk on mine.



Is this referring to the Wellmade/Costco stuff? Or the stuff you're pulling out to replace with Wellmade/Costco. And I'm a bit confused as to who you're talking to with the flooring falling apart comment?

Anyways, thanks for all the feedback, it has been hugely helpful. Am currently in the process of emptying the room out (furniture-wise). Have been on travel for two weeks.

It's the stuff your installing justinlee. Just make sure you keep the rh up around 35-40%. Even if you need to get a humidifier. Keep an eye out for the pics I'll upload later.

Instructions on back of box, see 9 and 10;

The delam, the bummer about this is you just cannot tell who's bamboo is good enough to withstand low rh. There is another vertical in this house that has been there for years, no delam, no checking or splitting, not click but T&G floated but it has some serious gaps. The consumer was notified to get a humidifier when this Wellmade was installed, they waited to long....four weeks??. However, the Wellmade should NOT delam, at the extreme, maybe some minimal checks and some splits.

I'm calling this one a manufacturing issue.

I would like to clear up some of the confusion in this forum thread:

Wellmade apologizes for the printing mistake on the boxes regarding underlayments. We have made changes to the Installation Guide on our website: http://www.bambooflooringinstaller.com, and have technical assistance by calling our office . In addition, we are making changes to the box. While an underlayment may not be required in every application, only a professional can make that determination, which is why we recommend an underlayment for all applications. Other than the need for a moisture barrier, we do not make specific recommendations as to the type or brand of underlayment, as there are many suitable options depending on the application. By calling our office, we are happy to provide technical assistance for your selection. We hope this takes the guesswork out of this issue.

The issue with splitting was not created by low humidity, but by a manufacturing issue that has affected a very small amount of our product. Wellmade has millions of square feet of bamboo flooring installed in dry areas all over the world without any issues. Costco has offered our bamboo flooring in Arizona and other dry climates in the US for more than 5 years without any previous issues related to delamination. We have a Lifetime Structural Warranty, which means that Wellmade stands behind our products, and will replace or repair any issues related to manufacturing.

Please take advantage of our Technical Specialist; we can't address every issue you may encounter in print, which is why Don and others are here to assist you.

Bruce R. Baxter
General Manager

Edited by admin: We have a strict policy of no phone numbers and usually restrict websites but have allowed it here because it addresses an issue in this topic.
Keith

I guess I was right then about calling it manufacturing. However, I believe that low rh enhanced it's failure. Looks like lack of adhesive on the bond line. I noticed your product was pulled from the shelves in costco.

In the future it would be nice if you informed your tech dept of the literature mistake.

Our Tech was informed, which is why (when viewing this forum) he tried to help someone having a problem.

The manufacturing issue had nothing to do with glue, but was due in a certain respect, to a MC issue; you are right that heat and dry air (in the home) exacerbated the issue.

I have not been advised of Costco pulling stock from any store; the issue with the floor you displayed only affected a very tiny portion of our product sold through Costco, so there would be no reason to pull it. It's far more likely that they ran out of stock; there is definitely more on the way.

Although our telephone number was removed (sorry for the mistake), our number can be easily found on the web by those who may have questions or need assistance.

Bruce R. Baxter
General Manager
Wellmade