Bamboo flooring installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering bamboo flooring installation

Bamboo installs are judged on gaps, movement and the finish's durability, and the moisture check decides most of the results. Win the job by checking the subfloor and the planks, naming the bamboo type and showing your acclimation plan in writing.

What customers ask

  • Will bamboo gap in the winter or swell in the summer?
  • Is bamboo as hard as the hardwood I was considering?
  • Can the floor be refinished, and what is the wear layer?
  • How long do I wait before moving the furniture back in?
  • Is the bamboo safe for my pets and kids?

How to win the job

  • Measure the moisture in the subfloor and the planks on the first visit, and write the readings and the target into the proposal.
  • Show the bamboo type, the finish and the wear layer in the quote, with a sample plank laid on the floor in the room.
  • Explain the expansion gap and how the trim covers it, with the width stated in the proposal.
  • Name the underlayment, the vapor barrier and the adhesive used, along with the reason for each.
  • Plan the acclimation time in the schedule, with the day the planks are delivered to the room.
  • Quote the transitions and the stair work as separate lines, with the materials listed.
  • Give the customer a care sheet for the finish that covers water, pets and the furniture pads.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of bamboo installs with the layout pattern and the transitions visible
  • Close-up photos of the expansion gap, the trim and the threshold details
  • Photos of the moisture check and the subfloor prep before the planks go down
  • A list of the bamboo types, finishes and wear layers you install

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A care sheet with the cleaning products to use and the humidity range to keep the home in
  • A check visit after the first season to look at gaps, squeaks and any trim lift
  • A quote for refinishing or a second room, offered only if the customer asks

Licenses and permits

Bamboo flooring installation commonly does not need a license, but subfloor and moisture work may need a permit or qualified contracting. Confirm your business registration and insurance in your state and locality before you take the job.

Questions

Should I warranty bamboo against movement?

Warranty your installation and pass through the manufacturer's warranty. State that movement from humidity outside the product's rated range is not covered, and explain the humidity range you expect.

Is bamboo easy to refinish?

It depends on the wear layer. Some bamboo products can be sanded and refinished, while others have a thin layer that cannot. Ask the pro to measure the wear layer and state whether refinishing is possible.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

More remodeling, painting and floors guides for pros

Start here

About this guide

Get bamboo flooring installation requests

Customers pick you by name. Signup is free, and you pay only for leads you accept.

Join as a pro
Sign up free