Bamboo flooring installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What bamboo flooring installation is

Bamboo flooring installation lays strand-woven, engineered or solid bamboo planks by gluing, nailing or floating them over a prepared subfloor. Bamboo moves with humidity, so the installer checks moisture and leaves expansion gaps to keep the floor stable in the home.

Signs you need it

  • You want a hard, natural-looking floor for a room that sees daily foot traffic
  • The room has a flat, dry subfloor and you want a floating or glued floor without major preparation
  • The old floor is worn, stained or damaged, and you want a new surface that is durable in a living area
  • You want a floor made from a fast-growing grass instead of tree timber, with a look close to hardwood
  • The room is a kitchen, hallway or family room that gets heavy traffic

What the pro does

  • Check the subfloor for flatness, moisture and debris, and fix any high spots or loose areas before the planks go down
  • Let the planks acclimate in the room for the time the manufacturer recommends, and check the moisture content
  • Lay the underlayment or vapor barrier with the seams overlapped and taped where required
  • Set the first row straight from a true wall line, leaving the expansion gap at each wall
  • Glue, nail or click the planks together, staggering the end joints and checking the layout as the room fills
  • Install the transitions and the baseboard, cover the expansion gap and clean the floor

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Room square footage and the number of rooms, plus stairs and irregular walls
  • Bamboo type, such as strand-woven, engineered or solid, and the plank width and finish
  • Installation method, whether glued, nailed or floated, and the subfloor it needs
  • Subfloor preparation, including leveling and any moisture control needed for the room
  • Number of cuts around doors, vents and corners, plus the transitions to other floors
  • Removal of the old floor and the disposal of the old material

What a written quote should spell out

  • Bamboo type, plank size, thickness and the finish named for the product
  • Installation method and the underlayment or adhesive used, with the expansion gap stated
  • Acclimation steps and the moisture target listed as part of the install
  • Transitions, thresholds and baseboard work included, with the number of doors listed
  • Removal of the old floor and the warranty on the bamboo and the installation

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you check the moisture in the subfloor and in the planks before the install?
  • What expansion gap do you leave, and how do you hide it at the walls?
  • Is the bamboo strand-woven, engineered or solid, and what finish is on it?
  • How does the finish hold up to pets, sand and heavy furniture?
  • Can the floor be refinished later, or is the wear layer too thin?
  • Can you show me a bamboo floor you installed in a room of similar size and use?

Red flags

  • The pro lays bamboo straight from the box with no acclimation or moisture check
  • The pro leaves no expansion gap or says bamboo does not move
  • The pro installs bamboo over a damp slab with no moisture barrier
  • The pro cannot name the bamboo type, the finish or the wear layer

What you can do yourself

A floating bamboo floor over a flat, dry subfloor in a room with no moisture problems is a reasonable project for a homeowner who measures and acclimates carefully. Glue-down or nail-down bamboo, any floor with moisture or a damaged subfloor, and rooms with many cuts should go to an experienced installer.

Licenses and permits

Bamboo flooring installation commonly does not need a license, but subfloor repair or moisture control can require a permit or qualified contracting. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department about the rules for your work.

Bamboo flooring installation questions

Is bamboo flooring water resistant?

Some bamboo products resist moisture better than others, but standing water and wet mopping can still damage it. Ask the pro to name the finish and to explain the care steps for your room.

Why does bamboo sometimes gap or cup?

Gaps and cupping usually come from humidity changes, a missing expansion gap or planks that were not acclimated. Ask the pro to show how the install leaves room for movement.

Can bamboo go over a concrete basement floor?

Yes, with a moisture barrier and a floating or glued product rated for the moisture level. Ask the pro to test the slab and to name the product rated for it.

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

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More remodeling, painting and floors guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request bamboo flooring installation