I have to use 5/8′ bamboo flooring in a loft-type space I’m building right now. I also have to cover two sets of steps, both treads and risers, with the flooring. I’m going to have to glue up 3 or 4 strips of the bamboo flooring and use these panels to skin the 3/4″ plywood treads and risers, which will meet at an 82 degree angle with no overhang of the tread.
Anybody know if I can use regular yellow wood glue to join these pieces, or does bamboo require a different kind of adhesive?
Any other pointers on working with bamboo?
Replies
You can join bamboo with yellow glue. But for the stairs, it might be better to invest $150 in a sheet of bamboo plywood and cut the treads/risers from that. Then you won't have to deal with the t&g ends. Of course, maybe your stair setup makes that easily hidden. No other suggestions. It cuts and routes easily as long as you don't try to round over too much at once and split it.
Thanks!
Actually, I'll go ahead and use the solid (actually many laminated strips) bamboo so I don't have to contend with either a raw edge at the meeting point of the tread and the riser, or a complicated miter (bevel?). I'll just glue up enough width to get a board I can slice the edge off of.
Thanks again!
I have some clients who are interested in engineered bamboo flooring. The house's designer says bamboo flooring has some pretty nasty glue in it.Given that most is made in China, under different controls than here, I can see how that might be right, but he's the only one I've heard say anything about it. I know you have bamboo floors, do you know anything about the glues? I need a dump truck, baby, to unload my head
I once asked about the glue used in the lamination. My supplier said that in the early days, some factories used formaldehyde with it, but that they no longer do. That's the best I can tell you.
RF cures with a generation of both heat and pressure. Besides the Microwaves. Formaldhyde is a by product of the process and ought to have out gassed by the time you recieve it.
Unfortunatly, the composite of RF glue is propietary and varies from manu-to manu. It is NASty stuff in liquid form, inert or almost so onced kicked.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
There is no cure for stupid. R. White.
Thanks, I'll snoop around some more<G> I need a dump truck, baby, to unload my head
"early days" sounds so long ago. When we put our bamboo floor in 4 1/2 years ago there was only one supplier in this country that did not have formaldehyde in the glue. And only a few of those containing formaldehyde were careful about the outgassing (one was Timbergrass, which I think is what you used).
I'll take a stab at this if you don't mind.
It is a RF cured glue and impervious to attack from other glue, meaning, ya can't glue to glue very well.
The bottom face of Bamboo ( or any pre made) is gonna be open to adhesives, the T&G is also 'raw' in the state it is packaged for install... IIRC the edges are cut AFTER the finish is aplied ,so with all that in spherical terms, means sure, it'll not be a great gluejoint, but better than none.
But Hay, waddaIknow?
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
There is no cure for stupid. R. White.
I've put down a brand named Sun. It was 5/8" thick, and three laminations. The center lamination was offset, making both the tongue and groove. It was nailed down, not glued.I'm wondering about the glues used in the laminating and consolidation process. As far as manufacturing formaldehyde being competely outgassed by the time something gets installed, I only have the experience of two highly allergic clients, one of which I saw swell up when she got around some subfloor plywood. It was real.Seems like there'd be a pretty large amomunt of glue per sq in. just to hold compressed/compacted bamboo to a shape...now this install may be over a radiant slab...more glue<G> I need a dump truck, baby, to unload my head
I am RIGHT There getting the Up stairs /addition carpet out..DW insists on boo...and I insist on area rugs over it.
Flip a coin, she has all the butterfly and half the money..I guess I am buying boo oneway, or, another.
The only out gassing I have seen or smelt...
oh never mind, it was a romour I am sure.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
There is no cure for stupid. R. White.
Man, I'd go for bamboo, I think it looks great, and it's doing it's part to save a few trees<G>http://www.naturalcork.com/bamboo_specs.htmlThese guys apparently use a glue that humans don't react to...not so sure I like the pre-finished in new construction, though... I need a dump truck, baby, to unload my head
Did/Have you seen Cloud's FLOORS....awesome. Really, I am sold on it.
He is not a fulltime floorerer..but man he knows his boo.!!!!
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
There is no cure for stupid. R. White.
I was looking at the bamboo section at http://www.iFloor .com . All of the specs I looked at said do use with radiant heat. Wife want bamboo in the kitchen, I want cork.....how about you guys n gals?
u can get solid bamboo treads, check w some stair companies lumber liquidators sells them altho i dont like most of their stuff the treads did look nice, were 1 1/16" thick lotta talk about bamboo being made in china w urea formaldehye glue the stuff that outgasses the foam insulation with it was discontinued yrs ago cuz peeple wer getting sick