Can I DIY bamboo flooring

underlay_guru

wallbash wrote: »

Did not say . let a kid do it .

I know you didn't. You know fine well that 'Childs Play' is a general figure of speech meaning 'not difficult'....:rolleyes:

wallbash wrote: »

But have greater confidence that the OP would take their time, read instructions and make a good job of it.
Perhaps I have more confidence in others.

I would also probably have confidence in others if I hadn't seen so many ill-executed DIY jobs over the years. I have no doubt that the OP would take their time and 'have a good go', but that still does not mean they are competent at doing the job, does it?!

Plus I cannot believe anyone can gauge the amount of confidence they have in someone if they have never met them and don't even know them...;)

misskool

underlay_guru wrote: »

-How about preparing the subfloor ready for installation? The floor has had selflevelling screed applied but this may still need to be finished in order for the subfloor to be completely flat. If it is not flat, the wood planks risk rocking back and forth in situ, causing premature wear to the joints of the flooring;

That's fine. so how does one check/test that the subfloor is level? Or is that level of specialist knowledge only available to those in the joinery trade?

-How about ensuring the underlay is the correct product for the installation? The incorrect type of underlay for the type of subfloor is paramount - if the wrong product is used or installed in the wrong manner or direction up, it can reduce the lifetime of the floor, or even cause a damp risk of penetrating the bamboo. This is a genuine problem which is generally overlooked by the DIY'er.#

I did ask about underlay (see post above) about the Wickes one I found


-How about the manner in which the boards are connected to the subfloor? There are several different methods of doing this, all of which are a specialist job that require the skill of a joiner or experienced floor-layer;

Well, again, I did ask if it was to be done floating floor and glued t&g to each other?

-How about the manner in which the boards are connected to each other? Again, there are different methods of achieving this, which require specific items of joinery equipment. Its definitely not as simple as buying a bottle of PVA and sticking them together, or a hammer and nails. I have seen tongue groove flooring which has simply fallen apart because it was not braced together properly as the glue was going off, or that not enough glue was used. I have seen DIY flooring jobs where nail heads are sticking up everywhere - causing a hazard. I have also seen leaking PVA glue sticking the boards to the underlay underneath: causing the underlay to crease as the boards expand...All due to corner-cutting, incompetent fitters and DIY'ers who 'thought they knew best'.

-How about cutting and fitting the flooring around door frames, architraives and fire places? This also requires the use of specialist equipment, plus really needs to be done by an experienced joiner if a professional finish is to be achieved. Trust me - I have seen so many badly executed jobs where the perimieter finish has been bodged and looks terrible. It's not as straightforward as just buying a pencil and a swa, and hoping for the best.

We have a workmate, jig saw and a mitre saw. Anything else?


I am not trying to be awkward here, but you are incinuating to the OP that laying a wood floor is as simple as 1,2,3, when I assure you it is not. Your previous post also incinuates that I am scoffing the novice. I am simply informing the OP, from my experience, that it is most definitely NOT an easy job for the untrained DIY'er.

I know you love your job and me doing DIY reduces the amount of people who are going to pay for your skills and experience. Please see responses in red above.

Perhaps it would be best for me to make an informed decision (which I am trying) instead of being told to hire a professional (which I would do if one exists that will work after 7pm, because that is the only time which I can go home!!!)

Oh, I give up.

Chippy_Minton_2

underlay_guru

I understand what you're trying to say, but I feel many others will think you're talking down to the OP a la Screwfix forum. It may not be your average DIY job, however I'd rather lay the floor than hang wallpaper, but then each to their own. I'm not a floor layer by trade but have done enough to know what I'm doing.

She has a jig saw, mire saw and workmate after all so could cut the floor but how much does she know about scribing the first line of flooring, round or under door trims?

IMO the OP lacks the experience to do a first class job and may be
disappointed with the end result.

I'll get me coat while I still can.

misskool

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

IMO the OP lacks the experience to do a first class job and may be
disappointed with the end result.

I'll get me coat while I still can.

Can you then tell me how to start gaining experience then if not from this?

I'm sure you were thoroughly experienced the first time you did anything too.

Chippy_Minton_2

misskool wrote: »

Can you then tell me how to start gaining experience then if not from this?

I knew you'd be back to have a go at me.
You won't gain the experience if you don't try I agree.
How many floors have you fitted?
Is fcuking one up at £40m2 in a room that everyone will see the way to start?
I can't really comment on whether you should do it or not because I do not know what standard of DIY finish you want.

misskool wrote: »

I'm sure you were thoroughly experienced the first time you did anything too.

Far from it, but IMO from the questions you ask you have limited knowledge of the job in hand.

SailorSam

I have bamboo in both the kitchen and bathroom which i did myself. It all clicks together fairly simply, the only piece that was difficult was the last one which needed to be cut to fit the space. As already mentioned don't forget to leave asmall space around the edge, but this can be hidden and the job made neat by using beading.

misskool

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

I knew you'd be back to have a go at me.
You won't gain the experience if you don't try I agree.
How many floors have you fitted?
Is fcuking one up at £40m2 in a room that everyone will see the way to start?
I can't really comment on whether you should do it or not because I do not know what standard of DIY finish you want.



Far from it, but IMO from the questions you ask you have limited knowledge of the job in hand.

You appear to enjoy the cut and thrust of the DIY world. I'm not picking on you, merely picking up on your enjoyment of cutting comments and returning them

I may not be the most experienced DIY but at least I'm willing to learn and ask questions. It's the whole experience of having professionals shoving down your throat that ONLY professionals should do it that gets me.

Everyone on here has seen what some professional tradesman results are and what happens when it goes wrong so it's not just the DIY people who get it wrong.

Geez, you'd think it was a major breach trying to learn if it's worth doing it DIY.

Chippy_Minton_2

misskool wrote: »

You appear to enjoy the cut and thrust of the DIY world. I'm not picking on you, merely picking up on your enjoyment of cutting comments and returning them

Maybe your view would be different had I voiced an opinion you agreed with.:rotfl:

Should I try at another time of the month?:D

booty40uk

Hi Misskool

Go ahead and have a go if you feel confident in what your doing. If not then save up and have someone in. At the end of the day its your choice. Im sure that if you do decide to have a go yourself there are many "reasonable" tradesmen on here that will give you advise and if you dont want it public, then just pm them.

Best of luck

Andy

Canucklehead

Hi

I can't comment on the underlay .See instructions if any .Or call the supplier?
Also ask about glued or free joints.
You could use a long ish straight edge and see if the floor has any high spots when you run it over the floor side to side etc.

If you run the floor from a wall or doorway towards the units you will then start off with a whole board and lose the edge under the units IYSWIM.

Take off any architraves and skirting, you will then be left with only square cuts to make. Refitting architrave and skirting will hide the expansion gap.



HTH

GSR.