We are in the beginning stages of a major renovation on our 1954 ranch house in Northern Virginia. We are working with an architect. We would like to replace existing parquet flooring with Bamboo flooring. However our architect has told us we are asking for trouble by laying bamboo or any other new wood flooring over the existing, above grade concrete slab, without putting in sleepers and sub floor (which would raise the floor and affect existing door heights, thereby not meeting code).
The house sits on an above grade slab, the existing 6 inch square parquet has not popped. We’ve talked with two different flooring people and both have said it would be fine to lay bamboo over the existing slab. Any comments from you all would be appreciated — any problems you have necountered with bamboo or wood over concret slab, any tricks, any further sources of information? Thanks!
Replies
If you plan on using solid wood (or bamboo) then you could have a problem. But generally plywood type construction, also called engineered flooring, is suitable for direct glue to concrete. The facts that you are above grade, the concrete is well seasoned, and the old parquet didn't fail all point to a workable deal.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Perhaps the architect is just CHA on this so you cannot come back with a complaint.
I glue bamboo to slab-above-grade with Bostik's Best with no problems. Slab has RFH, too. Would not do that with hardwood.
My hardwood flooring center echos that. They wouldn't sell the glue for hardwood in that situation, but would for bamboo.