wood or bamaboo floors ?

[askmrjesus]

Originally Posted by Rider

Let e clarify that "Real" wood floors don't lock together but engineered/laminate pieces do. You said you were not going with a laminate so the real bamboo won't lock together.

Real bamboo won't lock together like an engineered floor, but you can, technically, float a bamboo floor over concrete. Once the moisture barrier is down, you can glue the bamboo boards together at the joints, with a good grade glue like "Gorilla Glue". You just apply the glue to the groove, and push them tight together.

This is not as easy as it sounds though. The boards are not perfectly straight, so you will end up clamping, or space shimming at some points, while you wait for the glue to set up, before you can continue. That can be a very long process indeed. It's also messy.

It would definitely not be my first choice of installation methods, but it can come out ok, on a very smooth slab. All you need is a butt load of patience and time.

Personally, if I was going to do the whole house, I'd use the "plywood over sleepers" method.

JC