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Installation + Care
Copyright SEJ Materials 2011
Dragonfly Bamboo® Installation Directions
DOWNLOAD Installation + Care Instructions (.pdf)        


Upon Receipt of Product

All SEJ Material Resources Dragonfly® Bamboo flooring is quality inspected before packaging and shipping. A final jobsite
inspection of your flooring, however, should be performed for grade, color, finish and quality, before installation. Use adequate
lighting for proper inspection. We cannot accept responsibility for flooring installed with visible defects; expect a standard 5%
-7% rate of flooring imperfections. If there is more than this, please contact SEJ before installation.

Requirements for the Jobsite

· Before the installation of flooring, the installer must ensure that the jobsite and subfloor meet the requirements of these
instructions.  SEJ Material Resources is not responsible for floor failure resulting from unsatisfactory jobsite and/or subfloor
conditions.

· Flooring cannot be laid below grade or in a high humidity area such as a bathroom and still be under warranty.

· Any work involving water or moisture should be completed before floor installation.

· One week before installation set a jobsite room temperature of 60-70 F degrees, and a humidity range of 40-60%. It is highly
recommended that room temperature and humidity of installation area be consistent with normal, year-round living conditions.

· Dragonfly® Bamboo flooring should be one of the last items installed on any new construction or remodeling project.

Acceptable Subfloor Types:
· Plywood or OSB 3/4"
• Concrete slab

Subfloor must be:
1. Clean: Thoroughly swept and free of all debris

2. Structurally sound

3. Level: Flat to 3/16" per 10-feet radius

4. Dry: Subfloor must remain dry year-round. Moisture content of wood subfloor must not exceed 12%.

5. In any situation when there is a question about the moisture content of the sub-floor, we recommend the use of a moisture
vapor protection system. Such as Silencer HD. The moisture level of the subfloor should be within 3% of the finished bamboo
flooring

6. Wood subfloors must be dry and well secured.  Nail or screw the subfloor every 6" along joists to avoid squeaking.  If not level,
sand down high spots and fill low spots with an underlayment patch.

7. Concrete must be fully cured, at least 60 days.  If not level, grind down high spots and fill low spots with leveling compound.  
The concrete subfloor must be flat to 3/16" per 10 foot radius. Do not install on concrete unless you are sure it stays dry year-
round.  All concrete must be tested for moisture.  If the specified testing results are met, our bamboo floors can be installed
below grade.

8. Radiant heat:  Subfloor should never exceed 85 degrees F.  Check with manufacturers suggested guidelines for correct water
temperature inside heating pipes.  Switch on the heating unit seven days before flooring installation.  Room temperature should
not vary more than 15F degrees year-round.  For glue down installations, leave the heating unit on for three days following
installation.

9. Floating: A high-density moisture barrier membrane needs to be used as an underlayment, such as Silencer HD.

Getting Started
Bamboo can have a wide range of color hues within a single product, and needs to be laid out before installation to avoid
blocking of colors. Store Dragonfly® flooring at installation site for 72 hours before installation to allow flooring to adjust to room
temperature and humidity.  Do not store directly on concrete or near outside walls. All flooring should be unpacked and stacked
in a overlapping “criss-cross” pattern. (See drawing).        

To lay out flooring, the distance you measure from the wall should be the width of a plank plus 1/2" for an expansion space.
Installer is responsible for the lay out of the floor. If outside wall is out of square, adjust working line to make it straight for the
rest of your installation.

Nail Down Installation:

• First lay down a vapor barrier.

• Install flooring perpendicular to floor joists.

• Snap a chalk-line following it when laying the first planks.  Lay the first plank inside the chalk line with grooved edge toward
wall.  If spacing between wall and first rows of flooring does not allow room for nail gun, fasten by face nailing, gluing, pre-
drilling and edge nailing by hand -with hammer and nail set- or a combination of these.

• Counter-sink finish nails below surface and fill with matching wood putty.  Always leave at least a 1/2" expansion space
between flooring and all walls and vertical objects such as pipes and cabinets.  Use wood or plastic spacers during installation
to maintain this expansion space.  Lay subsequent rows with nail or staple gun appropriate for 1/2" or  11/16" flooring.  Nail
each board every 6-10 inches and within 2" of each end.  Remember to stagger end joints from row to row and use cut ends to
begin and end following rows.

• Set your pressure and leveling shoe and test a few pieced before proceeding.  If you have problems re-check your equipment
for adjustments.

Gluing Down Installation

• A vapor barrier can be used with glue downs as well. Silencer HD can be glued on both sides.

• Use a Urethane Adhesive. Always follow ALL instructions of the adhesive being used. Read adhesive instructions carefully for
proper trowel size and adhesive set time.  Never use “wet" or “loose lay" method of installing (installing the flooring immediately
after spreading adhesive.)  This method will trap moisture under the floor and could cause the flooring to warp.

• Starting at outside wall, spread as much adhesive as can be covered by flooring in one hour (or as recommended by your
adhesive instructions.

• Once adhesive has tacked, lay the first row of flooring and continue laying flooring until adhesive is covered.  Always check your
working lines to be sure the floor is still aligned.  Be careful not to let installed floor move on the wet adhesive while you are
working.

• When first section is finished, continue to spread adhesive and lay flooring section by section until installation is complete.  
Remove any adhesive that gets on flooring surface immediately.

• Walk each section of flooring foot-by-foot or roll within the adhesive working time to ensure solid contact with the adhesive.  
Flooring on perimeter of room may require weighting until adhesive cures enough to hold them in place.

Floating floor installation
• Do not float over radiant heat.

• The membrane underlayment has to be a minimum of 2mm thick. This underlayment works as a sound proof barrier and a
moisture barrier.

• Always leave a 1⁄2” space between all walls and other vertical barriers when laying Dragonfly bamboo.

• Use 1⁄2” strips of cork to fill gaps along floor’s edges.

• Glue the tongue and groove, use a bead along the length and the end.  Use a wood glue, Dragonfly recommends using
Titebond2.
.
• Any floor over 18’ width or 24’ length will need to be divided with additional 1⁄2” expansion joints. These can be covered with “T”
molding.

• You MUST stagger all joints (see drawing) .
 

Installation over radiant heat

• Subfloor should never exceed 85 degrees F.  Check with manufacturers suggested guidelines for correct water temperature
inside heating pipes.  Switch on the heating unit seven days before flooring installation.

• A new concrete slab needs to be cured for at least 60 days.

• Room temperature should not vary more than 15F year-round.

• Have heat running for at least 7 days before installation.

• Do not float.

• For glue down installations leave the heating unit on for three days following installation.

• Heating should be increased and decreased gradually under the bamboo flooring, AVOID ABRUPT TEMPERATURE
CHANGES, in order not to cause warping or cracking.