With Expert: Ann J. Knight
 

Knight is executive vice president and marketing director of Teragren (www.teragren.com), the nation’s leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly bamboo flooring, panels and veneer.

Q. I live in the Santa Fe, NM area and would like to install bamboo flooring over radiant. Single digit humidity is common during our winters and have been told that a floating floor cannot be used in this climate. Is that true?

A.

All Teragren flooring products may be installed over radiant heat under proper conditions, however Teragren’s Studio Wide Plank would work best in your situation.

Floating Floor with TeraLoc may be installed over radiant heat—as long as radiant heat systems do not produce temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the system is turned off 24 hours prior to and during flooring installation. In addition, the environment humidity levels should be maintained year round between 40% and 60% per their installation instructions.

According to Bruce Smith of Benchmark Floors in Santa Fe, the preferred installation method of Teragren bamboo flooring in low humidity environments such as theirs (which can be as low as 25%) is to glue, nail or staple a floor down rather than float. Teragren’s other product lines such as Signature Naturals, Signature Colors, Craftsman and Synergy may be nailed/stapled or glued down.

For a reputable installer in the area familiar with Teragren bamboo flooring, please contact Kevin Mullaney or Bruce Smith at Benchmark Floors (505-281-0512).