weatherstripping-zen

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Comment by Evan Mills on December 8, 2010 at 5:27pm

Debra - thanks for your generous info and insights on the flooring. Yes, humidity is >80% a lot of the time..... Moisture measurements on the floor surface facing the crawlspace (2x6 original T&G redwood which is under the bamboo, along with felt and 1/4" ply to level things off) were a few %-points above those in the flooring from the living space. We installed a continuous vapor barrier on the ground (yes, we may do a conditioned crawlspace ... not sure yet). Still have the cupping.

Comment by Debra Monte on December 8, 2010 at 3:00pm

Evan, I read the article and didn't see anything with regard to the flooring except that you do live in a humid area. Bamboo is very forgiving and stable, which allows it to be in high humidity. However, when the humidity levels are very high and or there are moisture problems or leaks, the cupping will appear. The good thing is that once the moisture or humidity problems are remediated, the bamboo will eventually lay totally flat and even again.

I experienced this myself. I moved into a fairly new home in 2008, where the previous owner only resided there for 7 years (first owner) and there was wall to wall carpeting throughout the house with the exception of the kitchen that had a vinyl flooring adhered to 1/4 inch thick Luan board, which was stapled with a miillion staples to the subfloor. Beneath the carpeting was only OSB sub-floor.

Of course, I wanted to also be green and installed 4 inch strand bamboo planks throughout the house, including the kitchen, over a thick multi-fiber insulayment. The baseboards were also strand bamboo, they cost a bit. My daughter's room was the only room where we installed a windsor oak plank.

About a year after the floor was installed, my daughter asked me to come and investigate a hissing sound coming from near the refigerator, which is in close proximity to the range. I didn't smell any gas and then decided to move the refrigerator out to inspect further and found that the cold water supply line to the rear of the refrigerator had sprouted a small leak that was continuously coming out behind the refigerator. The line was not made of copper, unfortunately it was just a cheap plastic line, sort of like a straw. Fortunately, there was a separate shut off valve under the sink and I did close it. No more cubes for now....

Of course, after wiping up what I could see, the floor eventually started to cup in the area in front of and around the refrigerator. This did not make me happy. However, after it was fully dried, perhaps a couple of weeks, the floor was back to normal with no cupping and no lasting damage.

Recently, we had the wonderful builder's grade toilet on the second floor overflow and somehow continuously shoot water out. Once I stopped it and wiped everything up, water had gone out of the bathroom into the hallway and soaked through to parts of the ceiling below. Within a few days the floor began to cup. This happened last week and I am hopeful that with a few weeks or so, it will go back to its normal condition.

So, find the source of all the moisture, repair/remediate and give the bamboo a little time to back into shape.
Good luck.

Comment by Mark Richardson on December 8, 2010 at 9:16am

Isn't that the Cantonese hyroglyph for "Distress?"

Comment by Evan Mills on December 7, 2010 at 8:22pm

Actually, the flooring is cupping (manufacturer blaming contractor and visa versa).... Kermit was right!

Comment by Debra Monte on December 7, 2010 at 8:11pm

Nice strand bamboo flooring though....