Ok, I need some opinions. I have read tons of information over the last month or two with respect to gluing my bamboo plank floor over my concrete slab. Anytime I talk to installers and visit other websites they all say I have to put some kind of plywood subfloor over the concrete before I lay my floor down. My problem is - the floor says specifically that it can be glued to concrete. So what is the real scoop? Is there a problem with gluing directly to the concrete?

My house is 30 years old and I did have a moisture test done and it was fine. I understand I have to ensure the floor is flat and prep it properly but I would like your opinions. Thanks again for all of the help.

Bamboo floors are glued directly to concrete routinely (all the time) Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and adhesive recommendations.

Thanks a lot. I certainly appreciate the timely response.
Cheers,
Ray

I'm also gluing bamboo next week to concrete subfloors. Do you recommend using a Bostik's sealer before using Bostik's Best adhesive, or should I only use a sealer if the moisture content in my slab is high?

I would use the Bostik's MVP and the BST adhesive. BEST adhesive does not hold the trowel ridges. They sag and fall flat as a pancake. This leads to hollow spots.

I am using Parabond's Ultrathane 870. Has anyone used that before and do you have any thoughts on it?

Never heard of Parabond 870???? If it is 770 don't use it for bamboo!!!!

I would highly suggest Parabonds 4002 Moisture cure urethane

If it comes in a plastic bucket, don't use it on bamboo!!! It is an acrylic, containing water.

You need an adhesive that comes in a metal bucket, true moisture cure urethane!!!

http://www.parabond.com/flr_wd.php?category=3

This comes in a metal bucket with a metal top. It was 120 bucks a bucket! Here is the info from the spec sheet/ What do you think?

ULTRA-THANE 870 Premium Urethane Wood Flooring Adhesive

ENVIRONMENTAL/PERFORMANCE:

1. The easiest to use, fastest grabbing, fastest curing, and safest urethane wood flooring adhesive ever introduced to the wood flooring market.
2. This product has a longer shelf life, and will not skin over.
3. Trowels and works much easier for the installer than any other urethane adhesive. Easy troweling and maintains the trowel ridges without slumping. This feature is proven to prevent hollow spots, and reduces repair callbacks.
4. Approved for gluing down 3/4" solid wood flooring.
5. High bond strength and maintains flexibility and elongates to prevent breaking the bond to the sub-floor.
6. Amazing Green Strength, makes the job faster; therefore, more economical.
7. No Solvents– Mild Odor-VOC compliant



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DESCRIPTION:

Parabond’s Ultra-Thane 870 is a revolutionary new moisture cure polyurethane wood-flooring adhesive. It is the first urethane wood adhesive that is formulated to meet all the installer’s needs. It trowels as easily as a water-based adhesive. It bonds extremely well to all sub-floor types, including radiant heated sub-floors. It grabs fast, with excellent green strength, to prevent boards from slipping in the wet adhesive. This feature is missing from other urethane wood adhesives. It has extremely strong shear and tinsel strength, but remains elastic and elongates to prevent breaking the bond to the sub-floor.


Product will not skin-over in the bucket as other moisture cure urethanes, and maintains a longer shelf life, only if product lid is sealed tightly. The high shear and tinsel strength is a very important feature in today’s wood flooring market, as there are an endless number of exotic species that are very popular. The strong shear and tinsel strength combined with the elongation of Ultra-Thane 870 make it the perfect adhesive to accommodate the exotic woods that expand and contract substantially with changes in humidity.

The trowel ridges hold their form and will not slump and run, which has proven to reduce or eliminate hollow spots, thereby reducing or eliminating repair time and expense. Ultra-Thane 870 is warranted and suitable for installing all types and brands of hardwood flooring that is designated as “glue-down” by wood manufacturer. Ultra-Thane 870 matches or exceeds all wood manufacture’s adhesive warranties. Rolling is not required or necessary. Ultra-Thane 870 is safe, solvent free and has very low odor. Therefore, it is completely safe for the installer and occupants of the building and it is VOC compliant.

Must be a new one. They don't even have info on the website about it or its upcoming release.


I certainly never heard of it. Sounds like it is the stuff to use.

Yeah, apparently it is brand new and is supposed to be the best stuff on the market. After my run in with the Roberts 1407, I wanted to be sure to get the best stuff this time. If you go to Parabond's website and search under tech specs it brings up the info on the Ultrathane 870. Thanks again for the quick and insightful info. I certainly appreciate the answers from the experts.

You may need the moisture blocker that goes with that new 870

Click here to see...
http://www.parabond.com/techdetail.php?prodRef=umb3

Great , thanks. I'll have to check it out and see if I need it. Thanks again.

Thanks!