I'm nailing down some ~3.5"x ~9/16" Bamboo flooring and not sure how tight to make the rows to eachother.

The product is pre-finished and the planks are mostly pretty darn straight and square, a little bowing but for the most part they lay real straight.

I mostly try to get it "as tight as possible" meaning the edges are all snug all the way around, and if the board won't lay flat enough against it's neighbor I'll drive a screwdriver into the subfloor and pry it tight before nailing.

I'm in Albuquerque, very dry, second floor, with A/C (versus the standard "Swamp cooler" we see in these parts) so I don't expect the humidity to vary too much. Planks have been out of the box acclimating for many weeks if not months owing to my lack of spare time to install.

Is it possible to get the rows "too tight?" My goal is to get them as tight as possible - I was wondering if you guys left them "kind-of tight" or if you install them pretty much as tight as reasonably possible with normal flooring tools.

Thanks!

- Bob

Tight is always the best method. With bamboo it may be quirky depending on the moisture content. Your extended acclimation time and stable Rh should prove worry free in my opinion.

Thanks Ken!

I must admit... I have tons of admiration for guys like you (and the rest of the team here) who have years of experience and are willing to share it with DIY'ers like myself.

It's hard to imagine having access to this much accurate & timely information even ten years ago - back then it would have been impossible to even know whom to ask, much less get a quick answer to an individual problem. This site rocks!!

- Bob

Thanks Bob. Yes, the team is very good and everyone gets along quite well, which I am very thankful for.