Harder than oak...
Hard as Maple....
varying colors and patterns...
Ecologically sound...
lower thermal expansion....
Moisture resistant....
competitive pricing...

I mean, if you decide that you like the look of bamboo flooring,
what are the gotchas?

Every site I've visited just raves about the soundness of deciding
to install bamboo floors. It just sounds too good to be true.
I mean, except for the excitement surrounding a "new" material suitable
for flooring, are there any dirty secrets to installing bamboo flooring?

Not only in respect to a DIYer to actually install it, but after it's been on the floor for a few years.

 

I don't know where you got moiture resistant from?

Bamboo is very unstable, when moisture is involved.

It not only swells in the width, but will also grow in the length, unlike a wood will.

 

I read it here
http://www.bamboofloors.net/

Third opening paragraph
I'm not saying they are right or wrong, just showing what I read.
The problem I see is that since it's a newer product, most of the information sites are sites trying to sell us bamboo floors.

Where would be a good place to get a balanced opinion of for the qualities of bamboo flooring?

 

try a search at consumer reports.

 

Research tends to be conflicting and most of the bambo info on the internet tends to be posted by manufacturers or retailers who are in the business to sell bamboo. Not all bamboo products are created equal. Thus Janka ratings reported tend to vary. Some even report they use an average of Janka ratings reported by different manufacturers. Bamboo grown at higher elevations tends to be harder than bamboo grown at lower elevations, most retailers and manufacturers tend to have no idea where bamboo was grown. Reports on stability and moisture issues also vary. Labor practices in the Pacific Rim countries, the origin of bamboo, tend to be an issue for some. VOC content (formaldehyde and other chemicals) tends to vary among manufacturers and can be a major concern for those with allergies and respiratory problems.

Make sure that your bamboo flooring is well-manufactured to avoid expensive problems. Bamboo can be a high-performance flooring product, but only if it is well-made by an experienced manufacturer using quality raw material, adhesives, and milling equipment. Manufacturer's instructions for moisture tests, subfloor prep, acclimation, vapor retarders, installation, and care and maintenance should be followed carefully.

 

Hi,

Last year, I did a ton of research on bamboo flooring prior to installing a 400 square foot section of it. In all honesty, I wanted reclaimed teak, or some other reclaimed flooring, but was talked into bamboo.

In the year we've had the floor (Panda brand bamboo, 6' solid wood planks, installed with adhesive over the wooden subfloor), I've notice a bit of shrinkage. In the winter, there were several spots where the boards had contracted about 1/8th of an inch. This summer, the gaps have pretty much disappeared. We left a 1/2 inch gap all the way around the room, and an inch gap in between the bamboo floor and the adjoining tile floor. So far, so good. No creaking, cupping or other nightmarish problems one encounters on these message boards.

I would highly recommend bamboo (but not the Panda brand; it has scratched very easily). The micro-beveled edges were a snap to work with, and working with adhesive was actually kind of fun. It was a lot cheaper than carpeting the same space ($2.00/sq. foot) and will last longer.

PDL

 

According to some new testing, bamboo appears to be surprisingly stable.

http://wflooring.com/Technical_Info/...ings_chart.htm


That said, the world of bamboo can be a perilous one, filled with intrigue and suspense. Consistancy is a problem, even within prominent manufacturers. You can not always be sure what will be coming off the next boat. Nailing successfully can be an ordeal. Sanding and finishing has its own special attributes.
I am coming around to the idea that it takes a special person to work with this stuff. Untypical material often purchased by untypical people needs an untypical installer.

 

Why worry about all the questions raised about moisture affecting the bamboo? Just get a cork floor! It's better in terms of environmental impact, it's allergy-free, moisture proof, insulating (read: great on bare feet in the middle of winter or summer), longevity, and beautiful.

Our house has the original cork flooring from 1949, and it looks like burled walnut. The cork floor is in better shape than the new oak floors: we've got a big dog with long nails who likes to slide across them. Not only that, but we had a major house fire April of '04, and the cork floor was easier to clean up and refinish than the FEW hardwood floors that actually survived the smoke and heat.

Go with CORK: you'll never regret it!
-Joel R.
(Not a professional; just a homeowner).

 

I didn't see the contradiction??? I didn't use extremely unstable.

You confirmed what I stated

 

They all claim to be expert manufacturers and have the best engineers and quality control. Can you give a price range for good stuff and some names of manufacturers w/a good track record?

Thanks!

 

I've been installing quite a bit of Bamboo Mountain with good results. Consistant quality, formadehyde-free. Laid some 6" vertical today that was very nicely milled with no microbevel.

 

"Not all bamboo products are created equal."

Best statement I've heard! Unstable? Hmmmn. Yes, it depends on the "manufacturer" I've seen water laid under a gluedown bamboo floor for 3-4 months only affect the color minimally--no other visible damage whatsoever. Then another brand showed severe cupping with no moisture problems present. It became known later "green" bamboo was used during the manufacturing process; placed in the second ply.

Stories and more stories!

Avoid the $ 2- $ 3.00 brands

 

In this same study, the shrinkage from green to air-dry was measured to be
approximately....0.02% in the longitudinal direction, 9.3% in the
tangential direction, and 18.2% in the radial direction. When compared to
Northern Red Oak, for example, Bamboo shrinkage values are approximately
TWICE that of N. Red oak.

Information for this comparison to Oak can be found in Table 3-5 of our
Wood Handbook (these values are from green to OVEN-dry, not AIR-dry)..
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/FP...tr113/Ch03.pdf

 

Bamboo is gorgeous, but it does dent easily. Also, as far as installation, bamboo is a grass, and tends to splinter easily when being nailed.

 

I installed over 2100 sq ft of bamboo flooring throught out my house, including around my Jacuzzi tub. I used 7" x 6' wide floating plank click together and am thrilled. It was easy to install - if you tape it with painter's tape and cut it upside down it does NOT splinter.

It's been a year and people are wowed when they see it. I haven't had a minutes' trouble, shrinkage or denting. OKay, I dented a stair carrying a door down and slipped out of my hand. But the fix for dents are; a wet washcloth left on the dent overnight. It swells the bamboo, and when you remove it, it will dry back level.

I will use it in my next home, and the one after that - it's gorgeous, unique and eco-friendly.

Handygal

 

Some things to be conscious of when evaluating bamboo, it is stable, but as all wood (grass) products go it can be susceptible to moisture. A lot of the early problems with bamboo have been worked out. When they first started producing it. They where milling and finishing the product green. The stuff was actually still growing after it was installed. Better procedures where adopted and kiln drying become standard for some of the manufactures. This produced a more stable and dry product. Further many of the cheaper products where not finished with an AO finish rather they where using cheap urethanes in 1 or two coats. This caused a lot of problems with scratching and it still exists with many of the sub-3 dollar bamboos available. Finally not all bamboos are the same. The bamboo is steamed to form the planks and the longer it is steamed the weaker it becomes. As well the longer it is steamed the darker it gets. This is exactly how the carbonized color is created. So the darker carbonized is actually a softer product than the natural. Its rating is similar to that of American Cherry which is considered to be a soft wood. The extreme hardness you see quoted is usually for the natural bamboo.

All in all I install a lot of bamboo and think it is a great product if you get the quality names. Names to stick with in bamboo are greenwood, Hawa, and Woods of Distinction. All of which in my opinion offer great bamboo products.

 

Personally, I think bamboo is a great product. But like any floor out there, it does have its downside. This article addresses why some people have had problems with the products they purchased, I hope it helps:

www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.com

 

diydreamer, that article is an advertisement. You push xxxxxx products in another thread. Are you working for xxxxxx? [yes, she is! and now she's banned for spamming!!!!]

Two brands that recieved top ratings by a test I heard of are Teregren and Premium Green. There was another company whos name I can't remember right now. I am installing some Premium Green now and have been impressed so far. Satin sheen makes a big difference too.

[moderator's note]

 

[QUOTE=JPicasso;812342]Harder than oak...
Hard as Maple....
varying colors and patterns...
Ecologically sound...
lower thermal expansion....
Moisture resistant....
competitive pricing...

I mean, if you decide that you like the look of bamboo flooring,
what are the gotchas?

Every site I've visited just raves about the soundness of deciding
to install bamboo floors. It just sounds too good to be true.
I mean, except for the excitement surrounding a "new" material suitable
for flooring, are there any dirty secrets to installing bamboo flooring?

Not only in respect to a DIYer to actually install it, but after it's been on the floor for a few years.[/QUOTE
I have heard that bamboo flooring will discolor in areas that get direct sunlight. Can this be confirmed?

 

donnamytt,
I think that this thread may have been resolved as the last post to yours was over a year ago