Bamboo Floor Buying Guide

Bamboo flooring presents a remarkable range of colors, patterns, and styles to fit any décor with an eco-friendly sustainability. Read our Buying Guide for all the information you need to decide what flooring suits you best.

What to Ask When You Don’t Know What to Ask

Why: Bamboo stand out mostly because it is environmentally-friendly. Unlike hardwoods harvested from trees that take 30 years or more to reach maturity, bamboo is technically a grass and it is ready for harvesting in 5-7 years. It’s harder than many hardwoods and also as durable and beautiful as any wood choice on the market. Furthermore, bamboo offers a unique sustainability.

Where: Grade A bamboo is very durable, but exposure to excessive moisture can cause warping, making it unsuitable for bathrooms and outdoor installations. It is perfect for high traffic areas in your home and it can be installed below, on or above grade.

What: There are a lot of choices available on the market: patterns, colors, and styles. The grain type (horizontal, vertical, or strand-woven) determines the pattern of the flooring and stains provide a multitude of color choices.

Who: Floating installations (especially glueless-click) are somewhat easy for the DIYer. Nail/glue down installations are better suited for an experienced DIYer either a professional installer.

When: Schedule time for delivery, acclimatization and installation of the floor.

How Bamboo is Made

Three types of bamboo flooring exist: horizontal, vertical, and strand-woven. Horizontal and vertical bamboo flooring are made from narrow strips of bamboo glued together for the appearance of plank flooring. Vertical bamboo combines narrow strips with laminate between them for a polished, uniform look similar to hardwood. Horizontal processing uses varying sections of bamboo to show the natural knuckles and growth patterns of the bamboo.

A byproduct of the bamboo milling process is used by the strand-woven bamboo flooring. The byproduct is pressed together long strands which are hardened and made uniform by resin for the traditional look of wood with durability and hardness comparable to Brazilian Cherry.

All the Basics

Grade
While bamboo does not have a formal grading system, most bamboo retailers identify bamboo flooring as either “A” grade or “B” grade. A” grade is a better quality and also more durable. In addition, “A” grade has a more consistent look because it is manufactured from fully mature bamboo. “B” grade flooring is manufactured using bamboo not fully matured. It may be weaker and less durable, inconsistent in color and may also have mold or fungus.

Check out this video that summarizes some of the information you’ll need to know when it comes to bamboo floor grading.

How Will Your Floor Wear Over Time?
Both, bamboo and hardwood can take a lot of punishment. They are dent and scratch resistant, but not impervious. In time, it will retain its beauty as long as it is properly taken care of.
Moisture and Temperature
The truth is that excessive moisture can ruin any wood floor, but bamboo has the advantage over hardwood. In humid climates bamboo does not swell and contract as much.
Where to Install Bamboo
Bamboo looks great anywhere, but there are some things to consider before installing it in the bathroom or the weight room. Let us give you some tips:

Living & Dining Rooms. High traffic locations are perfect for bamboo flooring. Remember to use furniture protector pads under your chairs and couches to keep from scratching the surface of the floor .

Foyers & Entrances. Bamboo shouldn’t be exposed to constant moisture, so if you live in a rainy or snowy climate, protect the entryway flooring with an area rug or runner.

Offices & Dens. Bamboo is a perfect choice for an office or den. If you put a mat under your desk chair and the floor will wear like iron in this kind of low-moisture, low-impact environment.

Kitchens. The kitchen is generally the highest traffic area in your house and the most likely room for messy spills, splatters, and impact. Bamboo is durable enough to be a good choice, but spills should be cleaned up right away. Remember that this is also one of the rooms that requires the most scrubbing.

Bathrooms. Bathrooms simply have too much moisture for any kind of wood or bamboo flooring.

Weight rooms & Playrooms. Bamboo is impact resistant, but any surfaces aside from carpet, rubber, or cork will dent when a weight is dropped on it, and kids can be pretty hard on floors. It is necessary to put down a well-padded area rug to absorb the impact and also help with keeping the noise down.

Who Loves Bamboo?

People with allergies. Bamboo floors form a tight seal that cannot be penetrated by dust, pollen, animal hair and dander. You only need to vacuum or dry mop regularly.

People who like easy clean up and maintenance. While some woods require polishing and waxing to keep them looking their best, bamboo doesn’t. You need only a broom or a vacuum cleaner a once a week swipe with a little vinegar diluted in a bucket of water.

People with children. Bamboo, with its tight seal, forms a barrier against embedded dirt. Regular vacuuming and damp mopping is all it takes to create a flooring surface that’s ideal for your children.
Bamboo Cleaning and Maintenance
Bamboo is simple to maintain.

• Dust mop or vacuum with a soft brush or wood floor accessory to keep your bamboo floor clean.
• A damp cloth or mop can be used without damage to the bamboo flooring panels, but do not use excessive water.
• Dry the floor with a clean, soft cloth.
• Blot up spills or water from wet feet or footwear immediately with a clean, dry cloth, sponge, or paper towel.
• Remember never to allow excess liquid to remain on the surface.
• Do not use soap-based detergents, abrasive cleaners, or combined “clean and shine” products on your bamboo floor. A damp-mop solution of one quarter cup of white vinegar and one quart of water is the best way to clean bamboo flooring.
• Do not use steel wool or other scouring pads that may scratch bamboo planks.
• Do not wax or polish the surface.
• Do not steam clean or use chemicals that may damage the bamboo flooring surface.
• Clean up as much as possible using a dry cloth, then wipe in case of messy or sticky spill. Scrubbing can drive the stain into the bamboo surface.

Surface Types

It is crucial the way the flooring looks like since it is a unifying element of home design aesthetics. Fortunately, bamboo offers a lot of choices in both color and texture.

Color

• Natural bamboo with a clear finish is light blonde and neutral so it can fit with almost any décor.
• If you want to go to a darker color, pick the carbonized bamboo which is produced by boiling the bamboo until the natural plant.
• Stained bamboo is available in a wide variety of shades and colors.
• Direct print bamboo offers the appearance of woods like oak, cherry, maple or exotics with the benefits of bamboo.

Texture

• Machine-milled smooth bamboo flooring with several coats of finish create a uniformly smooth glossy or matte finish.
• Hand scraped or distressed bamboo flooring is finished by hand or sometimes by machine to create a more rustic look.

Accessories

Moldings, Transitions & Trims
Right moldings and trim are needed to finish your floor. Make sure your dealer has products that complement the bamboo you’ve chosen.

Molding	Usage	Image
Base shoe molding	A round combination of the baseboard and quarter; a flat profile, with a rounded lip at the bottom of the molding. This molding is used when shallower profiles are required (for example: behind bookshelves).
End molding	Transition molding used when there are great level differences between two rooms. This can also be used when you are interested into finding a transition between a laminate floor and a sliding glass door.
Reducer molding	Transition molding located on a floor between two rooms with slight level differences (for example: between laminate and tile).
T molding	“T” shaped transition molding used between two rooms of the same level.
Stair Nose molding	Molding used when making a transition between a laminate floor and stairs. The molding hooks over the edge of the first stair, with one edge on the vertical face of the stair and the other edge on the surface of the flooring.
Quarter round molding	Molding used in the same way as a base shoe molding, behind cabinets where a low profile molding is better suited to support an object flush against the wall.
Baseboards	Molding with a flat vertical surface or “profile”, used in the same way as a quarter round; transition between floor and wall.

Underlayment
Underlayment is a thin foam padding that absorbs sound and also some of the very minor imperfections in the sub-floor. Furthermore, you will also need either a separate moisture barrier or an underlayment with a moisture barrier if your floor will be on or below grade.

There are primarily 3 underlayment options:

• Padding only (provides cushioning)
• Padding and sound barrier
• Padding, Moisture barrier and sound barrier

Adhesives
Not all bamboo flooring installation requires adhesives. If yours does, make sure you use a VOC-free glue.

Installation Types

Installation is an important consideration when picking your bamboo flooring. The process of installation can affect the price, the time it takes to install and the way the floor feels under your feet.

• Nail Down/Glue Down – This kind of installation is similar to a traditional hardwood installation and is often best done by a professional installer unless you are an experienced DIYer.
• Floating: Glue-Seam – This type of installation requires a bead of glue on the seams of the planks before joining them together. While the glue dries in a few seconds, it is best to lay out the entire floor for color and pattern before gluing. This can be a DIY project for an experienced DIYer.
• Floating: Glueless-Click – The glueless-click process of installation is the easiest one. Similar to laminate flooring, the planks are made to lock together without the need for glue or nails and can be laid over any floor surface (as long as it is even and level). This is the simplest method for the do-it-yourselves and even beginners can do it.

Installing Your Bamboo Floor

Preparing For a Bamboo Flooring Installation
Before the flooring installers appear, there are three important points to address: furniture, appliances, and fixed objects.

Furniture: Remember to remove all your furniture and other objects from the location where bamboo installation will take place. Also, make sure to empty the closets, cabinets, and other furniture carrying stuff. Find out if there’s an additional charge for your installer to move the furniture.

Appliances: Your appliances need to be disconnected and removed from the room to be floored. Some installers may do the job for you for an additional charge, but most people can accomplish this on their own with a little extra muscle. Prior arrangements should be made with your gas/appliances company to disconnect and reconnect all gas appliances safely. Disconnecting gas appliances yourself is NOT recommended.

Fixed Objects: Fixed objects (for example posts and fireplace surrounds) need to be included into your plan when preparing for a do-it-yourself bamboo flooring installation. Measure the dimensions of these objects and gauge how they affect your square footage requirement. The overall professionalism of the flooring look will depend on the details. Preparing properly for bamboo flooring installation can result in a trouble-free experience.
Pre-installation instructions
Intermediate-level construction skills are required for a do-it-yourself bamboo floor installation. Several factors should be considered before the installation. A swift and easy process of installation can take place if you carefully prepare for the installation. Here are a few instructions:

• Make sure that the subfloor is flat, dry, and smooth.
• Use underlayment under your bamboo floor for soundproofing and stability.
• Bamboo flooring and underlayment/vapor barrier can be installed on any existing floor including concrete, wood flooring, vinyl tile, linoleum, tile, etc as long as the floor is flat and solid.
• Allow the bamboo flooring material to acclimatize before the installation for as long as possible (min. 2 to 3 days).
• Examine each floor plank for color, finish, quality and defects.
• Bamboo floor installation should take place at a room temperature of at least 65°F (15°C). A floor surface temperature of 59°F and an overall room temperature of 65°F must be ensured before, during and three days after the installation.
• Take extra care when installing bamboo flooring over radiant heating. Ensure that you read both the manufacturer’s bamboo flooring and radiant heat system instructions carefully. Bamboo flooring should not be installed over a radiant floor with a maximum temperature exceeding 85°. Keep in mind that not all bamboo flooring can be installed over radiant heat.
• Read the installation instructions handed over by your bamboo flooring provider / manufacturer.

DIY Installation tips

• The beginning wall of the flooring should be more visible than your ending wall.
• Remove any previous carpeting or wood flooring glued to a concrete floor.
• After measuring the area of the floor to be covered, add 10% to allow as wastage or for future repairs.
• If your room is larger than 1,000 square feet, we recommend you to use 0.75 inch spacers in order to create expansion space around the border of the room and any pipes, doorframes, cabinets, or fixed objects etc.
•  A gap of 0.50 inches can work if your room is smaller. These gaps allow for expansion and contraction. The exposed edges can be concealed with trim or molding.
• To install flooring around pipes, drill a hole in the plank that is half or a quarter inch larger than the pipe diameter. Cut the plank across the center of the circle, fit around the pipe on the floor, glue plank pieces back together and clamp (do not glue) bamboo to subfloor. Cover expansion gaps with molding or pipe rings when the floor is complete. Water pipes require silicone sealant.
• To replace any planks damaged during installation, raise the last installed board approximately 1 to 2 inches until it disengages. Continue until you reach the affected plank, replace and reinstall the planks.

Underlayment Installation

This is a material located between the sub-floor and your bamboo floor in order to provide cushioning, sound absorption and a barrier to moisture. It comes in large rolls or as separate pieces that can be taped to each other.

• Don’t forget to remove the shoe molding from around the baseboard and also the doors from the installation area.
• Remember that the flooring planks need supplementary space to fit under doorframes. You need to place a piece of underlayment and bamboo flooring next to the jamb to determine the required height, and cut out the desired area of the frame.
• Install the underlayment and make sure the edges don’t overlap. To prevent them from shifting, tape the pieces together.
• Apply a polyethylene plastic vapor barrier before installing the underlayment, if you’re placing a bamboo floor on top of a concrete slab.

Floating or Glueless Installation Method

Ease of installation is one of the key advantages of bamboo flooring. One of the two do-it-yourself installment options is the floating or glueless method where the flooring is not secured to the subfloor. Instead, it allows each board to be connected by means of a tongue-and-groove design. These planks click together to form a firmly fastened surface, around eight inches by four feet long.

The glueless flooring planks are installed approximately 50% faster on average than the traditional methods of installation.

Materials requirement:

• Straight edge
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Marker
• Speed square (to test angles)
• Scissors
• Hammer
• Coping saw
• Circular saw with fine-tooth blade
• Safety goggles
• Clamps
• Wall spacer wedges
• Tapping block
• Last row puller (prybar)
• Bamboo flooring

• Underlay (foam, vinyl or cork are popular choices)

Installation procedure

• It is preferably to install the flooring planks with their length parallel to the incoming sunlight.
• Start the installation from the left corner of the room. Cut off the tongue of the planks, and run them parallel to the wall with the help of expansion spacers.
• Install each plank by inserting one end into the other at an angle and pressing down afterwards.
• Measure and trim the last plank to fit, on reaching the end of the row.
• Cut a new plank similar to the pattern of the first row and start the next row with this plank.
• After you lift the previous row slightly to fit the next planks into position, give a sharp rap to the next line of boards with your hand to fully engage and press them down firmly.
• Keep on going with this procedure with the rest of the flooring.
• The last row should be the same width as the first row. Remember to trace the wall outline and also leave space for expansion.
• Now you need to trim and remove excess plastic sheeting and spacers. Reinstall baseboards without nailing to the floor.
• Flooring should extend under the doorframe.
• Now use a piece of scrap flooring to mark the depth that the doorframe should be trimmed.

Bamboo Flooring Installation Costs

After you’ve chosen a bamboo floor, you need to determine the total cost of your installation. You will need to find out the cost of how much square footage you’ll need plus 10% for wastage and future repairs. Also consider the bamboo quality that will best suit your flooring area, along with the cost of underlay, moldings and trim.

Apart from all costs, we present you a list of supplementary expenditures you may have to take into consideration in during or prior to a bamboo flooring installation process:

• Furniture removal and replacement: Some professional installers include taking your furniture out of the room and also moving it back there once the installation has been finished. Remember that additional charges may exist.
• Taking off the old floor covering: Your previous/old floor covering may need to be removed and the debris has to be disposed properly as well. Your installer may regard it as a cost-incurring step, if you don’t do it yourself.
• Subfloor preparation: Pre-installation work may incur additional charges if your subfloor needs to be repaired or treated.
• Installation: Determine the total cost for installation process.
• Accessories installation: Find out if the installation procedure requires accessories/additional material/tools to install bamboo properly. This step may or may not be included in the installation agreement.

This may not be a complete list of things to look into before finalizing your decision about bamboo flooring so we would like to to consider a discussion with your flooring installer or dealer. This way you will get all your facts straight before starting this project. The key to a happy and successful process is doing your research and getting all of the costs of a bamboo flooring installation upfront.

Where to Buy Your Bamboo Floor

You want to make sure you not only get great advice but that you get good service all the way through your purchase and installation process. The best way to do that is to ask tough questions in advance.

• Is there a bamboo expert who can answer my questions?
• Will that be the same person I deal with all the way through this project?
• Can you measure my space and provide an estimate?
• If you don’t have personnel to measure my space, can you advise me on how to do it on my own?
• Do you provide installers?
• If the answer is no, can you help me find one?
• If you provide installers, can you guarantee for their work?
• Is the bamboo I picked available or do you have to order it?
• How long is the wait in case I have to order it?
• Can you guarantee the time of delivery?
• Is your price guaranteed to be the lowest and if I find the same product somewhere else will you refund me the difference?
• Do you have a money-back satisfaction guarantee and what does it cover?
• Can you put me in touch with previous customers who have bought from you or used your installation services in the past?
• Do you have any product or company reviews online?
• Do you deliver and how much does it cost?
• Does your delivery charge include international shipping, if applicable?
• If not, how much will that cost?
• What is the warranty on my laminate?
• What if there’s a problem with my product that falls under warranty?
• How do you rectify that problem?
• What happens if I don’t like the product after I buy it but before I install it?
• Will you take it back and if so, what will you charge?
• What if I discover damages upon delivery?
• How do you make it right?
• Who can I call if I have a problem?
• Will it be the same person who sold me the bamboo in the first place?
• Do you have the accessories I need to finish the job?
• For accessories like trim and moldings, can I see them first so I can determine if they are a good match to the floors?
• Do you have samples I can take home with me?
• How long can I keep them and at what cost?