Bamboo Flooring Facts

Why Choose Bamboo Flooring?
Bamboo flooring is perhaps the most widely associated choice for environmentally-friendly flooring. Bamboo is not actually a wood, but is a grass that can be harvested in just three years (in comparison to 100 years for an oak tree), it regenerates without replanting, and as a crop it requires very little fertilization or pesticides. Because of bamboo’s strength and durability, it has been used in construction applications for thousands of years - but only in recent years has gained in popularity for flooring applications here in Canada. Bamboo naturally resists moisture and is resistant to mildew and insects.

To convert the bamboo shoot into flooring, it is sliced into strips and boiled to remove the starch. The strips are then dried and laminated. The adhesives used to laminate the bamboo most often contain formaldehyde. There are many bamboo flooring manufacturers that are continually developing more environmentally-friendly adhesives that are much lower in formaldehyde than federal and state regulations require. To achieve a darker color than the natural pale yellow of the bamboo, it is pressure steamed in a process called carbonization.

Bamboo floors are available in both solid and engineered planks. Due to the manufacturing process required to make bamboo flooring, it is very difficult to sand and refinish. And due to both bamboo’s natural water resistance and the adhesives used in manufacturing, it is difficult to stain as it doesn't absorb liquid. Therefore, it is predominantly only available prefinished.

General Guidelines

• It is  recommends you vacuum or sweep the floor on a regular basis or as needed to remove dirt, sand or grit.
• Soak up spills immediately using a dry towel or dry mop.
• For general cleaning, use  Hardwood Floor Cleaner &  Hardwood Floor Mop.
• Fit furniture legs with felt tips or protective caps. Fix rolling furniture with soft rubber casters. Pick up heavy furniture or appliances; do not slide.
• Keep pets nails trimmed to avoid excess scratching.
• Limit direct sunlight on floor by using curtains and blinds in areas that are exposed to high UV rays.
• Maintain relative humidity between 40%-60%.
• Never wet-mop a hardwood floor. Standing water may cause permanent damage.
• Never use any of the following products on your floor: ammonia-based cleaners, acrylic finishes, wax-based products, detergents, bleach, polishes, oil soap, abrasive cleaning soaps, or acidic materials such as vinegar. Never apply wax treatments to your floor.
• Use interior and exterior doormats at entrances to prevent dirt and moisture from being tracked onto the floor. Area rugs are also recommended in front of kitchen sinks and in high traffic areas.
• Do not use rugs with solid rubber or vinyl backings. Rugs must be made of a breathable material to prevent moisture entrapment. We recommend using a breathable rug underlay. Mesh or grid patterns are best.