Bamboo Flooring Guide: Everything You Need to Know

No. Stain isn't the reason it's darker. Instead, the raw bamboo has undergone a special process of kiln-heating. This carbonization process darkens the natural sugars found in the plant, giving the finished planks a darker color. This color goes all the way through the plank, just like natural bamboo.

A common misconception is that this process softens the bamboo. This isn't true in regards to strand woven bamboo, however, and only applies to old "classic" bamboo (horizonal and vertical grains). Classic bamboo is only about 1/3^rd the hardness of strand woven bamboo.

Yes, but we suggest using only engineered bamboo flooring for floating installations. Why? Because floating solid wood or bamboo products can result in problematic expansion and contraction.

For ease of installation, use click-lock planks that fit together and “snap” into place. This type of installation is incredibly easy because it doesn't require any glue or nails. Even brand-new installers can usually do this without any problem.

Bamboo holds up incredibly well in most moist conditions. (Within reason! Don't dump buckets of water on your floor and let it sit there.) Since bamboo is actually grass and not hardwood, it tends to tolerate moisture well.

In fact, we have installed our floors in humid climates all over the world. Examples include Guam, Kenya, Hawaii and all across the Southern US. Even the Dry Tortugas National Park off the coast of Miami!

That being said, you should follow NWFA guidelines regarding humidity levels inside the home. Most importantly, as with any wood floor, avoid swings of more than 20% in humidity throughout the year. Also, be sure to acclimate your flooring for at least 72 hours. Lay it flat on the floor in the room where it will be installed with the boxes and plastic cut open.

Absolutely! In fact, due to its hardness and moisture resistance, strand bamboo is great for kitchens, laundry rooms, and even basements. In fact, we've installed our floors in many kitchens throughout the world. We've also installed it in restaurants, spas, yoga studios, university dorms, lecture halls, and many other high-traffic locations.

Additionally, with Ambient®'s floors you get our super-tough Accuseal Ultra® finish with aluminum oxide. This provides top-notch spill protection from puddles and stains.

Yes! You can install bamboo over concrete in two ways. You can either float it or glue it down.

If you choose to glue it to concrete, use an all-in-one/vapor barrier adhesive, compatible trowel, and adhesive remover wipes for cleanup. If you float the flooring over concrete, use a 3-in-1 vapor barrier underlayment. For more details, check out our bamboo flooring installation page.

We recommend adding 10% for cutting and waste. But this can vary slightly depending on your skill level and the layout of your room. If installing the flooring in a diagonal pattern, you'll need to add 15%.

There are 10 main bamboo moldings that you may need to use depending on your particular installation. We list them below:

• Quarter Round molding hides the expansion gap left between the floor and wall during installation.
• T-moldings are used as a transition strip where the floor transitions to another flooring of equal or similar height (within 1/8").
• Stair Noses (aka bull nosing) cover the front edge of a stair tread or step. They help you transition to a landing, lower level, or staircase.
• Stair Treads cover the entire structural stair tread.
• Reducers are used to transition down to a flat surface
• Thresholds are used to transition to a surface that is more than 1/8" higher or lower than the floor and is usually cut to fit. People commonly use them to transition to carpet and at doorways.
• Register vent grills are used to cover HVAC ducts. They come in either flush mount (flat surface) or drop-in (slightly lifted off the floor) designs.
• Baseboards hide the expansion gap left between the floor and wall. They are often paired with quarter round.
• Installers use Spline to switch directions when laying planks.
• Folks often use Cove Molding under stairs and some Stair Noses (see above) to provide a more finished look.

Yes! You can install bamboo flooring in a bathroom, as long as you take care to protect it from moisture. For example, use mats by the bathtub and shower entrances. As long as you're careful not to let the water sit, bamboo floors work great in bathrooms.

The best time of year to install both bamboo and hardwood flooring is during the spring and fall. Although you can install them any time of the year, the less humid and cooler months work best.

It tends to be more humid in the summer. If the flooring absorbs too much of this moisture, the wood will swell. Conversely, during the dry months (winter), the flooring may shrink and gap. If proper expansion gaps haven't been put into place, this can cause buckling issues.

Absolutely! In fact, due to its hardness, bamboo is much more suitable than traditional hardwoods to handle light commercial foot traffic.

Bamboo floors are commonly used in:

• restaurants
• offices
• yoga studios
• gyms
• institutional/educational facilities

You can find Ambient® bamboo in Elevation Burger locations worldwide and even in university student unions and restaurants.

The carbonization process only softens "classic" bamboo (vertical or horizontal) — not strand woven bamboo. This is because the carbonized color is the same hardness as the natural color of strand woven bamboo - the raw materials are compressed to the same density. Hence, there is no real difference between carbonized and natural strand when it comes to hardness.

In general, you can clean your floors with a Swiffer or any type of lightly damp mop. Do try to treat your floors similarly to hardwoods, and avoid leaving excessive moisture on the floor while cleaning. For more information, check out our handy cleaning guide.

Here are some tips on how to clean your floors:

• Use door mats or rugs at entrances so you and guests can wipe dirt, sand, or grit off your shoes. This way, it doesn't track inside and potentially damage your floors.
• Make sure to dry mop or vacuum with a soft accessory once a week (or as needed).
• For spills or messy spots, simply use a soft damp cloth and a high-quality hard surface floor cleaner. Avoid using vinegar, mineral spirits, harsh detergents, abrasive cleaners, or corrosive chemicals. Never use steel wool or anything abrasive to scrub your floors.
• Use only colorfast and non-scratch carpeting or pads.
• Avoid placing jute rugs or other harsh materials on your floors.
• Keep your pet’s nails trimmed and your vacuum cleaner free of debris and small rocks and pebbles.
• Apply felt pads to the bottom of all furniture.
• Although most bamboo has effective UV protection layering in its pre-finish, the majority of floors fade from sunlight and light exposure over time. (There are a few blocks of wood, like Brazilian Cherry, that darken over time). For hardwoods, consider closing your curtains or blinds for long periods in the summer or during certain hours of the day. Or consider using UV protection films on your windows.
• Never steam mop bamboo or hardwood.

Yes! In fact it qualifies for LEED credits under multiple categories. Check out our guide to Bamboo Flooring and LEED Credits

Although "better" is often subjective, bamboo does have some advantages over traditional hardwood. Here's a quick look at what the two popular types of flooring have in common and how they differ.

• Both are made from natural materials.
• Both can be refinished.
• Both offer comfort and warm temperatures underfoot.
• Both are easy to maintain.
• Both offer good indoor air quality, as toxicity and off-gassing levels are very low to zero.
• Both are installed in the same way, via the nail-down, glue-down, or floating methods.

• Wood floors made from oak, maple, or hickory have Janka Hardness Ratings of 1200-2500 (avg). On the other hand, the hardness rating for strand woven bamboo is 3500-4500 (avg). (Bamboo is significantly harder than hardwoods.)
• Hardwood comes from trees while bamboo is actually considered a grass.
• Bamboo is more affordable than hardwoods.
• Hardwood trees can take 20-60 years to reach full maturity. Bamboo, on the other hand, takes only about 3-5 years to grow. People harvest it just as frequently, which makes it a much 'greener' building material.
• Companies typically ship prefinished hardwoods overseas for milling and finishing. Later, they ship it back to the U.S. to sell it as flooring. On the flip side, companies grow, harvest, and manufacture bamboo into flooring all in one location overseas. It only travels via ocean transit once (from the factory to the flooring store).

For a more comprehensive write-up, be sure to read our Bamboo vs Hardwood Floors Side-by-Side Comparison.

Both are made from a hygroscopic material. This means that they tend to absorb moisture from the air. This diagram clears up any confusion about how and why expansion and contraction occur (hint: it's all about the humidity!):

There are steps you should take before, during, and after installation to prevent expansion and contraction issues. For example, be sure to acclimate your floors properly. Additionally, install them with expansion gaps as needed. And keep the humidity levels in your home stable.

Also, it’s advisable to use engineered bamboo if you live in an area where humidity levels fluctuate throughout the year.

Aside from diamonds, almost no material in existence is 100% scratch-proof. Hence, all floors are susceptible to scratching. Especially when they come into contact with heavy furniture or sharp objects.

These scratches aren't as visible on white bamboo hardwood flooring as they are on darker woods. Fortunately, homeowners can easily fix micro-surface scratches. They can do this either naturally by friction (foot traffic) or with a flooring product like the Tibet Almond Stick.

When it comes to denting, however, strand woven bamboo really stands out. It is extremely hard and dense. It's nearly impossible to permanently damage it outside of using excessive force.

Don't believe us? Grab a free flooring sample and go at it with a hammer. Then you'll see why so many pet owners choose stranded bamboo. It stands up to it all!

Yes! However, in this case, it's important to keep the humidity between 40-60% or your flooring might have issues. If the humidity is too low, shrinkage or cracks might occur. If it's too high, the bamboo might expand and later buckle.

Manufacturers usually finish bamboo with several layers of UV protection. However, over time sunlight can cause most flooring to fade. But there are ways to protect it. Some options include using drapes, blinds, or UV films on your windows.

Keep in mind that in sunrooms and atriums - rooms purposefully filled with light - it might not be possible to protect your flooring without using UV films.

Despite all its benefits, sunlight can harm both skin and building materials. Constant and direct sunlight (especially from southerly-facing windows in the U.S.) can fade almost any product in your home. This includes furniture, carpets, paint, electronics, plastics, and more.