
Strand bamboo (engineered and solid) is water-resistant up to 30 hours and rigid core bamboo (which are considered engineered floors) is 100% waterproof. Solid bamboo and wood floors should not be installed in basements.

Tip # 3 - Differences In Durability And Safetyįrom a durability perspective there is no difference - all strand woven bamboo (both engineered or solid) can be installed throughout all rooms in the home.Both click-together and tongue and groove engineered floors can be glued down if needed, but solid wood floors should never be floated. Engineered flooring is recommended for basements. Engineered flooring is a favorite of DIYers and large building contractors due to its fast and easy "floating" click lock installation method, where the planks are snapped together quickly. Solid bamboo can be either nailed down or glued down to just about any sub-floor, including concrete. Tip # 2 - If You Want To Float The Floor, Always Choose Engineered.Multi-ply cores are usually better quality (and more resistant to moisture) than HDF cores. The thicker the wear layer, the better the quality, and quality engineered bamboo with a thick wear layer can be refinished. The term "engineered" simply means that the top of the plank is composed of a wood wear layer, which is laminated to a substrate - usually made of multi-ply wood or high density fiberboard (HDF). Like traditional hardwood floors, bamboo comes in both engineered and solid versions. Tip # 1 - Thicker Wear Layer Translates To Better Quality.In these cases you will first need to lay down a plastic vapor barrier sheet or similar. * 'Excessively wet' is defined as emitting moisture > 20 lbs per sq ft as determined by a calcium chloride test (usually a very small percentage of sub-floors). With its stone polymer core and thick 40 mm wear layer, it's dimensionally stable, comfortable underfoot, and is built to last for years and years. The Ambient® brand version also happens to include a nifty acoustic vapor barrier pad attached underneath which allows it to be installed directly on concrete or any other level surface as long as it's not excessively wet*. However, these floors will last decades in a residential setting without the need to be refinished due to the toughness of strand woven bamboo.īottom Line: Technically this is an engineered floor due to its multi-layered design however it's different enough to warrant its own category! Why? Because it's highly water resistant, and exhibits little to no expansion and contraction. We recommend choosing an engineered floor with a minimum 2mm wear layer (can be refinished twice) and a high-quality 3-in-1 underlayment that has a high STC sound rating - this will result in a final product that looks and feels exactly like solid hardwood when you walk on it.
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**Opening the windows in your home for a full day is okay.īottom Line: If you want to float a hardwood floor, engineered click lock bamboo is the way to go - it's tough, beautiful and easy to install. *A "run" refers to the consecutive distance the floor extends in any given direction However if you have built-in humidity control in your HVAC system, or use humidifiers and dehumidifiers to keep the humidity stable in your home, you don't have to mind these recommendations.
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If your installation measurements exceed those limits you can install bamboo t-molding at convenient breakpoints (like doorways).


If you have already decided to purchase and want to see prices and cost we recommend you explore our selection of bamboo flooring here. Our guide covers everything from the types of flooring to the latest manufacturing techniques and environmental benefits. We have compiled all the information you need to confidently research this sustainable product. This guide, along with its associated pages, is a comprehensive informational and educational resource for bamboo flooring.

states and such far away lands as Europe, Africa and beyond, amassing a wealth of information about this fantastic product. Over the years we've served tens of thousands of homeowners, builders, and architects across the globe, shipping our quality floors to all 50 U.S. Way back in 2005, Ambient® became one of the first companies in the world to pioneer the incredible product known as strand woven bamboo flooring. Bamboo is a relatively recent addition to the flooring market, having first emerged in the mid-90s, and there's a significant amount of misleading information online, some of it due to the fact that the original versions were less robust than the newer style of floors.
