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Reasons Why Your Bamboo Flooring May Have Warped

December 13, 2014 by

For many Colorado homes, nothing says home like wooden floors. And with so many options on the market today, many families are turning to bamboo in order to achieve the look, yet be eco-friendly in the process.

Bamboo mimics wooden floors in both aesthetics and behavior, but its important to remember that bamboo isn’t wood; it’s a renewable grass that gains similar properties to wood during the drying and production process. Therefore these floors are susceptible to warping if they are exposed to the wrong conditions.Reasons Why Your Bamboo Flooring May Have Warped

Insufficient acclimation process

Before bamboo planks can be installed in a room, they have to be acclimated and adjust to the humidity levels of the room prio to installation. Unfortunately many DIYers don’t understand this, and purchase and install the same day. Bamboo planks should have 3 to 6 days adjusting to the atmosphere before they are installed.

The subfloor wasn’t adequately prepared

All manufacturers will have guidelines for installation and the preparation of the subfloor beneath the bamboo planks. If the subfloor isn’t prepared properly, it can allow moisture to build, trap humidity, and allow the planks to warp. The subfloor is highly important, especially if you have a subfloor made of concrete that is more moisture-prone in the first place.

Improper use of adhesive

As a do-it-yourselfer, its easy to get confused by your options. While you care about the final look, in many cases it’s the installation process that will matter most for longevity. If you go with another adhesive because its lower in cost, you may pay the price down the road. Stick with all manufacturers guidelines when it comes to both selecting and installing bamboo planks with the correct line of adhesive.

Bamboo planks will expand

Just like wood planks, bamboo will need room to grow and breathe. The expansion gap is the space allowed between the planks and the edges of the rooms where it meets the wall or other vertical surfaces (such as a kitchen island). This extra space gives the bamboo planks room to settle in as it adjusts to the variables of your home, including seasons, temperatures, and varying humidity levels.

Spills and sitting water

Water damage can occur in many ways. It can occur when you leave wet boots by the front door. It can occur by a wet bath mat sitting for hours in front of the shower. It can occur by a knocked over cup of tea forgotten as you rush out for a busy day. The longer water has time to sit, the more damage it will do. Take preventative measures when you can – a rug in the entryway for wet boots. And if water damage does occur, call in an expert to help you repair your floors immediately.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

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Know Your Facts About Bamboo Flooring Before You Install

July 29, 2014 by

With the heavy focus on green or sustainable materials in today’s economy, when its time to replace flooring, the focus undoubtedly always turns to bamboo. Bamboo is technically a grass, not a wood, though it is sold as if installing a wood floor. A bamboo floor is constructed of rectangles of bamboo glued together, engineered as a top layer that sits over wood layers for strength and durability. The newest types of bamboo construction are strand woven, a process that makes the bamboo flooring harder then its predecessors.Know Your Facts About Bamboo Flooring Before You Install

While bamboo flooring is a great option for many homeowners, there are a few things to keep in mind before you make bamboo your final choice.

Bamboo Expands

When installers lay a wood floor, they know to leave expansion room along the sides of the boards. With bamboo flooring, it will expand and contract along its length as well, so its important to leave expansion room on both the sides and the ends.

Janka Ratings and Strength

One of the biggest reasons people don’t fall in love with a wood floor its its potential for scratch and dents. Bamboo is no exception. Bamboo fibers are strong, but the lignins bonding them together are weak. During a Janka test, a round ball is pushed into the bamboo to test its durability. Bamboo is springy, so it can resist the ball test and appear more durable than it is. When a stiletto heel, for instance, is pushed into a bamboo floor, far more damage can be done. The exception is the new strand woven bamboo, which Janka provides more accurate results.

Acclimate

Bamboo flooring is often made in one location, then shipped in here to Colorado for final sale. With different temperatures and humidity levels, its always a good idea for your flooring to acclimate to its new conditions before it is laid in place. Solid bamboo flooring tends to acclimate quickly – three to seven days is typical. Strand woven bamboo acclimates slowly, needing even more time to adjust to its new conditions. If you choose engineered bamboo, it may not require acclimation at all – check with the manufacturer for more details.

Bamboo flooring is the perfect choice for your home … if you understand its properties and how it will act in certain situations. Make sure you choose a reputable company when making your final selection, and you will have a long lasting flooring choice you will be proud to come home to for many years into the future.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

Filed Under: Flooring, Wood Floor Tagged With: ,

How To Maintain Bamboo Flooring

October 11, 2012 by

Bamboo flooring can be a beautiful addition to your home.  It is the hardest wood flooring available today.  Since bamboo is a grass, you can rest assured that your beautiful new floor is Eco-friendly too.  As you admire your new floor, here are a few things you should do to make sure your floor looks beautiful for years to come.

1.    Make use of mats – Doormats and area rugs are an easy way to beautify your home.  However, when you have hardwood floors, they can serve an even greater purpose.  Placing doormats at the entrances to your home will help collect dirt and debris from being tracked in.  Area rugs in the main areas of your home can help protect from furniture scratching your wood.

2.    Sweep often – Loose grit on the floor can easily collect on the bottom of shoes or feet.  While this grit may be annoying for you, it is even worse for your floor.  A quick sweep every day or so with a Swiffer dry mop (or similar product) can keep your floor clean and clear.

3.    Spot mop –  Use a soft, slightly damp rag to clean sticky spots or other small messes on the floor.  When you clean the entire floor be sure to avoid excess water as this can damage the flooring.  Whether cleaning a small spot or a larger portion of the floor, do not use abrasive scouring pads to clean the floor. [Read more…]

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

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5 Reasons Bamboo Flooring Might Be Right For You

August 31, 2012 by

If you are considering a flooring project, you are well aware of the huge number of options open to you.  You could have carpet, tile, linoleum, vinyl, hardwood … and the list goes on.

As you wade through the sea of choices, materials, and prices, please don’t overlook an exciting new option available to you: Bamboo!  To get your thoughts flowing with the possibilities, here are five reasons bamboo flooring might be right for you.

Bamboo flooring is highly durable – Many people want hardwood floors for heavy traffic areas, but they are scared away by the price.  Bamboo floors are just as durable as many of the most popular hardwood flooring options at a much better price.  Bamboo flooring does very well with daily wear from pets, children, dropping objects, etc. [Read more…]

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

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