Q: I have a couple of more quick questions. 1) will I need to glue the tongue/groove as well? (with a different type of adhesive obviously) 2) Is the wet-lay method acceptable for this type of bamboo? (some guidelines say NOT to use it, while others say it is ok) Appreciate the help, Jeff...
bamboo
Cognac Horizontal Satin – Ming Dynasty Bamboo Install
Q: I’m planning to install “Cognac Horizontal Satin – Ming Dynasty Bamboo” over a concrete sub-floor using the glue down installation. I was hoping you could clarify a few questions: 1) What trowel size should I use for this application when I put the adhesive down? 2) What is an acceptable level of moisture...
Restoring Shine to a Bamboo Floor
Q: Hi Flooring expert, We have had our bamboo kitchen floor for close to 8 years. We love the floor, but after so many years, we notice that the shine is gone. We vacuum and wash the floor with white vinegar and water. How can we restore the shine and finish to the floor?...
Removing Scratches from Bamboo Flooring
Q: I recently had installed vertical bamboo flooring with a mat finish. On day one I made a couple of minor scratches. Can I cover the mat finish with a “poly” finish with the hope of reducing scratches? A: To be simple your answer is “yes,” but let’s get into detail here. Poly refers...
Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring
Q: I would like to put down a bamboo flooring. I was told that strand woven is the hardest bamboo there is. Is that correct? Can you float a bamboo floor? Ruth A: What you were told is correct, Strand Woven Bamboo is the strongest bamboo out there. What makes it so strong? The...
Expansion Gap for Bamboo Flooring
Q: I am installing solid bamboo flooring in a doublewide and the manufacturer suggests 5/8 in expansion gap. This is probably worst case, we live in Georgia so we don;t have big swings in temperature. Would a smaller gap 3/8 in, that would be covered by molding be acceptable? Thank You Jim A: The...
Canine Quandary
Q: I want to replace the wall-to-wall carpeting in my house with either hardwood or bamboo flooring. I hesitate to do so because I have two large dogs (50 and 65 lbs, respectively) and am concerned they will damage the floor with their nails and toys. I am looking at light to medium natural...
Installing Bamboo on a Landing
Q: I read the previous posts on installing wood on stairs and I’m ready to go except for one issue I haven’t seen addressed. I want to use the solid stair treads and risers. I have six stairs up to a landing, then a semi-circular landing that turns 180 degrees then nine more steps...
Eco-Friendly Flooring
As a new feature here to our Ask the Flooring Expert blog, we are going to begin doing a monthly editorial about issues that have come up frequently or more popular subjects to give a good in-depth look in the many topics of flooring. For September we are going to examine one of the...
What is Carbonized Bamboo?
This question comes from John C. over at iFLOOR.com’s Tacoma, WA location. He mentioned many of his customers ask about carbonized bamboo and how its made. He also mentioned it can be hard for customers to find an answer to this without asking a flooring expert at a local store, so let’s tackle what...
