bamboo

Sweep or vacuum your bamboo floor with a solid flooring attachment. Mop with a damp, never soaking wet mop. Only use cleaners recommended by the manufacturer and apply them to the mop instead of directly on the floor. Don’t use wax products on bamboo flooring unless it has a wax finish. For complete care and maintenance guidelines, visit our Bamboo Flooring Care and Repair section.

• Prevent scuffing and scratching by collecting abrasive materials and moisture before they enter your house using an outdoor mat or rug. Keep large animals and other things that can damage the surface off the floor. • Use mats or rugs that do not have a rubber backing on high traffic areas and in areas that may experience spills, like in the kitchen near the sink. • Keep liquid off the floor as much as possible. Liquids can make the seams swell or ruin your subfloor. Never mop with a soaking wet mop. • Use felt floor protectors on furniture to prevent scratching and gouging. • Protect floors from excessive sunlight to prevent color change.

Yes, most bamboo floors can be sanded and refinished a few to several times. If you are unsure, ask a professional bamboo flooring installer who offers sand and finish services.

Yes. If you have a prefinished bamboo floor, the floor will need to be sanded until all finish is removed before staining.

Mineral spirits and a soft cloth will normally remove any adhesive residue. If in doubt, test on an inconspicuous area. Flooring adhesive removers are usually available at your local flooring retailer.

Most local retailers will carry scratch repair kits. If the scratch is minor, you can use an abrasive pad or very fine sandpaper to buff the scratch out, and then refinish the area. Since the finish may be a different type and gloss than what was originally applied, the repair may be noticeable once complete. Deep scratches can often be concealed using filler. If the damage is bad enough, you may need to replace a plank or section.

In a floating installation, you can disassemble the floor around the damaged plank, remove the plank, and replace it. When using glue down or nail down installation method, replacement is more difficult. You should contact your manufacturer or a professional installer for further instructions based on your individual situation.

Yes, just like any natural flooring surface, sunlight can affect the color of bamboo flooring. You should try to keep direct sunlight off the floor by closing drapes and blinds on sunny days, or applying a U-V protective film to your windows.

This is a problem that can be caused by a variety of things. In most cases it is caused from an improperly prepared subfloor, improper sanding methods (if it was an unfinished product), or excess moisture.

Curling edges (called cupping) are normally caused from excess moisture. This can be coming from the sub-floor, ground layer below the surface, or moisture in the concrete, as well as a generally humid environment. In most cases the flooring will have to be sanded and refinished or replaced.