X-post: Anyone here have bamboo flooring? Love it? Hate it? Meh?

[GreenPartyVoter]

Even the really cheap stuff at Lumber Liquidators would cost a lot for the size of the area I need to cover. (Kitchen/dining/living room) I hear it scratches easily and warps as well. Have you had problems of this nature? Is it worth scrimping, saving, and sacrificing to get it?

[MajorChode]

1. I've had it for 10 years

I love it. I have had no problems with warping. Warping is caused by the expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature and humidity. Bamboo expands and contracts much less compared to almost all types of wood flooring, so it can happen as with wood flooring, but you have less chance with bamboo as compared to most non-engineered wood flooring. The best flooring in this regard is engineered wood flooring (which is made with layers like plywood), however that stuff can be very expensive and there are other disadvantages to it. Bamboo is the absolute best flooring to use if you are concerned about value and warping because wood flooring that is less prone to it will cost you much more. As long as it's installed correctly, you should have no problems with warping. There are some installation issues you should consider. First, when you buy it, if it's been stored in a warehouse, store it inside your house for a few weeks before installing it to allow it to acclimate. A couple of months isn't a bad idea. Do NOT take it out of the box during this time. Next, make sure your installers use the best type of glue available. It's best to buy this yourself from Lumber Liquidators. Finally, make absolutely sure your installers leave a gap (1/4" to 1/2") between the flooring and your walls (or other structures). This gives the flooring room to expand and is covered up by trim.

Natural bamboo (not 'stained') is about as hard as maple, so the structure itself is as resistant to scratching as any wood flooring you'll find. Regardless of how good the finish is, all of it WILL scratch. Prefinished flooring is the best in this regard, but even that will scratch. This isn't due to it being bamboo, that's just the nature of wood flooring in general. Scratches are inevitable, especially if you have pets. For deep scratches, I take a dremel tool and soften the edges to make them less noticeable, then polish them a bit. However, most scratches that accumulate simply add character to the floor. Look at any wood or bamboo floor that's been down for many years and I guarantee it will be scratched, but I think older floors like this are actually more attractive than newer ones.

Bamboo basically comes in two finishes which are natural and darker. Bamboo won't take stain, so the darker version has actually been either steamed or burned until it darkens. This affects the hardness of the flooring negatively, so keep that in mind. I prefer the natural color anyway which is what I have. Bamboo is just about as perfect as any type of wood-type flooring you'll find. It's hard as maple, warps less than pine, it's relatively cheap, it's very attractive, and it's environmentally responsible. What more could you want?