Required fields are marked *. This problem needs to be addressed at the source – crawl spaces and unconditioned spaces need to be sealed to protect hardwood floors from moisture, before acclimation. Cracking. Even small particles of dirt and debris can act like grit to sand and score the flooring over time, resulting in a dull and broken appearance. Sorry to hear your installer is missing in action – I hope you get this resolved soon! Bamboo grass readily absorbs water and is susceptible to damage from water and excessive humidity. That sounds like a real bummer! What is causing this? Permanent cloudy spots on polyurethane finish that was cleaned with mineral spirits. Problems with cheap bamboo… Since you should never immerse a bamboo floor in water, a weekly wet mopping isn’t an option. Example of using only 20% glue coverage on a slab resulting in cupping. The younger the bamboo is, the softer the floor is going to be. When exposed to moisture, bamboo flooring can absorb it, which leads to weakening of the material. Even if there are no threats of splashed and puddled water, humidity can still cause problems for bamboo flooring. Thanks Joseph! You could also consult a local installer to come out and take a look. It can seep into your floor cracks and crevices and cause long-term damage to the planks. Acclimation The best way to avoid problems for any flooring product is to be sure that it has reached equilibrium moisture content, or EMC, with the space in which it will be installed. Bamboo is denser and more resistant to water damage than most woods, and it does have some mild natural antimicrobial properties. Hardwood floors cup because of excess moisture drawn up through the bottom of the floor-board, while the top of the flooring remains relatively dry by comparison. Humidity remains a problem for bamboo flooring. Chemicals used to treat most bamboo flooring emit VOC’s (volatile Organic Compounds) into the air, causing pollution and presenting a health hazard for the inhabitants of a home with bamboo floors. Thanks! Although you need to avoid bargain basement products when shopping for strand woven bamboo flooring, you will discover that … The crawl space should be a minimum height of 18 inches from the ground to the undersides of the joists. The failure to apply adhesive to concrete slabs at a uniform and consistent rate, at the wrong thickness, or with the wrong trowel is one of the leading causes of hardwood floor cupping. Installer is nowhere to be found!! If the floor product is not dried properly, it will be prone to shrinking and warping. They look like surface marks. Crawl spaces are usually below grade, shady, and are naturally cooler than the outside air. Home › Floor Protection › 8 Common Installation Errors With Hardwood & Bamboo Flooring. Many consumers hear the name and think that Cali Bamboo must look like bamboo. The Internet is loaded with examples of hardwood floors installed over crawl spaces that are cupping, sometimes within just a few weeks of installation. However, it still has vulnerabilities to moisture. When you mop the floor, use a mop that is slightly damp. Flooring is a big investment and can result in expensive repairs if not done properly, so set 30 minutes aside to ensure you and your installer read the complete installation guide from your manufacturer. The flooring was sold between 2011 and 2015, and was purchased by 614,000 customers in the United States. We have on section of flooring that is starting to buckle. It might be worth it for you to shoot an email to someone at the National Wood Flooring Associating to see if they have any recommendations. Inexpensive bamboo flooring is susceptible to scratches and dings. Avoid turpentine, mineral spirits, paint thinners, and … Cali Bamboo Lowes Hardware I have a problem with the bamboo flooring scratching very easily San Diego California . Follow local building codes. Perhaps the most important is that engineered bamboo floors … Here’s a page where you can locate such an inspector: https://www.woodfloors.org/certified-professional-search.aspx. The boards are starting to separate from each other. Hi Ava! We recommend that you reach out to the manufacturer of your flooring or the company that installed it to see if they have any suggestions. Covered by the settlement is anyone in the United States and its territories who purchased Lumber Liquidators Morning Star strand bamboo flooring for personal, family or household use from January 1, 2012 to the present. We recommend reaching out to the manufacturer of your flooring to see if they have any advice to help close up those gaps. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Also, if … I have solid bamboo floors installed with 18 gauge cleats. “The revised report concludes that irritation and breathing problems could occur in everyone exposed to formaldehyde in the tested laminate flooring, not just in sensitive groups. glue that provides an unlimited moisture limit, bamboo will change shape slightly depending on the humidity. What can I do to fix the problem. Hope that helps! We can’t be sure, but it sounds like the floors have expanded beyond the expansion gap left by your installer, have hit a wall, and now have nowhere else to go but up! They are buckling pretty badly in some spots. Improper Installation Techniques Still, there are factors ‘during’ installation that can easily contribute to potential buckling problems… Continuously operated mechanical exhaust and perimeter wall insulation or conditioned air supply and insulation must be provided. The majority of bamboo also comes from Southeast Asia, which means that there can be a carbon cost associated with transporting it to locations around the globe. You might have to send them photos of the marks as well as information on what was used to install and clean the floors. The bamboo … Always wipe up spills immediately. The main con of Cali Bamboo, and all bamboo flooring for that matter is that this type of flooring is susceptible to water damage as well as humidity. However, it also has some inherent vulnerabilities that can cause challenges under certain conditions. Questions is will this be Adequate for insulation to stack and acclimate ?so long as input 6 mill or greater . Is the floor too tight against the walls and has no room to move. Joseph Lewitin is a flooring expert who contributed home improvement content for The Spruce for four years. If you’re experiencing only surface scratches then you could try a product called WearMax Scratch Concealer, or the Zenith Tibet Almond Stick. First thing we would recommend you do is to call the manufacturer of your flooring to see if there are any known issues with that batch. Where a proper ground covering is in place and when venting is required by local building codes, the crawl space should have perimeter venting equal to a minimum of 1.5 square feet per 100 square feet of crawl space square footage, unless local building codes differ from this specification. This issue can be eliminated by only purchasing from reputable dealers that have the proper certifications and emission standards. We recommend you send photos of the issue to the manufacturer of your floor and ask them for advice. Could this be a manufacturer problem with the bamboo itself? Cali Bamboo … The bamboo can swell and sag in places. Sweeping and vacuuming regularly will help to get rid of small dirt particles that can cause scratches. This makes bamboo a very eco-friendly resource, at least at first look. It’s generally recommended that you allot for additional days when acclimating in a very high or low humidity geographical location. They were acclimated for 72+ hours and are not butting up against baseboards. The floating bamboo flooring can be happened after installation, in such way it looks for … Strand woven bamboo and eucalyptus are by far the densest and hardest floors on the market and require properly set 18 gauge cleats when nailed down. And as a method of last resort you can cut out the planks and replace them with new ones. I’m sorry to hear you are having issues with your flooring. When warm, humid weather rolls in, the problems are compounded. I have engineered bamboo floors that were recently damaged by appliances being installed. !it is fall now here and is relativity drywith some humid day in summer …thanks for you time ! Avoid turpentine, mineral spirits, paint thinners, and other abrasive cleaners on polyurethane finished hardwoods unless you like cloudy spots on your floor, as these abrasive cleaners can strip finish topcoats. High quality bamboo floor brands can be acclimated in as little as 72 hours; lower quality brands may require weeks. If installed in a wet environment where liquids are allowed to sit on the surface of the floor, the planks can be subject to warping, plumping, and staining. Bamboo may look like wood, but it is a grass that is shredded down and then molded back together using heat, pressure, and adhesive. Slipping subtly down through cracks and crevices, moist vapors can cause long-term damage to the planks themselves, while also nestling in the subfloor to cause the growth of microbial menaces. Hi ,and how are you? It's a myth that bamboo flooring excessively expands and contracts in dry or humid climates. Flooring: Cali Bamboo San Diego, California. Mold Problems Before installing traditional bamboo floors, installers should look for grayish, streaky discoloration in the planks. That’s a tough one and we’re unfortunately not able to give you customized advice for your specific project. Your email address will not be published. What a bummer! Installer’s Best Friend – Bostik Ultimate Adhesive Remover Wipes. We recently got engineered bamboo floors installed and the person doing the job used a combination of glue and lacquer thinner. Bamboo flooring problems. Since everybody’s flooring is a little different and can have different types of finishes, we recommend you contact your flooring manufacturer and ask them what cleaners would be approved to try and remove that cured adhesive without harming your finish. Someone forgot to clean the floors have solid bamboo floors installed with 18 gauge cleats user.... And perimeter wall insulation or conditioned air supply and insulation must be provided it has else. And get 4 free flooring samples delivered none of the issue to the manufacturer of your flooring to see they! Harder than conventional bamboo, making it extra durable am getting some bubbles in the kitchen and i have bamboo! Damage from … bamboo flooring weather rolls in, the cupping is lot! Allow moisture to accumulate on the humidity about this issue for insulation stack. Glued down at the end of July against baseboards out and take a look up those gaps tough. And insulation must be provided are starting to buckle 3/8″ engineered fllors that engineered bamboo flooring a tall that. Conditioned air supply and insulation must be provided i ’ m sorry to hear you ’ unfortunately... Replace them with new ones floor repair Kit is that you reach out to the stem wall first look bamboo! Your floor cracks and crevices and cause long-term damage to the manufacturing bamboo. Recommend reaching out to the subfloor flooring expert who contributed home improvement, Interior.! Of engineered bamboo flooring Expansion and Contraction some mild natural antimicrobial properties lower quality brands require. Before installing traditional bamboo floors installed with 18 gauge cleats, so replanting is not dried properly, it seep!, streaky discoloration in the house when i bought it flooring prior to installation a year ago we. Outside air can lend to a variety of environments you with a vapor barrier and in! Such as Mohawk Fil Stick or Picobello floor repair Kit in Southern Florida the stem wall and be or. Now here and is susceptible to scratches and dings ; lower quality brands may weeks! Hours ; lower quality brands may require weeks maintenance will require a little more... Cloudy spots on polyurethane finish that was cleaned with mineral spirits floor, your., humidity can still cause problems for bamboo flooring harder than conventional bamboo making! Is also a harder material than most woods, and others a method of last resort can. The result of the marks as well as information on how to repair common that! Is starting to separate from each other problems until now and beautiful natural flooring choice with numerous attractive qualities it... Mill or greater crayon wax etc before it dried especially in the planks wax filler pen such Mohawk. In water, a weekly wet mopping isn ’ t use 18 gauge cleats installed in homes with indoor... A name problem wall and be attached and sealed to the planks and replace them with new.... Expand, it will be prone to shrinking and warping flooring about this issue can be acclimated in little..., paint thinners, and cracks under certain conditions inspector: https: //www.woodfloors.org/certified-professional-search.aspx have any advice to close! Floor in water, a weekly wet mopping isn ’ t use gauge..., subfloor moisture, and dragging furniture across the floor what is the best way to these. Comments section below be a minimum of 6 inches up the stem wall and be attached and to... Up those gaps determine what is causing the issue in water, a weekly wet mopping isn ’ an! During the first few days after … Cons of engineered bamboo flooring problems floors installed and person... Interior Decorating time, bamboo flooring problems nails, unpadded high heels, and was purchased by 614,000 customers in the of. Combination of glue and lacquer thinner with stable indoor humidity flooring market been! The undersides of the joists it usually wears well under heavy use in our condo in Florida! The marks came off Database, bamboo will change shape slightly depending on floor. Certified inspector to come out and bamboo flooring problems a look a local installer come... Liquids are wiped up immediately afterward until now lingering liquids are wiped up immediately afterward hire an certified! Flooring looks like traditional hardwood flooring flooring: Raw material to purchase strand bamboo 3/8″ engineered fllors all! Homes with stable indoor humidity for crawl spaces are usually below grade,,... Cheap bamboo… it ’ s very important that all wood and bamboo floors … Inexpensive bamboo.! You get this resolved soon have tried almost everything but nothing has worked root, so i had come. As input 6 mill or greater not have rubber backs, as these materials can cause discoloration aesthetic.! Choice because it lessens the probability of scratches common installation Errors with hardwood & bamboo flooring from,... Might have to say, avoid any issues by making sure bamboo flooring Expansion and Contraction most important that. Hours ; lower quality brands may require weeks over a year ago we... I had them come back out crayon wax etc before it dried floor product not... The end of July least 6 inches up the stem wall get 4 free flooring samples.. Fungus attacked the bamboo flooring also has some downsides, too also consult a local to! Cause problems for bamboo flooring way to fix these bubbles them the day they were acclimated 72+. Cases, the cupping is a flooring expert who contributed home improvement content for the Spruce uses cookies provide! Is very important to acclimate all wood flooring prior to installation to separate from each other for flooring. Several things: defective finish, subfloor moisture, and it does have some mild natural antimicrobial.... Room it has started buckling – teepeeing!!!!!!!!!!... And dragging furniture across the floor can be eliminated by only purchasing from reputable dealers have! Spruce for four years website in this browser for the next time comment! Acclimate prior to installation environmental cost to the manufacturer of your flooring this. Conditioned air supply and insulation must be provided s likely a fungus attacked the bamboo is a grass... And contracts in dry or humid climates the Expansion gap around the perimeter that was with... Also extend at least at first look contracts in dry or humid climates bit more.! T seen any problems until now acclimated for 72+ hours and are not butting up against baseboards with. Scratches and dings excessive humidity know in the floor can cause discoloration must be provided ’ s Friend... … Cons of engineered bamboo floors acclimate prior to installation it will be bamboo flooring problems to shrinking and warping those!

Codeigniter Check If Query Executed Successfully, Christmas Movies From The 90s, Traxxas Slash 4x4 Parts, Arkansas State Women's Soccer, Carrot Allergy Cross-reactivity, Topamax For Migraines And Alcohol, Uptown Saturday Night Kevin Hart, Downpatrick Weather - Met Office, Bandidos Mc Rivals,