Hello Twix6, I do have some experience with Home Depot and other 'big box' stores. These stores unfortunately get what is considered by most in the industry as 'scraps' which is why the pricing is so competitive. The product may look and feel great but the durability is just not there in the long run. Just like hardwoods there are many different grades of bamboo, and the stuff at the big stores is very low. You are correct that strand woven in general is harder than most hardwoods, if you have some time check out www.shopgrf.com there is an option for you called strand woven rosewood. This is the color and the durability you are looking for. Yes, it can be a little more money, but it will be a much better product in the long run and will last a lifetime if installed and taken care of properly. Here is a link that might be useful: strand woven bamboo

FWIW, Lumber Liquidators insists all their flooring exceeds all regulatory standards in the EU and California. SEE LINK BELOW... The one bad "report" that is floating around out there causing a stir, seems to focus on one product, and one sample only - not everything they sell. hmmm That said, it's enough to make me wonder. But there is the other side of me that is a cynic. Some old school sellers of flooring I've talked to are accustomed to gouging customers with massive profit margins and price fixing. Their world is crashing down in the new reality of a global economy and big box retailers that get better margins than they can ever see. They are vehemently outspoken against all big box stores - particularly LL. I've been in several of these types of stores and they are so much higher in price they cannot compete IMHO. Besides these particular ones being smug, arrogant and slightly shady - talking trash about other sellers and installers of flooring outside of their tiny realm, came off as disingenuous to me, if not outright bitter. This is enough to make me wonder too - who is fooling who? In fact, it's almost having the opposite effect for me - we're shopping for 1600sqft of flooring, and I just want to run away from those guys. As a result I'm just completely confused about what the truth really is. Anyone can launch a campaign of vitriol on the web - it doesn't necessarily make it 100% true. It's also the "squeaky wheel" syndrome. How many tens of millions of people have wonderful experiences buying big box flooring that aren't making noise? Yup, totally confused. Maybe that was their goal. EDIT: I went into another local non big-box flooring store today and they were very good - no trash talk - just helpful, nice and competitive in the market with many products and fair prices. It was a welcome ray of sunshine! So not all of the local stores may be as difficult as the few I went to before I wrote the original reply. YMMV Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.lumberliquidators.com/ll/flooring/Flooring101-formaldehyde-what-is-it This post was edited by karyn on Sat, Jul 20, 13 at 17:31

Hi, I found your message in a search and I'm curious if you ended up using this floor and if so, how you like it? I found this brand at a local flooring store and it looks really nice. The hardness seems great. Thanks!

Ouch. Lumber Liquidators Bamboo at $1.19/sf....yikes. Run away! Far, far away! Glue down over slab in "lowcountry" South Carolina is a recipe for disaster. These areas with HIGH WATER TABLES (slab on grade) are the very reason man created FLOATING FLOORS. And no - your wood moisture meter is useless on concrete AND bamboo. Yah. Bamboo is NOT wood. It is grass. It contains SO MUCH GLUE (30% is common) that a cheap wood moisture meter (something LESS than $300) will not be able to deal with bamboo. And the glue on slab will be stupid expensive. I mean $3 per square foot type of expensive! And then you need to know HOW to apply it. And how thick. And what trowel. And that does NOT guarantee it will survive a wet spring. Please pick something else. And just for fun....go ahead and google Lumber liquidators - bamboo - lawsuits - dangerous off gassing. I would not touch this bamboo with a 400 foot pole.