Update: We met with another floor refinishing professional last night. They agree that there's too much red in the floors. There's also some color inconsistencies in ours. I'm not saying ours is the exact situation, but I just wanted to update the thread with more information for other readers. They have suggested another option for us which is less expensive than going back to bare wood, re-hand scraping, re-staining, and re-finishing. This guy is suggesting to tint the 3rd coat of poly. He will use a color with a bit more brown. Then, he will apply a top coat of clear polyurethane. He says it will not dramatically darken the floors, but it will take the pinkish red out and tone it down. The quote we received is 42% of the cost of a complete refinish. We will try to get permission from our GC to allow a test in an inconspicous area like our pantry or coat closet. Then, we will try to decide if that option is really worth the gamble. Of course a complete refinish is supposed to be more of a sure thing, but this option is so much less $$, and it will leave more of the life of the floors. Since we have hand scraped, we will loose quite a bit if they are refinished. They are thinking of using a poly tint of Antique Brown or Rosewood to tone down our Mesquite Red. I think the stain will be of a proportion around 1 cup stain to 1 gallon poly. Something of that nature, at least. Oh - this guy told us that the floors will darken naturally over time in some areas and bleach from sunlight in others...another thing that wasn't explained by our original work crew. If anyone has experience with this poly-tint technique, would love to hear. Hope that's not a thread hijack!

I always have had wood floors in the kitchen and would not have any other flooring surface in a room where you do a lot of standing and making messes (lighter wood floors hide the dirt). Site finished are better IMO, because you can usually match the product down the road if there is damage. I once had 100 year old maple floors in my kitchen. We tore up the linoleum and vinyl to find those floors. There were a few large dark patches that hired skilled professional flooring guys repaired pretty effortlessly. That floor was gorgeous. It had a nice warm glow to it that can only come from age even after refinishing. I had two flood accidents on another floor. That floor buckled a bit, but after about a month the swelling went down as if nothing had occurred. Tile is hard and it is subject to chips and cracks and the grout is a pain. Put a pan under your washing machine and make sure you get a some sort of automatic turn off mechanism for your hose lines, of which there are several solutions.

I'm having the same concern. I originally went to lumber liquidators and found a nice hand scraped strand bamboo flooring. I then went online and researched a load of companies. So far, I like Cali bamboo. My biggest concern was the formaldehyde in the products. Cali bamboo has little to no formaldehyde added in there product. I've read those same reviews about Morning star, but they were outdated. I was emailed a material safety data sheet on Morning Star brand, but no one could tell me how much formaldehyde content was in the morning star product. At the bottom of the sheet there was a disclaimer: "The information and data herein are believed to be accurate and have been compiled from sources deemed to be reliable. It is offered for your consideration, investigation and verification. Lumber Liquidators makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, concerning the accuracy of completeness of the information and data herein. Lumber Liquidators will not be liable for claims relating to any party's use of or reliance on information and data contained herein regardless of whether it is claimed that the information and data are inaccurate, incomplete or otherwise misleading. It is incumbent upon the user to obtain the most up-to-date information". So I guess what they mean is that the info on the safety data sheet is BS. I'd like to know. Cali bamboo is great, but I actually prefer the hand scraped look they have from Morning Star at lumber liquidators. Does anyone know if Morning Stars 2011 line has added formaldehyde?? (That's the lovely odor you smell from the floors). I can't seem to be able to get a solid answer. This is what the safety data sheet states for Morning Star: 3000 John Deere Road Toano, VA 23168 Emergency phone: 1 800-HARDWOOD Fax: 1 757 259 7295 IMPORTANT NOTICE: This material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is issued by LUMBER LIQUIDATORS. LUMBER LIQUIDATORS flooring will issue a new MSDS when there is a change in product specifications and/or regulations. LUMBER LIQUIDATORS will not accept any responsibility for any change to its MSDS in content by other person or organization. IDENTIFICATION Product name: Prefinished Strand Bamboo Flooring Trade name: Morning Star Bamboo Flooring Other Names: Various Manufacturer Information: Lumber Liquidators Inc 3000 John Deere Road Toano, VA 23168 Tel: (757) 259-4280 Fax: (757) 259-7295 www.lumberliquidators.com Description: This product is composed of bamboo fibers bonded together with urea formaldehyde (UF) resins. The fibers are mixed and pressed together to give a unique shade blend and increase hardness. The wear layer is finished by 7 coats of polyurethane with aluminum oxide coating manufactured by Treffert or Klumpp UN number: Not applicable Dangerous goods class: Not applicable Product Use: Building Materials � Commercial or Residential MSDS Morning Star Strand Bamboo Flooring, Revision 3, April 2009 Page 2 of 7 Hazardous ingredients/identity information: Name CAS #2 % Agency Exposure Limits Comments Bamboo1 None 89-90 OSHA3 OSHA ACGIH4 ACGIH PEL5-TWA6 15 mg/m3 PEL-TWA 5 mg/m3 TLV7-TWA 3 mg/m3 TLV-STEL8 10 mg/m3 Total dust Respirable dust fraction Respirable dust fraction Inhalable particles Urea Formaldehyde resin solids 9011- 05-6 10-11 OSHA OSHA ACGIH PEL-TWA 0.75ppm PEL-STEL 2 ppm TLV - Ceiling 0.3 ppm Free gaseous formaldehyde (contains less than 0.1% free formaldehyde) UV Finish Polymerized polyurethane None 0-1 OSHA ACGIH PEL-TWA none TLV-TWA none None None 1 CAS # = Chemical Abstract System. 2 OSHA = Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 3 AGCIH = American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists. 4 PEL = Permissible Exposure Limit. 5 TWA = Time Weighted Average. 6 TLV = Threshold Limit Value. 7 STEL = Short Term Exposure Limit Note: Bamboo is a member of the grass family which has distinct anatomical differences from that of wood. Therefore, bamboo would be regulated as an organic dust in a category known as "Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated" (PNOR), or Nuisance Dust by OSHA. The ACGIH classifies dust or particulate in this category as "Particulates Not otherwise Specified". Physical data: Physical State: Solid Boiling Point: Not applicable Freezing Point: Not applicable Specific Gravity: 0.58 g/ml Vapour Density: Not applicable % Volatiles By Volume: 0 Melting Point: Not applicable Vapour Pressure: Not applicable Percent Moisture 5% - 9% Solubility in H20 (% by wt.): Evaporation Rate (Butyl Acetate = 1): Not applicable pH: Not applicable MSDS Morning Star Strand Bamboo Flooring, Revision 3, April 2009 Page 3 of 7 Appearance and odor: Bamboo fibers mixed creating a shade blend unique to each plank (light yellows for natural, light browns for carbonized or a mix of lights yellows and light browns shades). This product can also be stained with various colors. Low-fuming urea formaldehyde resins have a slightly aromatic odor. Fire and explosion data: Flash Point: Not applicable Auto ignition Temperature: Not available, however, it is usually accepted that the ignition of bamboo begins when the temperature reaches 204-260�C (400�500�F). (Depends upon duration of exposure to heat source and other variables). Explosive Limits in Air: Not applicable. See below under "Unusual fire and explosion hazards" Extinguishing Media Water, Carbon dioxide, Dry chemical, Sand. Special Fire Fighting Procedures None Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards Sawing, sanding or machining can produce bamboo dust as a by-product which may present an explosion hazard if a dust cloud contacts an ignition source. An airborne concentration of air is often used as the LEL for bamboo dust. Reactivity data: Conditions Contributing to Instability Stable under normal conditions Conditions to avoid Excessive moisture, condensation or water vapor; Open flame or conditions above 400 F. Incompatibility Avoid contact with oxidizing agents. Avoid open flame. Product may ignite when temperature reaches in excess of 204�C (400�F). Hazardous Decomposition Products Thermal and/or thermal oxidative decomposition can produce irritating and toxic fumes and gases, including carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, aldehydes, organic acids and polynuclear aromatic compounds. Hazardous Polymerization Not applicable MSDS Morning Star Strand Bamboo Flooring, Revision 3, April 2009 Page 4 of 7 HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Carcinogenicity Listing: (X) NTP1: Group 2, A & B Formaldehyde, Wood dust NTP-Group 2: Reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen. A) Limited evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans which indicates that causal relationship is credible. B) Sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals (X) IARC2 Monographs; Formaldehyde, Group 2A, Wood dust, Group 1 IARC-Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans; sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity. This classification is primarily based on studies showing an association between occupational exposure to wood dust and adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses. (X) OSHA3 Regulated: Formaldehyde IARC-Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans; limited human evidence and sufficient evidence in experimental animals. Studies of cancer incidence among workers in a wide variety of occupations have failed to convincingly show carcinogenic activity of formaldehyde in humans. Gaseous formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer in certain laboratory animals after long-term exposure to very high concentrations (14+ ppm); concentrations which are far above the levels of formaldehyde gas emitted by this product. 1 NTP = National Toxicology Program 2 IARC = International Agency for Research on Cancer 3 OSHA = Occupational Safety and Health Administration Exposure hazard: Eye Contact Wood dust can cause mechanical irritation such redness and watering. Skin Contact Not applicable for this product in its purchased form, however various species of wood dust may evoke allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals. High concentrations of gaseous formaldehyde may cause allergic contact dermatitis. Ingestion Not likely to occur under normal use. If ingested, may cause gastrointestinal tract irritation. MSDS Morning Star Strand Bamboo Flooring, Revision 3, April 2009 Page 5 of 7 Inhalation Not applicable for this product in its purchased form, however, wood dust may cause nasal dryness, irritation and obstruction. Coughing and sneezing; sinusitis and prolonged colds have also been reported. Wood dust, depending on species, may cause respiratory sensitization and/or irritation. However, gaseous formaldehyde may cause respiratory difficulties for sensitized/allergic individuals. Emergency and first aid procedures: Eyes Flush eyes with large amounts of water. Remove to fresh air. If irritation persists, get medical attention. Skin Wash affected areas with soap and water. Get medical advice if rash or persistent irritation or dermatitis occurs. Inhalation Although not applicable for this product in its purchased form. However, if inhalation of bamboo dust, remove to fresh air. Get medical advice if persistent irritation, severe coughing or breathing difficulty occurs. Ingestion Not applicable under normal use. PRECAUTIONS FOR USE Accidental Release Measures Not applicable for product in purchased form. Dust generated from sawing, sanding, drilling, or routing of products may be vacuumed or shoveled for recovery or disposal. Avoid dusty conditions and provide good ventilation. A NIOSH-approved dust respirator should be worn if dust exposure limits are exceeded. Handling and Storage No special handling precautions are required for products in purchased form. Keep in cool, dry place away from open flame. This product will release small quantities of gaseous formaldehyde (≤0.12 mg/m3, which is below the E1 classification in accordance with EN 717-1:1998 test methods). Store in well ventilated area. MSDS Morning Star Strand Bamboo Flooring, Revision 3, April 2009 Page 6 of 7 Personal Protective Equipment: Respiratory Protection Not applicable for product in purchased form. A NIOSH-approved dust respirator is recommended when allowable exposure limits are exceeded. Protective Gloves Not required. However, cloth, canvas, or leather gloves are recommended to minimize potential mechanical irritation slivers from handling and machining product. Eye Protection Not applicable for product in purchased form. Goggles or safety glasses are recommended when machining this product. Other Protective Clothing or Equipments Not applicable for product in purchased form. Outer garments may be desirable in extremely dusty areas. Work/Hygiene Practices Follow good hygienic and housekeeping practices. Clean up areas where wood dust settles to avoid excessive accumulation of this combustible material. Minimize blowdown or other practices that generate high airborne-dust concentrations. Local Exhaust Provide local exhaust as needed so that exposure limits are met. Special / other None OTHER INFORMATION Disposal Consideration If disposed of or discarded in its purchased form, incineration is preferable. Dry land disposal is accepted in most states. It is, however, the user�s responsibility to determine at the time of disposal whether your product meets RCRA criteria for hazardous waste. Follow applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Transport and Regulatory information Not regulated as hazardous material by the U.S Department of Transportation and the Canadian Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG). Not a controlled product by WHMIS

I just wanted to chime in to 2nd what pharaoh said. The guy who did my floors told me the same thing about all coats being gloss and only the final coat is the desired finish. My finish came out perfect. I think everyone overreacted after the first coat. Which probably says your floor contractor isn't very experienced. That first coat will always be flawed because it can't possibly provide complete coverage. That's because your floor is not perfectly flat. With each coat, the layers build and everything starts to even out. To really see the final finish they should have did the whole process on a board. That's what my guy did. He took a board and applied the three coats, including the sanding between coats. That's the only way to get a feel for what the end result would be like. For you, it's not too late. Take a step back and experiment with several scraps starting with two coats of gloss on each. Then apply the various mixes for the final finish to determine your desired mix. Then just sand the floor (no need to strip it), apply the gloss to repair the base layer and finish with the top. You'll basically end up with four coats but it'll be fine. I had my upstairs done by a different guy (because he was cheaper and as a favor to my MIL because he was a "friend") and he screwed up the finish. I ended up hiring the first guy to fix it which is how I know what I said above. In the end, it ended up costing me the same as if I had hired the first guy to do the job. Lesson learned.