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

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 (â¤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

taw9370: We have also purchased Stepco brand bamboo flooring from FastFloors. I'll start by noting that they screwed up our order a bit; the salesperson incorrectly described the trim accessories available, and the 'end-cap' or 'threshold' trim was overlap style - like you would use for a floating install - rather than the integral tongue-n-groove style we wanted. The reducer on the other hand _was_ integral with the flooring, so either Stepco doesn't describe it very well, or the salesperson just didn't check hard enough. However, we have been very happy with FastFloors' customer service post-screwup. They haven't seemed to dodge our calls and respond to both phone and email queries quickly. They agreed to send out additional reducer (which our installer agrees could be modified to our needs) to replace the end-cap trim (which they told us to just keep because it wasn't worth it to them to pay to ship it back), and it fedexed out the next day. Of course, FedEx somehow managed to lose it and didn't tell anyone till they missed their scheduled delivery date :-(. Our tracking number showed it as 'on time for delivery' on the specified day until it missed then it just showed nothing. Bad FedEx >:-(. However, a quick call to FastFloors, and they're sending us another replacement, no problems at all. Due to the multiple snafus we're pushing the time envelope for getting everything together (contractor supposed to start this week), but we're pretty happy with the FastFlors service so far. As to the Stepco product itself, we're getting the carbonized/carmelized strand woven 'Dimensions' engineered floor for a glue-down install on concrete. This product is a 3-layer engineered floor where the bottom two layers are perpendicularly laid (middle layer 90 degrees from top or bottom layers) horizontal bamboo, and the top wear layer (nice & thick too) is strand woven. We hated every horizontal and vertical bamboo sample we got from any manufacturer because they all lacked the advertized "twice as hard as oak or maple!!!!!!1!one" hardness. Very soft in our stress testing - dropping keys, dropping knives, dropping pieces of brio track, turning upside down and standing on them and using as skates on our tile floors (I weigh too much, not gonna tell exactly), gouging with a nail punch.... etc :-). I wouldn't recommend horizontal or vertical grained bamboo to anyone. I highly recommend the strand woven bamboo however. That stuff is ****ing DENSE and hard as hell. Pretty good water resistance too since it's pretty much all glue - we soaked one sample half in and half out of a bucket of water for about 24 hours and couldn't tell which half was which. WAY harder than the other samples we got (including actual oak and maple samples, which were about on par with the better quality horizontal/vertical bamboo for dentability), and reasonably priced. So long story short, we found that Stepco was introducing this engineered bamboo with a strand woven top, and it sounded ideal since it combined the durability of a strand woven top with the added stability of engineered construction. Plus it was on sale (online things are always on sale one way or the other), and we got free shipping of our 1300 sq ft (saved another ~$600 there). We haven't installed yet (like I mentioned, starting this week though), but I'll be keeping my eye out for the rough edges taw9370 mentioned. We unpacked the first couple layers of one box and they looked good on the top edges (the strand woven layer), though I probably could have gotten a splinter off of one of the bottom edges (the horizontal bamboo layer) if I tried. I'm not worried too much at this point as I wouldn't expect the bottom to be as finely finished as the top bevel anyway, though it always gives me a little heart atack when someone says a product is bad after I already bought it :-). This is actually my first post, though i've been reading for a long time - I just finished a full DIY kitchen remodel including wall/ceiling/cabinet/electrical/counter/appliance removal with lots of reinforcement from the posts on this form. I plan to make a web page with pics of the process and end result when I'm done (ha ha ha ha... seriously. HA HA HA HA - we all know I'll never be completely done) and will try to remember to share. What I learned from the experience: 1) Ikea cabinets rawk! 2) Whoever thought 7' kitchen ceilings were a good idea (early 80's) should be shot. 3) Removing a (non-load-bearing) wall is easy and fun 4) Whoever invented that simple drywall jack: I love you and want to have your babies. Pfennig PS: If anyone in the Austin area is looking for a good installer, I highly reccomend floorguy. We had three contractors come out to quote our install job (I didn't want to screw that one up, and I'd get glue everywhere for sure), and we preferred floorguy over the other two by a large margin. We didn't use him because the price difference between him and the middle-price contractor was a bit over the premium we decided we'd be willing to pay for him, but we'd still highly recommend getting him to come out if you're in the area. We'll let any interested parties know if we'd also recommend the installer we _did_ go with after our install is done :-).

@Nikkiee Cruz What an adorable pup! We're glad to hear you are happy with your floors! :) We run a contest every month called "Project of the Month" we would love to have you submit your photos! All you have to do is send us 4 or more sharp photos to photos@calibamboo.com. 1st Place wins a $250 Amazon gift card, 2nd Place wins a $100 gift card, and 3rd Place wins a $50 gift card. It's fun on our Facebook Page, feel free to check out our current contest going on right now :) https://www.facebook.com/CaliBamboo/posts/10158529467952326