Floating vs glued strand bamboo floors?

10 years ago

What are the pros and cons of getting a floated strand bamboo floor vs gluing it down? This is not a DIY project--it will be professionally installed. Once you add the underlayment (is that the right word?), the installation costs are almost the same, so the initial cost is pretty neutral. We've never had wood or bamboo floors before, so we don't have a sense of the variables to consider in choosing glued vs floating. Thank you in advance!

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mkpoff
Original Author

10 years ago

Hi Ed, my husband and I decided on strand bamboo for 3 reasons. The first was hardness and durability. We have a 3-year old and a dog, so we think we'll be rough on the floors. Strand bamboo is harder than wood. The second was the fact that we live in South Florida, an extremely humid climate. The humidity is not good for wood. The third was cost. Although not inexpensive, the strand bamboo was less than even engineered wood. That said, I think hardwood floors are gorgeous, and if we lived somewhere else and had a bigger budget, I would have really really considered oak or another hard and durable wood. I learned from my research that bamboo also has the potential to release formaldehyde. A big negative! I asked about this in another conversation, and Teragren and Ecotimber brands were recommended. We are also looking at Cali Bamboo, which I've read is good in this regard. Hope that is helpful--I am a total newbie! Still hoping for advice on floating vs glued . . .

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Ed
10 years ago
Hi mkpoff, how did you decide on bamboo versus wood ? Was there a very big price difference ?
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Ed
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Hi mkpoff, very informative! Thanks. I hope other floor pros can give you advice on floating vs glued!
PRO
Center Stage Interiors
10 years ago
See comments from Center Stage Interiors, we ripped out bamboo after a year. VERY unstable product, much worse than wood, still scratches, dents, etc. Most is made in china regardless of seller's presence in US, with NO standards in China, Install at your own risk!!
W&J B
7 years ago
Mkpoff -- did you ever decide on the bamboo? I'm in the same dilemma as you and I too live in Central FL. How was your experience and which company did you go with?
PRO
Center Stage Interiors
7 years ago
dont remember the company's name but put it in my comment on Houzz blasting them. Do NOT put BAMBOO of any kind on your floor, it is a very unstable product. There r so many laminates out now that look just like beachy wood floors and other looks that don't scratch, fade, etc. AND that you can put radiant heat pads underneath to reduce your heating bills too! check those out first and then decide.
Jennifer Gayman
3 years ago
I had Eco Forest solid strand bamboo floors installed 2 1/2 years ago. Even in the kitchen. They still look new. My only gripe — tennis shoes squeak like I’m walking around on a basketball court. I have the floating kind, and some have said the glue-down type will not squeak.
HU-315674721
last year
Hellow Jennifer. We bought the Eco Forest mocha locking solid stranded bamboo and will be installing ourselves floating way is there any advice or suggestions you have? Thanks
Jennifer Gayman
last year
Hello, sorry I missed your post. You have probably already finished your floors and I’m sure you will enjoy them. I ended up having to replace mine because we had a water backup and they use the glue down method. I actually think I like it better, but it will be harder to remove if I need to replace it. It is the engineered flooring because the stranded bamboo that I had was no longer being made (neither was the carpet!) My tennis shoes still squeak. I cannot figure that out —my son has flooring that looks similar, but my tennis shoes do not squeak on it!
Jennifer Gayman
last year
Are you still enjoying your stranded bamboo flooring after nine years? I bet it still looks great!
Jennifer Gayman
last year
That last post was to MKpoff in Florida

Floating vs glued strand bamboo floors?

mkpoff
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Floating vs glued strand bamboo floors?

mkpoffOriginal Author

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mkpoff
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