question, bamboo floor

[rnln]

I need to do my floor on concrete and here is the dilemma. Laminate doesn't look as nice. Solid and engineer wood is too complicated regarding subfloor. According to some pro, if the concrete is somewhat moisture, engineer wood is ok, but if the concrete is too much moisture, engineer is not ok. Now bamboo. Anyone has any knowledge on bamboo floor. I used to hate the bamboo floor look but I've recently seen some good looking bamboo floor.

http://upload.ecvv.com/upload/Product/20093/China_hand_scraped_bamboo_flooring20093111559018.j pg

Cali Bamboo Flooring - Distressed Java Fossilized™ Strand Hand Scraped

[look 171]

We have just finish a proj. with bamboo stained black from the factor over in Westwood. This is directly over concrete. I decided to lay down a layer of cork between the floor and the concrete for noise reduction from hard shoes and what not. I do not want to piss of the people down below. This is on the 8th floor of a condo. No moisture issue up there. I only like some bamboo floor strickly based on their looks. Some grain are just ugle and cheap looking. Banboo is a great material if you can get over the grain. I think they are more durable then a traditional Oak floor if you ask me. Some people look for that type of thing. As long as it is wood, or looks like wood, they don't care.

[andrew15]

I suspect that if you look closer at the bamboo products, you will find it's an engineered type product as well. The bamboo used for flooring is relatively thin and narrow - not a solid wood floor, but multiple pieces formed into standard sizes - ie engineered wood flooring.

Regards,
Andrew M

[look 171]

Hey, take a couple of pic of the place you need to install the floor. Is it on the first floor? Why do you suspect there is a moisture problem? What year is the house built? Slab on grade or is it an addition?

[rnln]

It's my entire first floor that I want some flooring. One of the room had laminate and others had carpet. I have seen moisture when I pulled the laminate out. There was also the black mastic thing, I assume it's the vapor barrier. Other rooms had carpet. I have seen nothing, but since the other room has moisture, I expect they are no different. Still I did tape some plastic down on all these rooms and let's see.
So can you say bamboo doesn't have problem with moisture as wood does?

[Scuba Steve]

From what I've seen it's rather soft material (don't slide heavy objects across it but that's a bad idea in general anyway), otherwise about the same.

[M.D. Holloway]

We did this route, prolly do the whole downstairs at some point...painted concrete floor!

[Jandrews]

Lubey, that painted concrete looks great. What is the relative cost and durability of this coating?

Thanks,

JA

[JeremyD]

We have bamboo in the girls and master bedroom. I am not sure I would do it again. From a cost perspective - it was similar to other med range hardwoods.

It looks nice - we bought the solid flooring, not the engineered version.

BUT - if you scratch it across the grain, the scratch color is MUCH lighter than the surrounding wood - It is very difficult to blend a scratch. It does show heal marks - (wife wears high heels) but it is easy to clean and maintain.

What I do like is the cork flooring we used in our study/computer room and spare bedroom.

It's quiet - you do not notice any scratches/stains. It looks great - it doesn't show heel marks - and it's quiet and cleans up easily.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by Jandrews

Lubey, that painted concrete looks great. What is the relative cost and durability of this coating?

Thanks,

JA

depends on many factors - DIY = $300-$400 all the way to top-of-the-line-pro =$2000+

Very very durable, easy to touch up if need be. Looks great with accent carpets. Not as cold as you think.

[David]

I put Bamboo in the living room - kitchen great room thingy a couple years ago. This was my wife's choice and I just went along. It's the caramelized stuff that's a little darker and a little softer.

I used the snap together stuff floated over some type of underlayment stuff. Seems really cheesy and soft. If you plan on putting furniture on it or dogs or people with shoes, it will get very scratched.