Bamboo Flooring Problem

The advantages of this type of floor far outweigh the disadvantages but problems can be encountered if you do not do some research and take note of all the necessary advice prior to purchase and installation. It is far better to do this at the planning stage rather than wait until you have a problem with an already installed floor through lack of knowledge on installation, care and maintenance. Prevention is better than cure!

If you already have a bamboo flooring problem I hope the following information will prove to be useful in solving it.

Product Expectations

Beware of over keen sales people when considering your new floor. They are always eager to point out all the best points about a product but not so keen to point out the practical points of living with that floor day in and day out. They may give you the impression that there are no bamboo flooring problems to be encountered, that it is so tough nothing can damage it, that it does not need to be cared for, etc.

The fact is that there is no doubt that it is tough, beautiful, durable, and will be an investment to your home. However, keep it in mind that it is a natural material and as such will need care and maintenance to keep it looking like new, and various preventative measures to stop it from getting damaged. As with hardwood floors, bamboo flooring problems only occur through lack of knowledge. As you are reading this you are at least taking that first step to being able to properly take care of your floor.

Supplier Problems

The first step to prevent problems is to get a good supplier. Traditionally, word of mouth would be the popular way to find a supplier for your floor. Although these days you can find a floor supplier on the Internet easily enough, word of mouth or recommendations is still the best method to ensure a good supplier. If you don't know anyone who already has one of these floors installed, view feedback from previous customers online to see if they were satisfied with their purchase, the quality of the floor and the installation process. Better still, ask the suppliers to direct you to a satisfied customer who doesn't mind you going to have a chat with them and see their floor.

Ensuring you have a well established and good supplier who will also have obtained their high quality materials from a good manufacturer is most of the way to ensuring a good quality end product. The last thing a good supplier wants is to have customers coming back due to poor manufacturing of the product, it wouldn't be good for business! Your supplier will already have ensured consistent quality of their supply and this will prevent later problems such as; visual imperfections and inconsistencies, expanding and contracting floor boards, colour fading, etc.

Installation and DIY Problems

By following the same method as for the supplier for the installation you can also overcome future problems that occur due to bad quality installation of your floor. Your reputable supplier would be your best choice to also provide installation. Ensure you access some feedback from previous customers on this step in the process too. Poor installation can lead to cracked, warping, poor fitted, boards, and that can be just because they were fitted too close together! Extreme changes in temperature can cause hardwood floors to expand or contract which can lead to them warping etc. However, poor aftercare and maintenance of the floor can also cause these problems... it isn't necessarily the fault of the supplier.

Perhaps you plan to install the floor yourself as a DIY or home project? There are several methods of fitting floors so if you are keen on DIY, the option of installing the floor yourself is possible. See my How to Install Bamboo Flooring section for tips. Get as much information as possible prior to laying the floor and you can avoid future problems.

Also, please read my section that provides a guide on floor care and maintenance and tips on how to avoid damaging the floor. More...

Conclusion

Ending up with a bamboo flooring problem can be avoided with a bit of prior knowledge and a realistic expectation of how to look after the end product. It is an excellent alternative to hard wood floors. It is exceptionally durable and is one of the hardest natural materials available.

As a natural material its quality can vary, it does need to be installed properly, it will need measures to be taken to ensure it doesn't get damaged, and it will need to be cared for and maintained.

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