We had bamboo flooring installed in a condo in the mountains two years ago. The flooring has "cupped" and I am dealing with the seller to replace the flooring. They are being reasonably cooperative. Since making what we thought was a good choice after getting advice on the type of flooring for our needs (We have dogs so there are occasional accidents......wanted something very durable which did not scratch easily and which could be cleaned easily) we decided on bamboo. It has been a huge failure in all aspects. I have since spoken with some folks who sell flooring and some have said that they have had similar experience with the bamboo flooring and one person told me they no longer sell a bamboo product because of "cupping" problems. Any advice? Since I won't be using bamboo for replacement flooring, any advice on that as well?
LuRuth Taylor

While bamboo tested out to be very stable in controlled tests, it hasn't proven itself so well in the field. One of the problems is that there are very many species of bamboo being used. The top quality products perform much better than the box store low end products.
One manufacturer (Teragren) is wholely controlled by its American owners and had been shown to be more reliable than most others.
Having said that, our company too has suspended all bamboo installations due to the logistics of after sale service required.

Regarding your request for advice for alternates, be aware that all wood floors will react to an active lifestyle in varying degrees. I suggest that you choose a product with the lowest sheen level possible to reduce the appearance of scratches, although they still will be there, just not as noticeable.
I also suggest that you accept minor blemishes as being a part of that active lifestyle, and dog ownership. You are dealing with a floor after all, not a Picasso, safely hung on the wall.
Definitely purchase a floor product that has sufficient wear surface for future re-finishing.

I too found that bamboo was highly over rated. I will still install it for those that insist on having it but warn them against the hype that was used in it's marketing. I will say it can make a fine floor for those that have a "no shoes" policy and are fastidious cleaners. For the rest of us, I'd recommended as Dennis, a low sheen floor. Perhaps even a distressed floor where the scratches will not show as much.

Thank you so much for the comments. I have met with Lowe's today and they are still not being cooperative. You have given me additional insight. I have hardwood floors in my living and dining room area at home. I actually love the irregularities and they are plentiful; but this bamboo floor has cupped so much it is splintering in places and has cracked.
A Lowe's and a Home Depot in the Dallas area expressed a high level of frustration with the product and indicated that they prefer not to recommend it.

Cupping is from substrate moisture, or it was installed at too low of moisture content and it swelled compressing the edges.

Or...the cupping is what we out here in the desert call "dry cupping". Thats when the mositure content is correct at the bottom of the wood and dry on top. This is very common here and not any fault of any retailer, installer or manufacture.

We also have quite a few forrested mountanious regions out here and they also have dry times. However whats happening under your crawl space and basement can be a totally different scenerio thats what your ambient temp and Rh is in your living space.

To many people buy bamboo and get this issue with dry cupping out here. Needless to say they are not following the manufactures ambient temp and Rh requirements.

I ASSume you leave the condo with no running HVAC or humidifer for extended periods of time?

Besides a few of my clients refusing to take heed of manufactures requirements there are sooo many that do take care of their wood, clip pets nails, get humidifiers etc. I certaintly will not assume any responsibility because you won't heed manufactures restrictions and requirements. I mean would you?

Listen up folks, bamboo has been used as flooring for thousands of years. It wasn't just discovered in the 90's. It performs well if used like it should be and taken care of. It's NOT your cheap tufted carpet you throw down, refuse to maintain it and then throw away. Or maybe it is for some.

People that don't understand it are afraid of it.

"Dry cupping"
What causes it to not equalize eventually??

What's to say the top is correct and the bottom is to wet?

I cannot find any evidence that bamboo has been used as a floor for "thousands" of years. It is only fairly recent technology that has made it possible to cut these tubes into narrow strips, flatten them and laminate them together somewhat successfully.

The bamboo flooring in question was purchased after much deliberation with all the facts and circumstances put forward UPON THE RECOMMENDATION of a "flooring expert" at the store. It was disclosed at the time of purchase that it was for a condo which is a second home and which is used sparingly. The bamboo has been hyped in all the upscale magazines and go green movement; however, as more people use the flooring, there is increasing dissatisfaction with it. It is an unsuitable flooring product for this climate.......southeastern New Mexico and, in my humble opinion, should be removed from the marketplace here. It is soft and scratches easily.........Once it cups, it will splinter at the outer edges. I am really tired of inferior products. I was also amused that an "independent" "licensed" flooring inspector HIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER...........How independent is that...........defends the product. No surprise there. Again, thank you all for your comments. The responses have been very interesting and perhaps will be helpful to someone else........either installer or consumer.

Any product is unsuitable for any jobsite that cannot be maintained at the required ambient conditions. It is unreasonable to think that a manufacturer can dictate entire geographic regions where there product cannot be sold. As floormeintucson pointed out, many people have perfectly successful installations in the same region. Ultimately, it is the installer and end-users responsibility to determine the suitability of a product for their jobsite.



Although I can't speak specifically about one inspector, I can speak for myself and I'm sure several others on this site and assure you that a true "independent" "licensed" inspector is truely unbiased and independent no matter who is paying for the inspection. If you believe the inspection was biased or inaccurate, file a dispute of the report with the governing body that has "licensed" him; I can't speak for every organization, but the NWFA has a formal dispute resolution system in place that I have used, successfully I might add, to dispute inspections that were incorrect or biased.

Plus they always give you a second inspection if you challange it. Then of course you can hire your own as well.

If the specifier knew this dwelling was unoccupied for extended periods of time and you told him you turned off all HVAC and humidifiers then you might have a chance if is is writing. lol

I find it amazing that sooo people never read the manufactures literature and ask questions.

You are right about questions not being asked. Until of course, something goes wrong. The salesguys here do an amazing job of educating our clients but still sometimes thing get overlooked.
But with the advent of the internet, the clients are getting more informed all the time; sometimes they get too much info though and then they think they know more about the floor than the guy on-site trying to make a living.

Well first it was just cut and laid down on the dirt as a floor. Then came the weaving of thin strips into what we call rugs to go over the dirt. Could have been the first "woven rug" in the world. OOOH MY God, what would Mr. Hunt think. lol

I almost bought a woven bamboo rug the other day as a matter of fact for my sons room, but decided on a just rug due to the rubberized back which would help protect the hardwood.

Hmmmm, bamboo poles laid on the floor, imagine that would be most effective in a torture chamber, lol.
Anyway, I dont dispute your knowledge in this matter, just struck me as unusual. However, that woven mat idea probably DOES date back some time.

Sliced Dennis, sliced!