We recently purchased a home in the Sarasota area of Florida, and will be relocating there from the Northeast in August. It is important to my wife that before we move in, we have the carpeting replaced in each of four separate bedrooms with wood flooring (about 775 sqft). We had originally decided on a stranded bamboo in an engineered product from EcoTimber, but the only installer/distributor in the area quoted an installed price of $13.50/sqft, which is far higher than any install we've ever had done.

The contractors we've spoken with in the area have had mixed opinions on the use of an engineered bamboo, and for the most part discounted the value of a moisture test, indicating they would know when the carpets are pulled if any problems exist; or indicating that the moisture test is only good for a point in time.

If anyone from the area knows a good installer or has used an engineered bamboo, please let us know.

Also, if it helps, here is some additional info:

It's a one-story house on a canal that was built about 30-years ago; the subfloor for all the bedrooms is concrete.

Given the humid Southwest Florida environment, it seems we should go with an engineered product over solid.

My wife does not like the 'hollow' sound that engineered floors often give off, so we were thinking glueing the floor down would help mitigate this, and most of the contractors have agreed.

Generally Bostiks Best has been recommended as a glue and moisture barrier, but at least one contactor has said they would use Mapei?

We have two kids and will be getting a dog, so we wanted a hard wood, and ideally something that will not scratch/dull as easily.

We want to avoid or minimize as much as possible having any long term problems.

We like the look of cinnamon maple or a carbonized bamboo; and from other links on this site have read that pecan and some other woods are more 'moisture stable'.

It seems there are some admins and posters on this board that are familar with this area and have even installed there, so we are hoping to get some INSTALLER referrals and candid input on FLOORING choices.