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I have wall to wall black bamboo floors and they are nothing short of a pain in the ass. I have learned that since it was once a plant they can NOT be sanded down and re-stained like normal hardwood floors. I have been told that this is due to the fiber-is quality of the wood. Yes it they are environmentally friendly but they have large draw backs. I am getting estimates to replace them with a common hardwood. Good luck.

Dragging furniture across the floor is the #1 enemy for hard flooring - even those slick furniture moving pads will scratch a wood floor if dirt gets caught under them.

Always get someone to help you lift and carry larger furniture pieces.

Bamboo is not good for floors. It should not be considered in the same category as ('hard') wood flooring. It is a type of grass. It is nice as a veneer for cabinets or furnishings, but do not expect it to last for flooring. It is not a very green product for flooring if it will need to be replaced.

LA,

I think th ereason you cannot sand is that your floors are stained black. Sanding will bring out the rather light natural bamboo color.

I do not have experience with bamboo, but it is pretty hard and it should be possible to sand it.

per the dwell and sunset home tours this year: bamboo must be seven year growth before harvesting for flooring. anything less is unlikely to be resilient enough. and given the popularity of bamboo and green design, there has been a race to the bottom with immature harvesting and many substandard products. bamboo is fine for floors, if it's the right bamboo.

Hard soled shoes are the enemy of hardwood floors. Tennis shoes and athletic shoes don't do nearly the damage. Only wear soft soled shoes inside. I had my hardwood floors refinished 10 years ago, never wear hard soled shoes inside, and the floors look as good now as they did 10 years ago.

Ug. My experience with my bamboo floors has been wretched. Pretty the first hour after they were installed, and a scratched mess the next day. DO NOT try to re-sand them. It will make things much much worse. But scratches are the least of my problems: a month after the "basement grade", two-week acclimated, blonde floors were put in, they started cupping and warping. I agree, NOT a green product if you have to rip them out after a year.

Veruca -what adhesive did you use? Was it water/moisture proof? I put Bamboo down in March and so far so good. We don't wear shoes other than slippers in the house so, so far everything has been good there. Where is the cupping and warping starting? Is it in the corners...I just want to know what to look for just in case. You're the second person to say it happened to them. I installed mine on a slab.

There are 7 steps for repairing bamboo floor:
Step1 Remove stains by applying a cleaner designed for floors finished with urethane. Scrub the area with a wood floor pad and reapply if necessary.
Step2 Apply ice to sticky or waxy residue. Things like gum, candle wax or crayons can be removed by placing a plastic bag filled with ice over the area. The waxy substance will begin to harden and crumble for easy removal. Follow by cleaning with a product for a urethane finished floor.
Step3 Purchase a scratch repair kit from the floor manufacturer or the retail outlet you used. Scratches are the most common damage for bamboo floors.
Step4 Fill small, single scratches with a stain pen, wood putty or even a crayon that matches the finish of your floor. These easy tools can make small scratches disappear.
Step5 Repairing burns may be more difficult than the other common repairs. Purchase a repair kit specifically designed for burns, and be sure it is formulated for your finish and shade. These kits should repair light burns, but deeper burns may require the replacement of floor planks.
Step6 Repair hollow spots or planks that pop by purchasing an adhesive kit. These kits will allow a small hole to be drilled into the plank. You then inject an adhesive compound that fills the space between the plank and the subfloor.
Step7 Fill small dents or drill holes for other repair with wood putty. Wood putty is often available in many different shades, or you may always touch up a color with a wood stain pen.

Hardwood flooring is one of the most affordable options. It never has be "replaced". Hardwood floors are easily renewed by using a refresher to restore the shine, applying a light screen and coat with urethane or if all else fails you have the option to sand and refinish! With almost any other flooring, once it is old and worn out, it has to be replaced - but not hardwood. Hardwood Flooring becomes more valuable over time.

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