Hello AT,
I'm researching options for new flooring in our house. I want to use pre-finished bamboo for a variety of reasons, however I really don't like the natural or carbonized shades that most companies offer it in. Duro-design offers bamboo in a variety of great stain colors at around $7/sq ft which is way out of my price range...
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There is a store called GrandOpening in the lower east side that has all kinds of old barn floor and other cool materials too (beams, siding, roofing). It might be a good alternative to the bamboo.
139 norfolk street
ifloor.com
lumberliquidators.com
i use ifloor all the time. I have their dark bamboo (ming dynasty) and it looks nice and wears well (going on 3 years).
I haven't used the Ikea flooring, but have used another hardwood, laminated flooring. Basically you're looking at plywood (or in the case of Ikea masonite) with a finished 1/8" hardwood on top. This is why you can refinish it a few times.
There is also another flooring store on 18th Street, just east of Broadway (next to FRESH). They have odd lots and discontinued flooring which may be more in your price range.
What we have done for a couple of projects is to use simple pine. Square foot can be had for under $2 and stains quite nicely. We've done black stained floors and grey stained floors and they came out great each time.
Laurent, where were you able to find pine at less than $2/sq ft in NYC..
www.plyboo.com but only if you want a bamboo floor that is well made, with 25 year warranty and formaldehyde free!
thanks greeps for the ifloor link. i think the ming dynasty might be just what i'm looking for-and it's on sale!
since i'm in dc, i won't be headed up to nyc anytime soon. but thanks to everyone for their insight- my dingy wall-to-wall thanks you!
FYI, GrandOpening is no longer a reclaimed materials store, but their source is http://www.lumberlandpostandbeam.com/
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I'm installing Teragren bamboo flooring in my apartment although it is quite a bit more expensive than ifloor and the bamboo at home depot.
I did my green research and discovered that not all bamboo is the same. The cheap end stuff is made in china and prbably contains using harmful agents - like formaldehyde - and stains that are not even approved for use in the US. I would worry about the emissions from products like these in my home. Also, a lot of the bamboo plantations in china that supply the cheap end bamboo have been built on clear cut forest land and proper wages are not paid to harvesters. These are all things I could not ignore. So I paid more for teragren.
If you are looking for greener practices try plyboo.com, teragren and nikzadflooring.com.
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