Lumber Liquidators

All About Bamboo: Style, Color and Maintenance

Bamboo is a grass, making it an environmentally sustainable flooring choice. When it is cut down, more grows back! Bamboo reaches full hardness after three to six years, and Lumber Liquidators’ Morning Star is aged around 4 years. There are so many style and color options, making a decision can be confusing. This post will give you some things to consider, show you different style options, and teach you the difference between types of bamboo so when you’re ready to purchase you’ll know exactly what you’re getting!

Things to Consider

 1. Technically bamboo is a grass, not a wood.

2. Radiant flooring can be used under bamboo if surface temperatures do not exceed 85 degrees.

3. Many manufacturers bind planks with glue containing urea formaldehyde (UF) which contains chemicals. Carefully research the chemicals used in any flooring product to determine what is best for your home. With that said, our Morning Star bamboo is constructed using the best European glues available, creating a beautiful AND safe floor!

4. It is twice as hard as oak!

 

 Bamboo, like all wood floorings, can show signs of denting and surface scratching which is not covered by any manufacturer’s warranty. Like a new car, floor maintenance and the prevention of surface scratching and denting is an ongoing process!

 

Styles

Three common constructions of bamboo are horizontal, vertical and strand woven.

Horizontal- Pieces are arranged and laminated side by side flatways.

 

Vertical- Pieces are stood upright on edge and then laminated.

 

Strand/Woven- Created from waste strips of horizontal or vertical cuts, coated with resinous glues and compressed into boards with heat. This process significantly increases the overall strength of the material compared to other bamboo styles.

 

 

Colors

Bamboo flooring was originally available in only natural and carbonized colors. These colors come from the manufacturing process.

Carbonized bamboo is boiled for long periods of time until the material darkens.

Morning Star Strand Carbonized Bamboo

Natural (non-carbonized) bamboo is boiled just enough to remove the starch and sugar, so it keeps its blonde color.

Morning Star Strand Natural Bamboo

 Now, there are other color options, such as black or red. 

 

Maintenance

Sweep or vacuum regularly. Dust and dirt can scratch the finish of the floor.

Place mats with non-rubber backs at every entrance of your home to keep dirt out.

Clean up spills immediately to keep liquid from permanently staining the floor.

Check your warranty to see if a specific cleaner needs to be used.

Use chair and furniture pads to protect the floor. We recommend fabric or felt.

Rotate furniture and rugs periodically to produce a more even color and keep bamboo from fading in sunlight.

High heeled shoes and dragging heavy furniture can permanently damage bamboo with dents.

 

Have a question about bamboo that wasn't answered? Ask us here! Save up to 40% on select bamboos until January 7! 

Enter Now: Carpet Catastrophe Contest!

Carpet Catastrophe Contest

New Year, New Floors. Starting January 1, we're hosting a Carpet Catastrophe Contest!  

Have you had a carpet catastrophe? We’re giving you a chance to share your story plus you’ll be entered to win $1500 in Lumber Liquidators flooring!

To Enter:

Starting Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 12 PM (EST) visit www.facebook.com/lumberliquidators and click on the “Carpet Catastrophe Contest” tab where you will find an online entry form. Mobile users, check back with our blog on Tuesday, January 1 for a mobile-friendly entry form. Complete the form with your biggest Carpet Catastrophe story. Photos are welcomed if you have one!

We’ll send you an email confirmation when we receive your submission and another when it is approved. 

It’s that easy! All entries must be received by February 28 at 11:59 pm (EST).

The official rules can be found at the bottom of the contest entry form, which will be available on Facebook and the Lumber Liquidators blog at 12 PM (EST) on January 1.

On Friday, March 1, we’ll choose our favorite story as a GRAND PRIZE winner to receive a store credit for $1500 in flooring and one Runner Up to receive a store credit for $500 in flooring.

Remember:

The contest will run January 1, 2013 - February 28, 2013.

To enter, visit www.facebook.com/lumberliquidators and complete an electronic entry form.

Mobile users, fill out the entry form that will be posted on our blog 1/1 at 12 PM.

The contest ends February 28, 2013 and we’ll pick the Grand Prize and Runner Up winners on March 1.

Preventing Moisture Damage

 

Whether through a humid environment, wet shoes, a roof leak or a spilled drink, moisture damage can ruin a floor. Wood flooring is a big investment, which is why we want to share tips for keeping your floors safe from damage through all seasons.  

NEVER wet mop. Never damp-mop, swab or flood your floor with water or anything else.

Never leave liquid on your floor. Clean spills up as fast as possible with a soft cloth.

Lumber Liquidators does NOT recommend “water brooms,” “Wet-Jet Swiffers” or steam cleaners on laminate, cork or hardwood floors. The vapor can ruin wood or the urethane finish, causing cupping or warping. Use at your own risk!

Check your warranty for specific products to use or not to use, to avoid voiding the warranty.

 Place rugs and mats in “high-risk areas” where you expect spills, such as near the sink and stove. This includes welcome mats where family members and guests can wipe shoes, hopefully eliminating moisture (and dirt) from being tracked throughout the house. 

When using area rugs, use a rug pad with a felt, plant or PVC based backing. Never use a rug with petroleum based rubber backing. (This can cause permanent chemical damage and staining.)

  Virginia Mill Works Matterhorn Birch Handscraped

Virginia Mill Works Engineered Obsidian Plank

Morning Star Qing Kobra Strand Bamboo

 

If you want something a little different than a rug, we found this great idea on Pinterest! Leave wet shoes at the door without a soggy mat. Find it on our “Affordable at Home” board. 

 

 

Keep pet paws clean! Make sure the animals in your house don’t track in grease, oil, water or dirt.

  Chilton Woods Oak Laminate

Other ideas? Let us know in a comment!

Fix It Fast

Your floor can take a beating over the holidays. Whether it’s visiting family, holiday parties or winter weather, we have easy solutions for some of your biggest problems and advice from our installation professionals!

For Scratches and Gouges

Scratches can happen on all wood flooring. Luckily, our installation pros have a few ideas for getting rid of physical damage. First, repairs should be made immediately to fend off potential water damage. Second, always make sure the repair products you use are compatible with clear waterbase urethane finishes. For hardwood or bamboo:

Is it a surface scratch? Try a scratch cover, spray concealer or lotion to camouflage the scratch (but not remove it). There are also color satin markers which have a satin and urethane mixture, giving the repair a shine.

Is it a deep scratch? Wax color-fill sticks might work, which you can find at home repair stores. Just rub into the scratch and buff with a cotton rag. To see instructions for a light sanding and recoating, and for more detailed directions on scratch repairs check here.

Lumber Liquidators offer repair products that can help you, too:
Engineered Flooring Repair Kit
Solid & Bamboo Flooring Repair Kit
Engineered Repair Adhesive 

 

For Squeaky Floors

 

Squeaks are a result of board movement, whether wood-to-wood or wood-to-nail. If the cause is environmental, humidity can bring about noise. Humidity over 55%, for example, can cause boards to expand and rub. Always try to keep indoor humidity before and after installation between 30-50% with temperatures between 60 and 80. Another easy solution is to sprinkle baby powder in squeaky areas, as Bob tells us in the video above. Silica talc in the baby powder will work as a dry lubricant to lessen minor squeaks.

To learn more about squeaks and humidity, check here. 

 

Removing Marker

If you have laminate flooring, you’re in luck! Here’s one easy way to remove marker from your floor.

 

We hope some of these flooring fixes will help keep your floors safe and beautiful over the holidays! If you know of some others, share in the comments with your fellow floor fans!

Customer Projects: Fall 2012

Lumber Liquidators customers were busy this fall! Whether you are interested in installing new floors, need some design ideas, or just like looking at what other people have done with their homes, we’re bringing you some fall “Brags,” Before and After shots, and other customer photos.

Your “Brags”

Schön Quick Clic Engineered Canadian Maple

 

Tobacco Road Acacia

Builder’s Pride Millrun Maple

 

Before and After

This customer used Chesterfield Forest Oak to brighten up her hallway.

Another customer used this laminate in a different setting:

“All my clients are impressed.”

This couple turned their home office into a brighter, warmer looking room with the help of Gunstock Oak.

“Attached is the before and after pictures of my spare bedroom turned home office. My husband and I are planning on renovating the entire upstairs of our home with 3/4" by 3  1/4" Gunstock Oak.. we chose this room as practice in hopes of working out any problems before starting installation on the other rooms and the hallway! It looks great and we are very excited to see the finished project! We used the Bella premium underlayment.”

Handscraped Golden Teak Acacia looks great with these light cabinets.

“The Floor is Fabulous!!!!! My whole house is now hardwood floor, thank-you Lumber Liquidators”

Kensington Manor Golden Teak laminate

 

Strand Natural Bamboo

“We installed a little over 400sq. Ft. of Strand Natural Bamboo. It was our first time installing hardwood flooring, hard work, but well worth it. Very hard flooring which should stand up to our 80 lb. Doberman. Thanks to the Ontario, OH store for all their help…”

Images We Love

Virginia Mill Works Matterhorn Birch Handscraped

 

Morning Star Tiger Strand Bamboo

Lisbon Cork Medina

Dream Home- Nirvana PLUS Lake Toba Teak laminate

Most Loved Laminates

We’re sharing our most popular laminates, customer reviews and more! If you want to know all about our top customer-rated laminates, this post is for you.

Customers love Dream Home Nirvana PLUS 10 mm laminates!

Rolling Falls Oak (4.6 stars)

What You're Saying:

Replaced wall-to-wall carpeting with this beautiful oak floor with area rug. The room has a warm, lovely new look, yet it seems like it's been this way forever. Love it. 

It really is beautiful once installed. We put it in the 3 bedrooms and hallway in the upstairs of our home. With attached padding and moisture barrier it is really quiet. We tested it with 3 grandkids and their parents visiting. Can't say how pleased we are.

 I wanted a floor that would withstand the constant use of people in and out. My den has three entries; back door, den opens to kitchen, & entry. All three areas are tromped thru with family & friends. Shouldn't have waited so long. Got is at great price. Looks smashing!

 Flooring looks good and fits good. Easy to install. We put it in daughters’ bedroom, they helped, it turned into a great family project. Doing another room soon.

 The Pros:

easy to install, easy to clean, beautiful finish, scratch resistant, feels great

The Look:

 

Hot Springs Hickory (4½  stars)

 What You're Saying:

The flooring was easy to install, not that it still wasn't hard work. I love my new floors. Makes the whole house seem more spacious.

Quality product, durable and attractive.

Great product. Easy to install. Since this was our first laminate floor to install, it took a while to finish the first room, but my husband and I were experts by the second room. It's very hard to mess up. The only time consuming part was try to match up patterns, but you probably don't have to. That's just me :-)

Very happy with laminate. Oh so needed, Oh so beautiful!

 The Pros:

easy to install, good price, great color, not super high gloss, great textured look 

The Look:

 

Boa Vista Brazilian Cherry (4.2 stars) 

What You're Saying:

Great flooring. My contractor had no issues putting this down.

Great look and feel

This is the first time I have ever ordered laminate flooring. I ordered it on line and hired someone to install it. Once the floor was installed I was very impressed with the look. The floor looks better in person once installed then in the pictures some people have posted...The planks are wide and have a beveled edge with a 2mm underlayment already attached. I also purchased the ECO Quiet Underlayment which makes walking on the floor very quiet.

We used about 300sqft for our living room and a small hallway in our condo. It turned out great. Wife was very pleased. Some of the boards were hard to snap in place, but it only took two days and two people (me being one of them who has never done this before) to finish. Very pleased with the quality and definitely would recommend this product to others.

The Pros:

easy to install, high quality, rich color, very scratch resistant, very affordable 

The Look:

Madison River Elm (4.2 stars)

 What You're Saying:

Great floor, great price. Also used a recommended installer, stiles flooring. Love the floors. Great job on install. Saved about $400 over big stores and got better floor. 12mm with padding.

Looks clean and brightens the room

This flooring is AMERICAN made, is very easy to install and really looks great!!!

I used it for the upstairs bedrooms, hallway and livingroom. Its not as bright as others, but not too formal as the darker woods, its a nice in-between pattern.

Product in easy to move cartons, easy to install, large planks look great, surface cleans easily - even paint glue or food spills!

The Pros:

easy to install, looks like real wood, durable, beautiful wood grain, pre-attached pad

The Look:

 

Lake Toba Teak (4 stars) 

What You're Saying:

I have been wanting a new floor in my kitchen for quite a few years and when this was put down I was not disappointed. Looks great and makes my kitchen look amazing.

It went down relatively fast for the first time ever laying down laminate. The hardest part was removing tile that we had in our house. That was horrible!!! But once that horrendous task was done, the laminate went down easy. It brighten up the room and what a difference it makes. The room picture is pretty accurate, but it looks even prettier in person. You won't be disappointed.

This is a very, very good wood laminate product. We put it in our kitchen and utility room. I really like the warm background colors and darker wood grain/striations.

We chose Lake Toba Teak for our attic floor. It was our first time installing a floor on our own, and while there was an initial period of trial and error, the installation was smooth and easy once we got the hang of it. We love the way it looks --- it has a bit of a rustic feel and complements the room perfectly. Very pleased.

The Pros:

durable, beautiful, easy to install, pad attached, simple locking mechanism

The Look:

Dream Home Nirvana PLUS 10 mm laminates aren’t the only floors our customers love. See the rest of the top-picked laminates, as well as other popular hardwood, bamboo, cork, vinyl and tools!

Flooring FAQs: Laminate Part 2

Here is the second half of our frequently asked questions about laminate and the answers from the pros!

14. Should I be concerned about heavy furniture or appliances being placed on laminate? Laminate flooring offers better indentation and scratch resistance than most other types of flooring, particularly with heavy loads. However, care and common sense should be exercised when moving heavy objects placed upon the flooring.

15. Are all laminate floors installed in basically the same manner? There can be substantial differences in installation methods. Most laminates are held together by a locking system as they float over some kind of padding. Many styles require edge gluing and clamping. We offer glueless laminates with three distinctive locking systems; tap and lock, lock and fold and angle-angle. Always follow the manufacturer's specific installation instructions.

16. Can I install a laminate floor by myself? Yes, most laminates can be a "do-it-yourself" installation. However people tend to have varying degrees of carpentry skills, so call a professional installer if you run into problems or find the installation difficult.

17. Why is an expansion zone or space needed around the perimeter of a room? An expansion zone is always needed to allow for the normal movements of the flooring system due to climatic changes. Normally this space is the same as the thickness of your new flooring or from ¼” - ½” depending on the total area of the room.

18. Why must the laminate product be in the room it will be installed in 2-3 days prior to installation? You and the product will benefit by allowing this acclimation. The laminate and underlayment should acclimate to the conditions of the room it will be installed in. Giving the product time to stabilize to its installation environment will help to minimize subsequent dimensional changes that can result in excessive gapping or squeaks. Think of acclimation as an ongoing process, ideal acclimation values are (55°-85°) temperatures and (20% - 70%) humidity.

19. Can we install laminate over old carpet? No, carpets will have to be removed because it offers no moisture protection or support to the locking system.

20. What special considerations may be required for large installations or adjoining rooms? Depending upon room size, layout, and the manufacturer's recommendations, transition accessory pieces may be required to allow for proper expansion and contraction of the laminate floor. Normally spans exceeding 27ft in any direction will require some sort of expansion break. Please refer to your specific manufacturer or installer recommendations.

21. How will the laminate floor attach or transition to adjacent areas which have different floor coverings (carpet, vinyl, etc.)? To create functional and attractive transitions from your laminate floor to adjacent different floor coverings such as carpet or vinyl, accessory pieces designed for the specific transition are available in matching or coordinating decors, and are usually required to complete a professional-looking installation. Please refer to your specific manufacturer or installer recommendations.

This customer transitioned between types of flooring with White Primed Quarter Rounds. 

22. What should I do about an uneven sub-floor? Underlayment should take care of most minor imperfections. Larger sub-floor irregularities may require sanding, patching, filling or other measures. Refer to manufacturer instructions for tolerances.

23. Can I glue or nail the laminate to the sub-floor? Laminate flooring is installed as a "floating floor". To the extent any glue or nails may be used, refer to manufacturer instructions.

24. How do I repair scratches or other damage to a laminate floor? Most home centers have repair kits available to remove, fill or repair minor chip damage. If the damage is severe it may require a qualified installer to replace an individual board.

25. How do I care for my laminate floor? Laminate flooring is made to be easy to care for, so no waxing is required. Typically, all you need is sweeping to remove surface grit and occasional spot treatment with a manufacturer's recommended cleanser. Strong cleaners are neither required nor recommended. "Wet floor mopping" is also not recommended for cleaning, since laminate floors are moisture resistant not water proof. For specific care instructions please contact us. Our Bellawood and Laminate cleaners are excellent for laminates.

26. What are the warranties on laminate product?

Utopia- 10yrs
Charisma- 20yrs
Nirvana- 25yrs
St James and Kensington- 30 yrs.

Warranties will not apply to scratching, denting, and chipping or moisture issues.

Flooring FAQs: Laminate

If you have questions about laminate flooring, we have the answers! Laminate can be confusing, so here is Part One of your Frequently Asked Questions and answers.

 

1.  What is laminate flooring? Laminates are made of wood and plastics compressed and bonded under high pressure. The result is an extremely hard plank! Laminates are made by bonding photograph paper to a fiberboard with heat and pressure, which is then covered with polyurethane to protect from fading, scratching and general wear.

2. What’s an underlayment? Any roll or sheet product designed to be installed between the sub-floor surface and laminate flooring material.

3. Why do I need an underlayment? It's used to improve acoustical properties, smooth out minor sub-floor imperfections, improve insulation properties, reduce walking fatigue, and help to protect the material from sub-floor moisture. Sound isolation can be increased with an additional Cork underlayment. Some laminates come with pre-attached foam pads, and in this case you wouldn’t need any other underlayments.

4. How does Laminate flooring measure up? Compared to other flooring types, laminate is typically more durable, less prone to indent, has better stain resistance, resists shrinkage and swelling due to seasonal changes, and is easier to install.

5.  How do I know the laminate I want is a good quality? Lumber Liquidators’ laminates are manufactured to stringent requirements and most carry an AC rating of 3.

6.  I have kids and pets. How would laminate flooring perform in my house? Laminate flooring is recommended for an environment where the "challenges" of children and pets exist! It’s not significantly noisier than other hard flooring surfaces. The underlayment chosen will have the greatest effect in reducing noise from foot traffic. We offer laminates with pre-attached foam backing, or you may want to use our Bellawood Premium  and Eco Silent Sound HD underlayments for additional sound deadening qualities.

7. Can I install laminate flooring on walls? Although laminates and wood flooring are primarily used on the floor, many DIY’ers have successfully applied flooring to ceiling and wall applications! When doing so it is best to first think safety and to consult with your local building codes.

8. Can I install laminate flooring in an unheated space (e.g., garage, cabin, porch)? Laminates like cork and wood flooring need to be installed in climatically stable environments, avoiding extreme temperature swings and excessive humidity. Ideal acclimation values are between (55°-85°) temperatures and (20% - 70%) humidity.

9. Can laminate floor be installed in a basement? Yes, laminate flooring may be installed in a basement in accordance with the manufacturer product specific installation recommendations. Always use a 6mm-8mm plastic moisture barrier over cement.

10. How long will a laminate floor last? It depends on the product you choose, the use it sees, and how well it is cared for.

11. Can laminate flooring be installed over a radiant heated floor? Yes. However, there are special installation procedures required for radiant heated sub-floors. The manufacturer's installation recommendations must be followed to ensure a successful installation! Most laminate flooring can be used in combination with many types of in-floor heating. The heating system can be embedded in a concrete floor or in a thin layer of filler on the surface of a concrete subfloor. It can also be installed retro fitted under a wood subfloor or installed on the surface of a subfloor as matting, electric or hydronic. Note the instructions from the supplier of the floor heating system. Before installation, the heating system must be in operation for at least 2 weeks prior to the installation of laminate flooring, this helps to dry out any remaining hidden residual moisture. The system may be turned off or set to a suitable installation temperature (65 – 72 degrees F.) After installation, the temperature may be increased slowly at the rate of approximately 5 degrees per day, and should not exceed 85 degrees F. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer of the floor heating system that do not conflict with the above requirements. 

12. Can laminate flooring be installed in a bathroom? Most manufacturers offer laminate products for use in ½ bathrooms. However due to high humidity, Lumber Liquidators recommends against laminates in full bathrooms.

13. Will laminate flooring fade? Not Normally. It is possible that over the years you may find a small difference under rugs and furniture due to UV light or cleaning products.

Right now, through December 17, 2012, you can get 20% off ALL Dream Home laminates!

Dream Home Nirvana PLUS Springer Mountain Oak is one of our highest customer-rated laminates. One fan wrote, "I laid about 400 sq ft of this in one day at one of my rehab homes and it came out great. Matched my standard builder grade trim very well and feels very solid with it being 10mm. Easy to cut, easy to work with and the number of 'misfits' in the box was very low, almost non existent. I would highly recommend this to others and I will certainly use it again."

The 5 Steps to Hardwood: Step Five

Once your new floors are installed, there’s only one thing left to do…
Step Five- Brag!

  

Our customers love their Lumber Liquidators floors! Watch customer testimonial videos to see what they’re saying. We have a bunch on our YouTube page.

To show off your project, post a review to the Lumber Liquidators website, upload photos, recommend helpful tools and products and give others advice.

You’ve seen Before & After shots from real makeovers in our customers’ homes.

 Now, send your own Before and After photos to gallery@lumberliquidators.com and “Like” us on Facebook, and we’ll send you a FREE Bellawood Floor Cleaner! It’s that easy:

You can also share your photos on our Facebook page. We love to see how your rooms turned out and we love rave reviews! Your photos may even be featured on Raving Fan Friday.
www.facebook.com/lumberliquidators 

Bottom line? We want you to be happy with your new floors and we want to hear about it!