As with any product including bamboo flooring one can expect to at some time experience problems. Many of these problems will be as simple as a trying to figure out the best way to correct a small ding from a dropped object. Other problems may include the correction of more severe damage or perhaps what to do about the development of a blemish. At Bamboo Flooring Problems we have listed an overview as to the types of bamboo flooring problems seen by inspection companies such as The Weinheimer Group LLC. Below you will find this information that should help you should the need for the resolution of a claim develop.
Bamboo flooring problems can be grouped into the following categories:
- Defects and Blemishes
- Visual
- Latent
- Site Related
- Excessive Moisture or Relative Humidity
- Improper Maintenance or Abuse
- Installation
- Failure to inspect product prior to installation.
- Improper installation
- Improper installation products
- Specification
- Improper selection or specification of flooring
- Improper installation products
- Not following the proper inspection and claims procedures
Bamboo Flooring Claims and further be divided into the following divisions.
Defects and Blemishes
Latent Problems are those that become apparent only after the flooring has been installed for a period of time.
Visual Problems are those that are readily visible and should be seen prior to or at the time of installation. Warranty Disclaimer found in many floor covering warranties including bamboo floors state:
Visual Defects
Industry quality control standards do not exist for bamboo flooring. Some companies and individuals in the bamboo flooring industry are working toward them. Until these standards come to fruition, the dealer and installer must be extra aware. United States industry standards set product defect tolerance at a maximum of 5%.
Not all bamboo flooring is manufactured the same way. Some is manufactured using crude hand labor methods and other with modern precision machinery. Not all manufacturers have the same quality controls standards. Blemishes that may be perfectly acceptable in one part of the world may be considered a serious deficiency in another.
Even from the best manufacturers, flooring leaves with defects that are difficult to see until the floor is laid out or installed. The lighting conditions are different at every installation and different then those of the production line. Visual defects belong to the manufacturer prior to installation of the floor. The ownership of visual defects can change with its installation.
Some bamboo flooring leaves the manufacturer with visual defects that are so blatant that it is obvious that the company does not have proper inspection procedures or they were not being followed. Some manufacturers are going to work with the dealer and installer when defects are found and others are going to fight over a ten-dollar item.
Manufacturers and distributors want to know about problems so that a prompt correction can be made at a reasonable cost. Once a defective floor has been installed it becomes much more expensive to correct or replace. The dealer and installer must follow the proper procedure for reporting problems unless they wish to own them as their own.
Dealer and Installer Protection
Dealer and installer protection comes through the careful inspection of the product before it is installed and if necessary, stopping an installation until the manufacturer is notified when a serious overall defect is found. Unfortunately many dealers are placing this responsibility upon the installer alone without properly informing, training and compensation. Nonetheless, any installer that installs a floor with visible defects may be inheriting some one else’s problem.
What happens if the installer decides on his own to install a defective product?
Too often during inspections the consumer states, “the installer pointed out the problem but went ahead with the job so that a days work would not be lost”. The installer may not have lost that days work, but just might have to work many extra days in the future to pay for the replacement of the floor.
If only part of the material is involved the installer should be able to go ahead with the installation, ordering additional material to replace the defective or damaged boards. This keeps the installer from loosing a day’s work. The damage or flawed material needs to be saved for the manufacturer or distributor unless authorization is received to dispose of it.
The Wise Installer and Dealer
Another common statement heard from consumers during an inspection is, “the installer saw a problem and called the dealer and the dealer instructed the installer to go ahead with the installation”. This was a wise installer, by following the proper procedure the problem was transferred to the dealer and if the dealer was wise, authorization to proceed was obtained from the manufacturer or distributor, placing the problem where it originally belonged.
Are the strips the same thickness and width?
Are their cavities where the adhesive has not been applied properly?
- Site Related
- Excessive Moisture or Relative Humidity
- Improper Maintenance or Abuse
Typical warranty exclusions include:
- Abuse, lack of maintenance, neglect, abnormal use or misuse, negligence
- Application of solvents, corrosives or other chemicals to the flooring
- Color change, fading or damage due to exposure to the sun
- Excessive pivot and point-loads, spike-heeled shoes, unpadded furniture legs
- Water damage from maintenance, spills, leakage, uncontrolled humidity
- Excessive dryness or heat
- Damage from sand, pebbles or other abrasives
- Insect infestation after shipment from the point of origin
- Stains and finishes not applied by the manufacturer
- Improper alterations of original manufactured product
- Settlement or movement of the building structure
- Installation over un-level substrates
- Installation over radiant floor heating with a surface temperature over 85°F.
- Variations in color, grain and markings that exist in the flooring when new.
- “Acts of God” such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods.
Humidity: A controlled humidity is one of the most important things that the home or building owner can do to protect bamboo and wood floors. The ideal deal humidity is 30-60% and it should never be lower than 30%. This will vary some among manufacturers. As with wood, the end user should use a dehumidifier and/or a humidifier as may be required for their area.
Radiant Heat: Room temperature should not vary more than 15 degrees season to season. 35% – 55% humidity is required in a home with radiant floor in all seasons.
Concrete subfloor must have a moisture content below 3% by weight. Heat transfer plates or insulation must be in place under pipes under plywood subfloors.
Radian floors bust be a minimum of 1 ¼” below the surface of the concrete or a minimum or 1/8” below the bottom of plywood subfloor.
Dents (indentations): Bamboo is very hard but it will dent. Felt pads should be used on chair legs. When casters are used they need to be a minimum of 1 ½” wide in plastic or rubber. Remember, a 100-pound woman in worn high heels will exert more PSI pressure on the floor than a full-grown elephant. An exposed nail head can exert a force of 8,000 PSI, which will even damage concrete.
Maintenance:
- Vacuum or sweep to remove dirt and grit prior to cleaning floors
- Soak up liquid from spills promptly
- Use area rugs in high traffic areas
- Install fellt protectors on the feet or legs of furniture
- Do not use alkaline cleaning agents as they may cause color change
- Do not damp mop as excess water may cause cup and swell
- Do not use wax, oil soap
- Use only cleaners recommended by the manufacturer.
- On some floors worn areas can be recoated which should be done prior to enough exposure to where the bamboo requires sanding.
Installation
- Failing to inspect product prior to installation.
- Improper installation of flooring
- Improper installation products
Failing to inspect product prior to installation.
As stated earlier, manufacturer warranties do not cover materials that have been installed with visible defects or of a different color or quality then that which was ordered. The only way for an installer to protect him or herself is to take the required time to check the product.
- Have the consumer check the product for style and color before it is installed. Warranties on bamboo flooring do not cover variations in color or variations between samples and the installed floor. These type of problems need to be found prior to installation.
- Color Variations: Bamboo is a grass and as with trees, variations in color naturally occur.
- Each package of product needs to be inspected for differences in color. Color variations need to be staggered throughout the installation.
- The installer needs to check the floor for visible defects and blemishes. A description of many visual defect and blemishes will be found above, under that heading. As previously stated, warranties exclude materials that have been installed with visible defects.
- Check the quality and product number for accuracy. The cost of material and labor will not be paid when a floor that was the wrong quality or color is installed.
Acclimation:
The failure to properly acclimate the material is the number one installation problem. All to often the dealer and installer mistakenly believe that since the material came from a heated storage facility it will be just fine and that is not the case. Unless you are able to recreate the normal heat and humidity conditions of the installation and few will be able to do so, there is no replacement for acclimatizing at the site.
Site acclimation does not mean placing the material in the garage and installing it from there. It also does not mean placing all of the material in the building next door or down the street and taking it to the installation, as you need it. Flooring needs to be allowed to acclimatize. Manufacturers recommendation range between 48 and 72 hours on-site. The acclimation period needs to be at the expected normal room temperature and humidity levels before and after installation. Damp or cold conditions before installation need to be avoided.
Installation Moisture and Humidity Considerations:
Bamboo is more stable than most wood but like wood it can be damaged when in direct content with moisture. Pretty much the same rules apply to bamboo floors as they do for wood when installing this product.
- Moisture variance between subfloor and material:
No more than a 2% difference in moisture content should be present at the time of installation. A difference greater than this may lead to floor failure.
- Moisture Content Bamboo: Bamboo moisture content is about 6 – 8% prior to installation. This may vary slightly among manufacturers.
- Moisture Content Subfloor: A wood substrate should be no higher than 12% at the time of installation and a concrete slab no greater than 4%. This will vary among manufacturers.
- Concrete subfloor must be tested for moisture and a vapor retarder such as 6-mil polyethylene film on the subfloor. The polyethylene needs to be ran up the wall so that it is visible until covered by molding. Edges should be overlapped 8” and the seams taped. (These requirements will vary among manufacturers and products.)
- Ideal humidity, prior to during and following installation is 30-60%. Humidity should never be lower than 30%. These percentages will vary slightly among manufacturers. As with wood, the end user should use a dehumidifier and/or a humidifier as may be required for their area.
- At the time of installation, temperature settings should be within 15 degrees Fahrenheit of normal living conditions.
The most commonly recommended moisture test is the Anhydrous Calcium Chloride.
Radiant Heat: Room temperature should not vary more than 15 degrees season to season. 35% – 55% humidity is required in a home with radiant floor in all seasons.
Concrete subfloor must have a moisture content below 3% by weight. Heat transfer plates or insulation must be in place under pipes under plywood subfloors.
Radian floors bust be a minimum of 1 ¼” below the surface of the concrete or a minimum or 1/8” below the bottom of plywood subfloor.
Subfloor Suitability: With all flooring products it is the responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the subfloor and job site conditions are acceptable for the installation.
Substrate must be level: The tolerance is usually about 3/16” in an 8 foot radiau, and high spots need to be ground from the surface. Manufacturers recommendations will vary.
Expansion space: Most products require expansion space around all walls and fixed objects. The required space ranges from ¼” t0 ¾” varing with product and manufacturer. Under some conditions additional expansion space will be required. Door casings and other fixed objects may require undercutting to allow for sufficient expansion space.
Radiant Heat: Must not produce temperatures in execess of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Needst to be in operation and ran at normal living temperature for a minimum of seven (7) days prior to installation. One or two days prior to installation the unit should be turned off. At the time of installation the subfloor must be 64-68 degrees Fahrenheit.)
Specification
Improper selection or specification of either the flooring material or the method of installation
Improper installation products
Not following the proper inspection and claims procedures.
Radiant Heat: Room temperature should not vary more than 15 degrees season to season. 35% – 55% humidity is required in a home with radiant floor in all seasons.
Concrete subfloor must have a moisture content below 3% by weight. Heat transfer plates or insulation must be in place under pipes under plywood subfloors.
Radian floors bust be a minimum of 1 ¼” below the surface of the concrete or a minimum or 1/8” below the bottom of plywood subfloor.
In future pages and chapters we will discuss identification of visual defects and installation problems. We will also suggest ways in which many problems may be corrected to the consumer’s satisfaction.
Identifying the hard side of the culm: Bamboo stalk also known, as culm is harder on the outside than on the inside. A higher concentration of vascular bundles, or capillaries, along with the associated silicate deposits, on the outside of the culm is responsible for this phenomenon. Each strip cut from the culm and used in flooring is harder on one side than on the other. Looking at an end cut of a strip and noting the much higher concentration of the “dots” or capillaries that are found on the hard side can often identify the hard side.
Bend or Curl: As with strips or planks cut from a tree, the bamboo strips want to bend or curl in a predictable direction. The bending or flex force is very powerful. During manufacturing it is critical that the forces associated with these natural flex tendencies be directionally balanced with each bamboo flooring board.
Peeling of Finish: Over Bleaching: Natural colored boards may have a very bleached uniform color. All strips are subjected to bleaching with strong oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide to suppress color variations and organic mater. Excessive bleaching can soften the flooring and leave a residual oxidizing agent that can react with the finish and produce peeling of the finish.
Formaldehyde in product adhesive: Two adhesives are commonly used in the wood-laminates (plywood, particle board, flooring). 1. Adhesive based on urea formaldehyde (UF) resin. 2. Adhesive based of phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin. Both kinds of adhesive “out gas”, or give up, low levels of formaldehyde from the final products in which they are used. Formaldehyde is a low molecular weight material that is a gas at room temperature and pressure. As a result, it will vaporize to a small degree under normal living conditions.
Formaldehyde is both a naturally occurring chemical and an industrial chemical (formaldehyde is synthesized by the catalytic oxidation of methanol). In addition to its industrial use if fiber board, it is found in dry cleaning chemicals, paper products, no-iron fabrics, diapers, pillow cases, cosmetics, paints, cigarette smoke, the exhaust from automobiles, gas appliances, fireplaces and wood burning stoves. It also occurs naturally in forest and is a necessary metabolite in human cell chemistry.
As a rule, adhesives formulated with PF give of slightly less formaldehyde than resins formulated with UF. PF rein has very good resistance to water making it the resin of choice of out door applications. The resin of PF is very dark brown to black in color and not suitable for indoor use where an invisible glue line is preferred. Over 95% of interior-use hardwood plywood is manufactured using a urea-formaldehyde or UF adhesive. All bamboo hardwood-flooring manufacturers are presently using UF based adhesives.
Today’s hardwood plywood products emit 60-90% less formaldehyde than products manufactured in the early to mid 1980’s.
Safe formaldehyde emissions limits from wood products are mandated in the United States. This standard, developed in 1985 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is 0.2 parts per million (ppm) as measured by the “large-chamber” test method.
In November 1987, OSHA proposed that the occupational standard for formaldehyde exposure be reduced from 3 parts per million (ppm) to 1 ppm, averaged over and 8-hour workday; this proposal became law the following month. In May of 1992 the law was amended and the formaldehyde exposure limit was reduced to 0.75 ppm. (Information is available form the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Public Affairs Office, Room N3647, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW. Washington, DC 20210. You may also contact the Public Affairs Office by calling 202-693-1999.)
Conversion to Parts Per Million by Volume:
The conversions from “0.02 mg of formaldehyde per cubic meter of air” to “ppmv (parts per million by volume).” Converting at a molecular weight of formaldehyde, which is 30.03, the following calculations are made.
- At an ambient air pressure of 1 atmosphere and a temperature of 60 degrees F (15.56 degrees C), 0.02 mg of formaldehyde per cubic meter of air = 0.0149 ppmv
- At an ambient air pressure of 1 atmosphere and a temperature of 70 degrees F (21.11 degrees C), 0.02 mg of formaldehyde per cubic meter of air = 0.0152 ppmv
- At an ambient air pressure of 1 atmosphere and a temperature of 80 degrees F (26.87 degrees C), 0.02 mg of formaldehyde per cubic meter of air = 0.0155 ppmv
About Terry Weinheimer
So what is a homeowner to do to reconcile a problem. Our entry hallway installation was done by an installer properly from a technical standpoint, i.e. subflooring, glue quality, etc. But when finished it looks like a badly replaced floor installation — the colors are drastically different in sections, because the boxes weren’t opened and expected ahead of time, just laid down as they were opened.
What can be done to fix this and who is responsible? Our contractor says the blame is on Lowes, because they don’t warn the installer or the purchaser in their instructions. I believe a professional installer has a responsibilty to know that these variations occur and to discuss with the homeowner whe he sees such drastic variations may be occurring.
When you hire a professional installer you would expect them to understand the product they have been hired to install. Bamboo is a natural product and you should expect color variations. Prior to installation the installer should have opened the cartons, checked the planks for shade variation and then mixed the cartons so that the variations would be mixed.
As far as a fix there really isn’t one other than removing and replacing the area of concern.
Yesterday we had a stranded bamboo floor installed in our house.
The installer used a nailer to do the installation.
Upon inspection of the work we see raised points along the edges of many of the planks, as if the nail heads are pushing up against the upper surface.
This suggests to us that the nails were not set deep enough.
The general contractor tells us that if the nails weren’t set deep enough the tongues would not have been able to be fully inserted into the grooves, but offered no further explanation or comment.
We also observe several planks edges, length and width, that have a slight gap between the planks (i.e. not fully butted). It is our understanding that the planks will expand over time but we are concerned that these ‘gaps’ will not eventually close. They may be approximately 1/64″ at most but difficult to measure.
Would you please offer your opinion as to what these observations mean?
Thank you so much.
Paul
Paul
It would take an on-site inspection and testing to positively tell you what is going on with this installation. The way you describe this installation and its appearance it sounds like installation related concerns.
Edges such as you are describing can be caused by improper setting of the nails. These edges can also be damaged to a plank edge from improper setup and use of the nailer such as too high of air-pressure or the wrong foot on the nailer. While it is extremely unusual there could be a lamination problem but if that is the problem it should have been seen by the installer and the installer should not have installed defective planks.
As far as the gaps between planks there are also many potential causes of these from installation to manufacturing. It a new installation the gaps you are seeing are not the same as seasonal gaps that open during periods of low humidity and close during periods of high humidity. It is doubtful that random gaps left at installation are going to expand and close. While a bamboo floor will expand and contract this will happen with all of the boards and not just those installed with the gaps.
Another point that you need to know is that when an installer goes ahead and installed defective planks most manufacturers will void the warranty. While you did not mention who manufactured the floor you installed I bet that if you will read a copy of their warranty and installation instructions they give a warning about installing defective boards and tell you that these should be culled.
Hope this information helps but to tell you positively what is going on I would suggest the services of a NWFA Certified Flooring Inspector such as the services offered by The Weinheimer Group LLC and others.
Hi Terry,
I intend to use an installer to lay floating bamboo floor using the “click” system. The bamboo would be laid throughout our house over existing tiles and concrete floors. The bamboo is strand woven and carbonised. The supplier advertises a 25 year structural warranty and the lowest gas emission. Is there any particular problem that may arise with this type of bamboo and installation..
We are purchasing a new house with bamboo flooring in the living and kitchen areas. The flooring appears to be “scalloped” when I look across it.( That is at the joints of the planks there appears to be very small ridges) Can this be fixed? Has the floor been laid incorrectly (not acclimated perhaps before laying)? Will the floor need to be replaced?
Help please as the settlement date on the contract is 1 week away.
You should be fine as long as the manufacturers instructions are followed for installation. As far as environmentally I see no problems.
The way you describe this it does not sound correct. I would file a claim with the retailer and installer and have the floor checked out.
Very good information for the consumer and installers here. I am an engineer from the USA working in Anji, China where most of the bamboo flooring comes from. Our company is the inventor and the largest strand woven bamboo flooring manufacturer in the world STYLE LIMITED. I am happy to see the appropriate information is being supplied to customers in the USA as it makes bamboo flooring a better experience for all involved. If you need any assistance or info from the manufacturing side I am always here to help.
Gregory, thank you for your comment and offer to furnish information. As a site that is devoted to assisting the user of, supplier, flooring contractor and others as it relates to bamboo flooring we appreciate the offer. I will be in touch.
Terry Weinheimer
we had “click ” style bamboo flooring installed in our kitchen where we have in floor electric heating kept @ 20C (68F), this was roughly two two years ago now, and over the past month and 1/2, I have noticed there is a separation between some of the strips of bamboo and when you walk on the floor there are areas that feel ” mushy “, any suggestions , Thanks
Have you checked the temperature of the floor directly at the floor and if so is it higher than the 20C you run it at? Do you know what the relative humidity has been averaging? Your floor has been down 2 years and just started recently so it suggest something other than a manufacturing problem. You don’t say where you are located, did the problem start after your heating season started?
If your relative humidity is running low or the in floor temperature is running hot in some or all areas this could be the problem.
So if you had the choice which is the preferred installation process – floating or direct stick?
We live in Perth, Western Australia and have been told that floating is better for sound but then some say direct sticking is better due to movement? Who should we believe?
Julia
Both are true to some extent.
As far as sound, with a floating floor you have a greater number of cushions that can be placed below them to reduce noise. A good flooring dealer will also have cushions available to reduce sound and can be placed under a direct install.
A direct install will often be more stable than a floating floor but this depends on the floor being installed and how will it is installed. Since you live in an area where temperature is an issue an engineered bamboo floor should be a good selection. My personal choice would be a direct install performed by a reliable wood flooring installer. While either a floating or direct will work out for you make sure that it is properly acclimated, the sub floor that it is being installed over is properly tested and prepared and you allow sufficient expansion space. With either floor be sure that your installer follows the directions of the manufacturer of the floor you select.
Terry
I installed a bamboo floor in my girlfriend’s house recently. Took precautions to quiet subfloor, no complaints there.
What’s surprising is the amount of trauma visible on the surface after such a short period of time. We bought it at Home Depot (Bamboo Toast). They pledged it was durable, it was on sale, sustainable, etc. While I actually subscribe, we pushed away the sustainable argument and asked for definition on how hard it was. They said it was “among the hardest.”
Now it’s got scratches everywhere, and stool/ chair marks, even though we have fabric ends on all chair tips, etc. We do wipe our feet, don’t drag furniture, all that. Just thinking we were railroaded with regard to bamboo’s “hardness.”
Do we have any recourse?
Chris
I know this is not what you want to hear but you may or may not have recourse. Contact the store and file a claim with them and ask that the floor be inspected to determine if there is a manufacturing problem with the floor. If they will not contact the manufacturer and file a claim then contact the manufacturer directly.
Terry
Terry,
I had Kentwood Carbonized Strand bamboo flooring installed in my house in August.We bought the floor from a Flooring store who had a subcontractor install. From the day they installed the floor, we noticed buckling in the floor in two areas. We asked the installer and he said that the floor needed to “relax” and to check back. After a month, we noticed increased buckling and called the flooring store and he had the installer come out and trim the perimeter of the house to ease the expansion. This did not help.
Now October, the floor has begun to buckle more have called the flooring store again. He told me he had researched the problem and said the problem was that we had not turned on the heat yet, the humidity was too high and that we needed to turn on the heat. We said OK to see if it would help. We turned on the heat and the floor has doubled the amount of buckling in the house. What should we do and what is the cause of these issues? We have spent five digits to have a house we don’t even like to come home too.
Note: from the research i have made the floors we never acclimated to the house before installation.
Ben,
This could be either and installation related or site related issue or both. Ask your dealer to have the floor inspected by an independent flooring inspector. National Wood Floor Association Certified Flooring Inspectors inspect both bamboo and wood. You should be able to find an inspector near your area at the NWFA website http://woodfloors.org. That site is the consumer website of the National Wood Flooring Association and they also have other very helpful consumer information on wood and bamboo floors.
Terry
We installed Strand Woven Bamboo solid click and are finding it is making a lot of popping and clicking noises. we made sure we acclimatized the product in the rooms according to specs. The floor was within tolerance for the required level (3/16ths to 10ft area?) We have left an adequate expansion joint of 1/4 inch. we have even gone over certain areas that were not 100% level (but still within tolerance) with leveling compound. Still have popping and crackling noise.
Can’t nail it down due to density of material. Looking at possible “solution” of either #1 Changing the vapor barrier underlayment with a better product???
#2 Gluing it down??
Again this was to be a click down floor, easy to install. We did not anticipate this issue. Heard wonderful things about the product.. harder than oak. We got samples.. looked fine.. joint looked solid …
Any possible solutions? Could we glue a click down? Any issues regarding this solution?
Is there a better underlayment that would help “level” the floor in areas that are not exactly 100% level (but again within tolerances as specified by the manufacturer)
Thank you
Kathy
Every product is different. If it were me, I would start by calling the manufacturers technical department for the flooring product you have installed. They should be able to advise you as to the best solution for their product or they may want to inspect the floor for you. You can usually find a website for a product manufacturer and contact information is almost always listed there.
Terry
Good morning Terry. We are thinking of installing bamboo in our passage because we are tired of the dirt coming from our shoes showing on the carpet. But I read somewhere that loose carpets should be placed over bamboo if there is heavy traffic – well, its just two of us at home but we are home all day… I dont know if that would be called heavy traffic, but if we still have to buy loose carpets I would rather go for tiling. Can you please advise ? many thanks, Michele.
Michele
You mention that the reason you want to install bamboo is that you are tired of dirt being tracked onto your carpet. Bamboo, wood or even tile floor will not keep dirt from being tracked on to your carpet unless you use a door mat or small throw rug to collect that dirt. A bamboo or wood floor and even tile can scratch from dirt being tracked onto it and tracked in soil stays on the surface where it can be tracked onto the carpet. It sounds like a bamboo floor should work just fine but if you are entering this passage way from outside be sure you use a washable mat at least outside the door and if you have room use an additional washable mat just inside the front door and this should keep most of the soil from being tracked onto your carpet.
Terry