Q. What are the benefits of bamboo flooring?

A. Bamboo flooring is rapidly becoming one of the most popular types of residential flooring. Here are a few reasons why you should choose a bamboo floor:

• Bamboo floors are easy to clean.
• Bamboo floors are ideal for allergy sufferers as they do not promote dust or harbor dust mites.
• Bamboo flooring is an inexpensive alternative to hardwood flooring, usually costing 25% to 50% less than hardwood.
• Bamboo flooring is long-lasting. The laminate floors sold by MJ Flooring come with 10-year and 25-year warranties.
• Bamboo flooring can be installed over numerous types of sub-floors such as: wood, sheathing grade plywood, vinyl tile, or Oriented Strand Board.
• Bamboo floors are environmentally friendly. They use a quickly renewable crop. Made with safe resins, they have extremely low formaldehyde emissions and make excellent floors for healthy homes.

Q. How do I install bamboo flooring?

A. There are several things to consider before you begin to install bamboo flooring. Careful preparation before beginning will make installing your bamboo floor a quick and easy process.

• Ensure that your sub-floor is flat and smooth.
• Take extra care when installing bamboo flooring over radiant heating. Ensure that you read both the bamboo flooring and radiant heat system instructions carefully before beginning.
• Read your bamboo flooring manufacturer’s installation instructions carefully.
• Allow your bamboo flooring to acclimate in the room where it will be installed for a minimum of 72 hours.
• Inspect each bamboo flooring panel carefully for defects or damage before installing it.
• Always use a tapping block and never hit bamboo flooring directly to avoid fracturing the flooring edge. A piece of flooring trim makes a good tapping block.
• Add at least 5% to your square footage when ordering to allow for waste and cuts. As a rule of thumb for non-professionals, add 7% to 9% depending on your skill level and the layout of the area.

Yanchi bamboo flooring distributed by MJ Flooring has complete installation instructions online.

Q. Where can I install bamboo flooring?

A. Bamboo flooring is an extremely versatile flooring product. It can be installed in virtually any room of your home, above or below ground, over wood, OSB, or existing vinyl flooring. There are several locations that are not recommended for bamboo flooring. Because bamboo flooring is a natural flooring product it is not recommended that bamboo be installed in wet locations such as bathrooms, washrooms, saunas, enclosed porches or verandas, or anywhere that may require wet-mopping. Extended exposure to moisture of this type may cause your bamboo flooring to warp or swell.

Q. How do I maintain my bamboo flooring?

A. In order to maximize the durability and beauty of your bamboo flooring, we recommend the following practices as part of your floor’s normal care and maintenance.

• Place doormats or rugs at entrances to collect moister, sand, grit and other potentially damaging substances from being tracked onto your bamboo floor.
• Dust mop or vacuum with a soft accessory to keep your bamboo floor clean from dust, dirt or grit. Yanchi Bamboo flooring cleans easily with a Swiffer or similar type dry mop.
• For sticky spots, use a soft damp cloth to gently scrub the floor. If necessary, use a generic hardwood floor cleaner. Do not use steel wool or other abrasive scouring pads.
• Do not use harsh detergents, abrasive cleansers, or corrosive chemicals to clean your bamboo floor.
• Avoid excessive water. Use mats in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room to protect against spills. If a spill occurs, blot it up immediately with a dry cloth or slightly damp mop.
• Use only colorfast and non-scratch carpeting or pads on your bamboo floor.
• Protect the floor from furniture legs and do not walk on the floor with high-heeled shoes.
• Although Yanchi bamboo flooring has effective UV inhibitors in its pre-finish, it is recommended that it not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods.

Q. What is the difference between bamboo flooring and hardwood flooring?

A. There are several advantages to using bamboo flooring compared to hardwood flooring. First, bamboo flooring is an environmentally friendly product. It takes only a few years for a bamboo plant to grow to maturity, while it takes decades for hardwood trees. And when bamboo is harvested, the root continues to live and produces new stock. Each year, one “mother plant” generates several new bamboo stems that grow to full length in a few months, and to mature hardness in about five years. Bamboo plants are therefore quickly replenished following a harvest. Second, bamboo is actually harder than hardwood so it makes a more durable flooring. Third, in most cases bamboo is less expensive than hardwood while installation costs are the same. Hardwood installers and contractors need no additional training to install bamboo flooring. Bamboo can be installed using exactly the same tools and methods as are used for installing hardwood.