bamboo or laminate (flooring, engineered, refinish, installing)

[kiahsmom]

I am trying to decide what kind of flooring to put in. I have 2 active dogs 55lbs and 22lbs. I have read that bamboo is harder than white oak but am not sure about scratching. I have heard mixed reviews about the scratch-resistance of laminate. This will be over above-grade cement slab so floating with moisture barrier is the best option. Anyone have experience with either type of flooring? I have already installed porcelain tile in foyer, mudroom and kitchen so all the entrances are super-durable. Tile is just a bit too chilly over cement in the winter in bedrooms and living room. Thanks for the input.

[CarolinaCruzes]

I had this same question ( 3 kids and a dog), so I ordered some stranded bamboo samples because I know they are "harder" than the standard vertical or horizontal bamboo. I scratched them with my key, it left NO MARKS! I let a drink sit and sweat on the sample all day until the water completly dried, NO WATER MARKS OR DAMAGE. I was completely sold. If I had not seen it with my own eyes you would not have been able to convince me. You can order samples, most places will send them free of charge. The stranded bamboo comes in natural, carbonized and a really pretty combo called tiger bamboo. These floor can also be refinished down the road, but it would probably be really far down the road.

[Noahma]

the problem with bamboo flooring is keeping them sealed and moist. they are prone to splitting.

[Tesaje]

Are you talking regular bamboo or the strand woven bamboo? They are very different. I have samples too and it took a nail pressing hard to scratch the varnish. I've read that during installation, it can splinter. I put my sample soaking in water for 24 hours with no indication it had spent the time there. The sample I have also had varnish on all 6 sides of the board.

I've read many complaints that laminate does not hold up well with dogs so I took it out of my consideration long ago. Damaged laminate cannot be fixed. The wood or strand woven bamboo can be sanded and refinished just like solid wood floors.

I've been looking for the down side of strand woven bamboo and all I've found is some people don't like how it looks. I'd be interested in any experience with it after living with installed for some time.

[scarletfire]

We just had bamboo installed and I absolutely love the feel and look of it, and it seems to withstand the pets running around and my inevitable spills aok. Our installer did break several pieces during installation and get splinters so it doesn't sound like the easiest install. He found an overstock of it and got us a really good deal. We're very happy with it.

[HIF]

I've had bamboo flooring for a year and a half. The sales woman said that it was impenetratable. She used that word a number of times.

I had it put throughout the living areas and have to tell you that my dog's nails have scratched it all up. It sickened me at first, because I paid a lot for it and thought I had done my homework. But I must say that I wouldn't have been happy with laminate. I love the look and feel of bamboo. It is easy to clean and as long as water isn't allowed to sit on it for hours, very water resistant.

I also have kids and they are hard on everything, but the bamboo has held up well. As for the scratches, I have put area rugs in several places and just figure that it is a natural product, so scratches are inevitable when you have a dog. Wood would have done the same.

It can be refinished, so when I want to sell, I will have them refinished and they will look like new.

[kiahsmom]

Thanks for the input. The problem, as always, is budget. Since I will be installing this myself, glue-down really isn't an option. I installed the tile myself, but glue is a whole different matter from mortar -- at least that cleans up with water!
I need to stick with floating the floor (over cement slab) -- using click style flooring. I have looked at the strand-woven but haven't found any that are installed without glue. Has anyone found strand-woven click-style? I too, prefer the look of bamboo, but if it is going to look like crap after the dogs hit it, my thought was maybe AC4 (commercial) rating laminate is the way to go. Additional comments? Thanks.

[SunnyKayak]

I havent the issue with scratches and the style of the wood makes it less ovious than traditional wood floor. I also keep my dogs claw trimmed but she has grabbed hold the flioor when she about slid down the stairs lol but I didnt see any ovious marks

my floor

[Tesaje]

Very pretty. that's the horizontal regular bamboo.

Glue down isn't hard to do. I did an engineered oak floor glue down and it still looks great 10 years later. No harder than tile. I think Stepco makes an engineered strand woven bamboo that might be floatable. Do a search on that.

[HIF]

Originally Posted by HIF

I've had bamboo flooring for a year and a half. The sales woman said that it was impenetratable. She used that word a number of times.

I had it put throughout the living areas and have to tell you that my dog's nails have scratched it all up. It sickened me at first, because I paid a lot for it and thought I had done my homework. But I must say that I wouldn't have been happy with laminate. I love the look and feel of bamboo. It is easy to clean and as long as water isn't allowed to sit on it for hours, very water resistant.

I also have kids and they are hard on everything, but the bamboo has held up well. As for the scratches, I have put area rugs in several places and just figure that it is a natural product, so scratches are inevitable when you have a dog. Wood would have done the same.

It can be refinished, so when I want to sell, I will have them refinished and they will look like new.