Favorite Flooring Flavor of the Week - Tammi

Favorite Flooring Flavor of the Week

Name- Tammi Lynd · simpleFLOORS Seattle/Tukwila

Favorite Flooring Product- Bamboo, Strand Woven

Collection- Nature Strand Woven

Wood Species- Bamboo

Color/Name- Zebrano

Qualities/Specs-

Thickness: 1/2"
Width: 3 3/4"
Length: 72"

I go over: Both concrete or wooden subfloors
I can be: Glued, Floated, Nailed or Stapled down
I am: Solid Bamboo

Use: Residential/Commercial

Wood species: Bamboo
Janka hardness rating: 3000

Tongue & groove type: Precision milled 4 sided tongue and groove

Edge design: Micro-Beveled

Finish: German Klumpp brand Aluminum Oxide

Gloss level: Satin
Kiln dried: Yes

Construction: Solid Bamboo

Countries grown in: China

Installation rating: Moderate

Structural placement: Above, Below and on Grade

Radiant heat: Yes

Warranty: 25 year wear warranty/lifetime structural

Why is that flooring my favorite?
"The Strand product is so durable that it works great is multiple applications - real family homes like mine, rentals, kitchens, cabins, etc. The different shades available make it a work for various styles. The Zebrano is my favorite because it is fun! "

Strand Woven Bamboo Test

At our Seattle store we have a lot of customers who are interested in the strand woven bamboo. Some come in curious about bamboo, and some are not aware of it but fall in love with the strand as soon as we show them "the strand test". Many of these customers previously had a bad taste in their mouth about bamboo due to hearing about a friend (or friend of a friend) who has experienced problems with traditional bamboo (horizontal/vertical in either natural or carbonized). Once they see the test with their own eyes these concerns go away immediately.

What I mean by "the strand test" is we take 2 samples - a regular bamboo, and a strand bamboo - then we take the strand bamboo sample and hit the regular bamboo sample, which dents relatively easily. Remember - regular bamboo is about as hard as oak and maple. Then we take the regular bamboo sample and hit the strand bamboo sample with it (hard!) and honestly - nothing happens! I have been using the same strand sample for about 3 weeks, pounding on it multiple times per day, and you can't see a scratch. We also do the test with Brazilian Walnut/Ipe, the hardest wood - and the strand outperforms it.

Concerns about bamboo hardness are addressed when conducting "the Strand test" because you can immediately see how much harder the Strand is compared to regular bamboo.
This is not a trick - it is a great tool to show customers so they can get a real idea of how durable the strand bamboo is. Customers have asked me for samples to take home and show "the test" to their spouses, builders/contractors, and friends.

Strand comparison works well for:
Natural maple vs natural strand - similar color but much harder
Laminate vs strand - get the durability of laminate with natural beauty of bamboo
Hardwood vs strand - you can refinish the strand if you were ever able to damage it
Pet owners - very difficult to scratch/dig into the strand, and good for pet "accidents"
Families - very difficult to scratch/damage the strand with active children
Moisture concerns - being essentially a grass it is much better with liquid than hardwood
Eco friendly options - sustainable product that can also be refinished, not having to replace
Versatile look - easy to "dress up" or "dress down" based on personal taste. Can swing modern or traditional look depending on your furniture

In addition to being a great selling tool of the strand bamboo, it is fun!

Pets and Flooring

Many potential flooring customers come in the store looking for something that hold up well with their pets. Asking a few questions will help determine what the best flooring is for their personal situation.

What type of pets?
Dogs? If so, what size and how active are they?
Cats?
What are the concerns?
Scratching?
Accidents?
How long would the customers like the floor to last?
Are the customers looking for a cheap/inexpensive floor?
What type of sub-floor are they going over?

The good news is there are flooring options for pets in all categories... Here is some of our best flooring for pets and why one choice may be made over another:
Solid Hardwood - Although the finish on all hardwood can be scratched by pets, the wood hardness (Janka) varies per species. The harder species will still allow the finish to scratch, but will not be as easy to actually scratch/dig into the wood. Solid hardwood can be re-finished multiple times over the life of your flooring. Most of the solid hardwoods must be nailed down, our Reclamation Plank can also be floated.

Engineered Hardwood - Although the finish on all hardwood can be scratched by pets, the wood hardness (Janka) varies per species. The harder species will still allow the finish to scratch, but will not be as easy to actually scratch/dig into the wood. Engineered hardwood is typically less expensive than solid hardwood, and due to the multiple layers has less expansion and contraction, which is a better fit for many climates. Easy to install - can be nailed, glued or floated. May be able to be re-finished depending on the wear layer.

Handscraped Hardwood - Although the finish on all hardwood can be scratched by pets, the wood hardness (Janka) varies per species. The harder species will still allow the finish to scratch, but will not be as easy to actually scratch/dig into the wood. Due to the handscraped features on this product, scratches by pets can be filled in with a color-fil pen, just adding to the already "distressed" look of the flooring. Small dings/dents typically go un-noticed on this type of flooring.

Solid Bamboo - Although the finish can be scratched, this is an eco-friendly and inexpensive option vs. solid hardwood. It can be re-finished multiple times over the life of your flooring. This must be nailed or glued down.
Handscraped Bamboo - Due to the handscraped features on this product, scratches by pets can be filled in with a color-fil pen, just adding to the already "distressed" look of the flooring.

Strand Woven Bamboo - Our current favorite! Super hard and very difficult to scratch. Solid, so it can be refinished multiple times over the life of your flooring. 1/2" thickness allows the Strand bamboo to be nailed, glued down, or floated. The nature of bamboo vs. other flooring products makes it the best for "accidents" as well, being essentially a grass it is incredibly stable with spills/moisture.

Cork - This is a great option for an eco-friendly product, with a softer feel and special look. If your pet has a lot of accidents, we would recommend applying another coat of varnish so that it would be "seamless". Because of the varying pattern of most cork flooring small scratches/dents are difficult to notice.

Laminate - Great flooring for no-scratch marks from pets. Comes in various collections, colors and styles to suit different tastes. Not the best if the pet has a lot of accidents because there are seams in the flooring - but replacing planks is an option because it is a click-together product.