Personally, I like laminate flooring (like Pergo), but there are several grades. The cheaper stuff may not last well in high traffic areas or if you abuse it with kids or animals.
It is a floating floor and has to be installed with gaps around the perimeter to allow for expansion, and it has to have expansion trim installed in long runs.
Put your location in your profile as I have done so we won't have to ask. It is important to know the climatic situation. For example, you might be able to get by pushing the limit in SoCA, but in a cold seasonal climate like here, you need to account for expansion.
As to a bamboo floating floor, you are on your own. Last I heard there were no standards to go by. And there are several grades produced.
Couple examples: Here I have cheap (Costco) laminate in my study and it is working fine. There is insulation in the basement below it and the temperature stays constant because we never go away and turn off the heat. This is a low traffic area.
In SoCA I installed it in most of the house, but that was a better grade of glued laminate (Pergo Select). You can read about that on my website at
www.bobf.info.
