I would love to install bamboo floors, but have three high energy dogs. I'm worried their nails will scratch the floors, especially as they dig in to accelerate. Has anyone had either success or failure using bamboo floors with active dogs?

I have heard that Bamboo Floors do not hold up very well to High Heels. I would think the dogs nails would be very hard on them. Good Luck.

We have bamboo in our kitchen and it's a nightmare!!!! In addition to not being able to keep it clean - that spray floor cleaner just doesn't cut it - it scratches, dents, and shows every speck of dirt and mark imaginable.

And yes, the dog's nails have done quite a bit of damage to the floor (we have two - a 65 lb mixed breed who's damaged the floor and a yorkiepoo - she just makes it messy!). Forget about dropping a utensil, pot lid, etc. - it'll dent the wood.

Why did we install it? Because it was advertised as being almost as hard as steel and harder than oak and maple. Not true. On the positive side it's a very attractive floor but don't use it in a high traffic area or with your high-energy dogs. It was the worst choice in flooring we could have made!

As soon as we have time, we're taking it out. Just haven't decided what to replace it with yet.

I want very much to install bamboo flooring in my family room. A friend of mine has it and simply loves it but has warned me that there are all grades of bamboo and that I must be careful what to buy.
How do I know what is good and what isn't? Do I simply have to trust the flooring company or are there questions I should be asking? How can I find out what is good bamboo?
Thanks for any help you can give me.

I heard someone say just today, that it scratches easily.

I have two friends who have put bamboo in their homes. One had to have it totally reinstalled because the seams didn't hold up, but my observation is that both of them are not level. Each "board" of bamboo is cupped a little. Lower in the middle.

HI, The floor guy advised us not to get bamboo. He said it absorbs liquids and then balloons up and is ruined. We have a dog and a baby so we opted against it.

I had bamboo flooring in my last home and it too was a nightmare. Every bump from anything other than socks resulted in a dent or scratch. Drop a spoon while unloading the dishwasher, dent. Drop your keys, scratch. I could go on and on. We were happy to sell and will never have bamboo floors again.

Wow~after reading everyones experiences, I am rethinking my plan for Bamboo flooring.
I was thinking of it for our foyer which desperately needs a new floor. But now I sm wondering if I should forgo the Bamboo and stick with traditional hardwood flooring like we have in almost all the other rooms.
Has anyone put it in a foyer? And if so what was your experience?
Thanks so much to anyone who answers!

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I would love to install bamboo floors, but have three high energy dogs.

No bamboo for me. unlikely it would stand up to the human traffic let alone 2 large Rotties.
Not convinced that bamboo flooring is "green"/ a reunable source yes, but what about the energy required to manufacture, ship, install or maintain it?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tessa89,

bamboo qualifies as 'green' 'cause it grows so quickly,,, whether or not its suitable for some used is another issue.

We were recently shopping for a new floor for our kitchen. It opens to our dining room and that is hardwood~I didn't want 2 different woods, and I have terrible back problems; so we decided on laminate tile with the top of the line pad under the tiles. Our current floor is ceramic and hard as could be plus it gets SO cold in the cooler weather or even just the air conditioning running!
To make a long story short we were also looking for new flooring for our foyer to be installed when the kitchen is finished. The salesman was great and knows a lot about all the different choices we now have for flooring.
We discussed bamboo and he said a few things that making me think twice. First off, he said that while bamboo is the "in" thing now and the "green" choice that (as I believe someone else said)....that the bamboo itself may be green but the transport,manufacturing process and some of the solutions used in the sealing process certainly are not.
Also~that the floors made of bamboo do scratch and dent easier than hardwoods.
Lastly, he showed us how some of the sample planks actually have a "wave" like effect in the texture of the pieces of bamboo. It isn't noticeable from a distance; but definately close up and to the touch you can feel and see the ripples.
So for us at least~we don't think bamboo will be a good choice for the foyer I am now looking into alternatives for the foyer...maybe reclaimed wood??
Hope our experience helps someone.

It really does depend on the quality of the floors you purchase and what type of finish they have on them. I've installed solid bamboo from two different manufacturers in two homes, both are high-quality pre-finished products.

I have a 140lb. great dane that often accompanies me to jobsites, and his nails haven't scratched either of the bamboo floors. A few contractors walked across the dark-stained bamboo with mud on their shoes, and the tiny grains of dirt and sand did scratch the dark finish.

I have noticed that especially with darker finishes, they would be a pain to maintain with dogs, but I think that would be the case with any wood flooring. The smooth finish makes drops of dog drool show more easily.

If you're having trouble cleaning bamboo floors, try the new greenworks multi-purpose cleaner. Make sure you wring out the mop really well so it's barely damp. It didn't leave streaks or residue when we used it to clean up after construction was complete.

I will try to find a box with the manufacturer info on it and post it. I have been very happy with them overall.

I would not install Bamboo floors with dogs. If you want to be green, you want to look for FSC certified wood. It can be any species, but thats the key to green. I am a Designer and have three dogs as well. There is a hardness rating test called the Janka test that will tell you the hardest floors. Heres the test.

http://www.prosourcefloors.com/productknowledge/Pages/JankaHardnessScale.aspx

I opted to install Brazilian Teak. You can see the images at Rate my Space: 10778785

That also lists the link to the hardwood I installed.

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If you want to be green, you want to look for FSC certified wood.

Thank you Designer gal1 for the FSC inclusion.
There are alot of nuances in green. The effort to put accountability into these materials has great merit, imho.

All wood floors and bamboo floors will scratch with large dogs in the house. To help hide the scratches that will still be there, don't have a high gloss finish put on your floors, go for more of a matte finish and do not go with dark species or stains. If the floor is prefinished, you're stuck. Other alternative is go with a high pressure laminate flooring such as Wilsonart brand with a good sound deadening pad underneath of it. This type of flooring is much better suited to the abuse of large dogs. If you're turned off by laminate flooring, give it a look anyway...it may be the better solution and the patterns have really come a long way. Personally, I much prefer wood flooring but the looking good life is short and your flooring will need to be screen and recoated probably every three years.

To add to that, most laminate flooring is Green Guard Certified which means it has very low VOC's and the manufacturing of the flooring is held to certain environmental standards.

We had our floors installed last week. Laminate tiles by Quickstep and we upgraded to a higher quality pad. I have M.S. and the comfort issue is of utmost importance for us. The floor feels solid and well made yet warm and comfortable to bare feet.

~Hope that helps.

There are all different grades of all flooring types. If you can visit a couple really GOOD flooring dealers (not just home stores or carpet outlets), that can educate you on all the grades, you may find even a Bamboo that is tough enough for pet nails. I know someone who sells high end flooring/counter options and she stated most people look only at the price and affordability per square foot, and not the actual quality that you are paying for. She said there are bamboos that are cut from slow growing plants, much denser and harder, and are manufactured to hold up, but the cost is higher.

I am looking into cork now. I really like the quietness, and soft look of the flooring. But that also comes in many forms and prices. You really do get what you pay for, here and in most other decorative choices.