Use and Care Guide

THE WORLD’S HARDEST FLOORS™
Cali Bamboo Care & Maintenance Guidelines
Cali Bamboo® ooring is treated with an industry-leading scratch resistant coating, and its density and strength surpasses almost any other
ooring in the world. Bamboo ooring is tough, but all hardwood ooring is pervious to dents, scratches, discoloration or other natural or man-
made damage. Prevention is a big part of the care for bamboo oors.
• Cali Bamboo recommends you vacuum or sweep the oor on a regular basis or as needed to remove dirt, sand or grit.
• Soak up spills immediately using a dry towel or dry mop.
• For general cleaning, use Bona Pro Hardwood Floor Cleaner & Bona Pro Hardwood Floor Mop.
• Fit furniture legs with felt tips or protective caps. Fix rolling furniture with soft rubber casters. Pick up heavy furniture or appliances; do
not slide.
• Keep pets nails trimmed to avoid excess scratching.
• Limit direct sunlight on oor by using curtains and blinds in areas that are exposed to high UV rays.
• Maintain relative humidity between 40%-60%.
• Never wet-mop a hardwood oor. Standing water may cause permanent damage.
• Never use any of the following products on your oor: ammonia-based cleaners, acrylic nishes, wax-based products, detergents,
bleach, polishes, oil soap, abrasive cleaning soaps, or acidic materials such as vinegar. Never apply wax treatments to your oor.
• Use interior and exterior doormats at entrances to prevent dirt and moisture from being tracked onto the oor. Area rugs are also
recommended in front of kitchen sinks and in high trafc areas. Do not use rugs with solid rubber or vinyl backings. Rugs
must be made of a breathable material to prevent moisture entrapment. We recommend using a breathable rug underlay. Mesh or grid
patterns are best.
What is the best way to mop my Cali Bamboo oor?
Never wet (or damp) mop your oor. Standing water can damage the oor. You may periodically use a very slightly dampened (near dry) mop
to spot-clean; however excessive moisture will dull the nish. For wood ooring in the kitchen, place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink. We
recommend using Bona Pro Hardwood Floor Cleaner & Bona Pro Hardwood Floor Mop to clean your oor.
How can I protect the nish of my bamboo oor from wear over time?
Sweep and vacuum your oor regularly using a broom or dust mop. Brush or felt vacuum heads are recommended as opposed to vacuums with
beater bars or hard heads. Use throw rugs both inside and outside doorways to prevent debris from being tracked onto oors. Keep pet’s claws
trimmed to avoid excess scratches. Avoid contact with excess moisture. Avoid walking on your oors with cleats, sports shoes and high heels.
Do not slide heavy furniture or appliances across the oor.
What are the best environmental conditions for my ooring?
As a general rule, with geographic exceptions, ooring will perform best when the interior environment is controlled to stay within a relative
humidity range of 40%-60% and a temperature range of 60° to 80° Fahrenheit. (In some climates, the ideal humidity range might be higher or
lower – 25 to 45 percent in desert areas for example.) It is the owner’s responsibility to maintain appropriate conditions via the use of humidier
and/or de-humidier. In homes in which occupants are there for a short period of time (weekend home or vacation cabin), or in rooms that are
closed off (not heated or air conditioned) to save energy, ventilation is a must even when the home is not occupied.
How do I x a scratch on my nish?
If the scratch is white, the nish has not been compromised and is repairable. Simply using a ooring cleaner, like Bona, should eliminate these
blemishes. If the scratch is deeper but the raw wood is not exposed, light bufng with a white polishing pad can shine up the dull area. Often
the damage becomes less obvious. When removing stains from any wood oor, always begin at the outer edge of the stain and work toward the
middle.
My wood oor was damaged through the nish. Can it be repaired?
If you have a minor chip or slight damage, this may be minimized with a colored wax. Color Rite Caulk and Mohawk Fill Sticks are wood ll
products that work great to reduce the appearance of deeper blemishes. For light scratches we recommend Tibet Almond Stick. If the damage
is severe enough, board replacement is typically the best option. To match your oor repairs, we suggest that you take a sample of the ooring
to your local hardware store. In most cases, more than one shade may be appropriate.
Can I renish my Cali Bamboo® Flooring?
Major modications are not recommended and are never a guaranteed solution; all repairs are unique. Excessive sanding is not covered under
warranty. Nevertheless, the method of renishing Cali Bamboo® Flooring is the same as any hardwood ooring. An aluminum oxide coating is
advisable. Please always seek assistance from an NWFA Certied Specialist, and always test on a sample plank before you proceed.
What changes can I expect in my ooring from season to season?
Cali Bamboo oors, like all species of hardwood ooring, are subject to changes in temperature and humidity. Seasonal uctuations in relative
humidity may cause the wood ooring to gain moisture with periods of high humidity, and lose moisture during low periods of humidity. These
changes may be noticeable. During warm, humid weather, wood expands. During dry weather, wood contracts. This seasonal movement is a
normal characteristic of wood ooring, and can be minimized by using a HVAC system to maintain relative humidity between 40%-60%.
Can I put heavy furniture on oated ooring?
Heavy furniture (500+ lbs.) may obstruct the free, natural movement of a oated oor. Restricting this movement in certain areas can lead to
problems such as buckling or separation when the oor experiences natural expansion and/or contraction.
Occasional Flooring Noise
Floor noise is normal and will vary from one installation type to the next. Occasional noise is due to structural movement and may relate to sub-
oor type, atness, deection, and/or related to the fasteners, changes in environmental conditions, relative humidity and the amount of topside
pressure applied to the ooring. For these reasons oor noise is not considered a product or manufacturer defect.
Installation & Maintenance