Bamboo is exceedingly popular thanks to its versatility, strength, and aesthetics. Frequently used for flooring, the planks are treated with waterproof finishings. However, over time, they may begin to scratch and wear through with constant use. But before you uproot your flooring and replace it with stone, you might wonder, “Can bamboo floors be refinished?”
Most bamboo floors can be refinished, provided you have the correct tools and skillset. However, there are situations where refinishing is not possible. The type of damage, its extent, and the characteristics of your bamboo floor significantly influence the quality of the refinished product.
If your bamboo flooring sustained damage, the fantastic news is it can be refinished! However, not all refinishing jobs are simple. Below, we’ll examine what situations are okay to refinish, which are not, some influencing factors, and the process of applying a new finish.
What You Need To Know About Refinishing Bamboo Floors
While hardly anyone installs a wooden floor while thinking about how they’ll need to refinish it, the unfortunate truth is that many owners are left in a restoration dilemma.
Whether through poor crafting, installation, or use, bamboo flooring does not last forever. Fortunately, there are several instances where restoration (refinishing) is feasible, provided you have the expertise, tools, time, and budget.
What Type Of Damage Can You Fix With Refinishing Bamboo Floors?
There are several “common” reasons for refinishing a bamboo floor, which include the following:
- The floor was not finished properly, to begin with. Unfortunately, bamboo flooring is relatively new and not always well-regulated, allowing inferior products to flood the market.
- General wear and tear causes the sealer to wear through. As with most hardwood floors, traffic (over time) causes the old finish to wear thin.
- Superficial scratches from use or an accident. If the flooring is in the kitchen or dining area, you may have chairs dragged across, eventually leaving scratches.
- The stain color begins to fade due to sun exposure.
- To darken or change/remove the stain of the bamboo. However, experts debate whether you can restain bamboo flooring.
Whether you’re fixing the floor for superficial damages or aesthetic reasons, refinishing bamboo is similar to refinishing other hardwood floors.
However, they are (often) more than home DIYers bargain for. If you don’t have the time and capacity for it, it’s a wise idea to have a professional flooring service refinish your floor (although it’s not the most budget-friendly route).
When Can Bamboo Floors Not Be Refinished?
While most floors damaged through regular wear and tear or poor craftsmanship are (relatively) easy to refinish, there are some situations where refinishing is not worth the effort or feasible.
Extensive Water Damage And Rot
While you may be able to repair slight water-damaged floors, unfortunately, there is very little to be done when significant volumes of water seep into wooden flooring. Once mold sets in and the wood begins rotting, it’s in your best interest to remove the affected sections and replace them/the entire floor.
Ensure that the underlying issue is addressed before you replace any sections of flooring; otherwise, you risk the problem repeating itself.
When The Bamboo Floor Contains Formaldehyde
Depending on where your bamboo comes from, it may contain high levels of Formaldehyde. Manufacturers use this dangerous chemical to treat the wood before sealing it, as it helps with preservation.
However, when sanding the bamboo, Formaldehyde is released in the dust, which can be fatal in higher concentrations. Unfortunately, it is impossible to remove all the dust.
It is usually in poorer quality (cheaper) bamboo flooring that the Formaldehyde concentrations are potentially dangerous, while “premium” quality bamboo flooring often has less dangerous amounts.
The World Health Organization decided that 0.1 mg/m3 (100 µg/m3) of Formaldehyde in the air is the guideline for air quality.
Factors Influencing Refinishing Bamboo Flooring
Aside from the damages, the bamboo floor’s characteristics may also prevent or promote refinishing.
The Type Of Bamboo Flooring
How the bamboo is cut and joined by the manufacturer is significant in how easy or difficult it is to reapply a finish.
Bamboo floors come in 3 designs:
- Horizontal – planks are cut and placed “flat” to show the nodes. These are the most commonly found floorboards.
- Vertical – planks are rotated 90° to hide the nodes, creating thinner lines and a more uniform effect.
- Strand-woven – planks are broken down into fibers and are compacted under immense pressure and heat with a strong adhesive.
When refinishing, you’ll have to sand the wood and reapply a sealer/varnish. Horizontal and vertical bamboo flooring is relatively easy because you’re working with wood; however, with strand woven bamboo, you’re sanding into adhesive and fibers.
Even after you manage to sand it down (strand woven has a hardness rating of roughly 3000 lbf), the adhesive makes applying sealer incredibly difficult. You also won’t be able to re-stain this type of bamboo flooring.
However, thanks to strand woven bamboo’s strength, the likelihood of it becoming scratched, dented, or damaged is significantly less.
Engineered Bamboo Flooring
Aside from the type of cut, bamboo floors may also be engineered (plywood covered with a bamboo veneer).
Refinishing this type of floor, although not impossible, is usually challenging. The quintessential factor is how thick the bamboo veneer is. If it’s too thin, you’ll sand down into the underlying plywood and further “ruin” the flooring.
Ideally, you’ll want a veneer of at least 0.08” (2mm) thick before attempting to refinish it. Anything thinner, and it’s not worth the effort.
How Do You Refinish Bamboo Floors?
Refinishing bamboo flooring is not dissimilar to other wooden floor restoration projects.
Preparation Is Essential To Refinishing Bamboo Floors
Before stripping off flooring layers, ensure you have all the tools, materials, and a clean work environment.
The materials and tools you’ll need include:
- Sandpaper (fine grit)
- Sanding machine
- Cleaning product
- Applicators (for example, rags and brushes for cleaning and applying the sealer)
- Sealer
- Safety equipment (masks, gloves, and glasses)
It’s critical that you contact the flooring manufacturer for some guidelines on what products you’ll need, as bamboo floors vary between suppliers.
Once you have the necessary equipment, start by cleaning the room and covering fixed furniture (counters, wardrobes, etc.) to prevent dust from settling on it.
Next, Sand The Affected Area Of Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring is considerably softer than other hardwood flooring (unless it’s strand woven), so you’ll need to use a finer grit sandpaper, and you won’t need too much pressure.
If the dust is white, you’re in the clear, but once it darkens, you’re applying too much pressure.
Occasionally, buffing the laminated wood is sufficient for “sanding,” as it removes the laminate while smoothing the surface, particularly if the floor was recently installed.
If your floor had an oil-based wax or was cleaned with an oil-based soap, remove it with an ammonia-based cleaner before buffing (or you could sand through it).
Older flooring may require actual sanding due to use and wear patterns. Once sanded, buff the floor to smooth it off. Remember, you’re only removing the top layer.
Cleaning And Inspect Between Sanding And Sealing
Once you’ve sanded the old sealer and top layer of bamboo, you’ll need to clean and inspect your work. A vacuum cleaner is the most efficient method for removing dust.
Look for uneven smoothness, splinters, and holes. While cleaning, fill any holes, remove splinters, and resand uneven areas.
Apply The Desired Sealant To The Bamboo Floor
Once you’ve sanded and buffed the floor, it’s ready for a sealant.
Note: If you want to stain the bamboo a different color, you’ll need to do so before adding the sealer. Staining bamboo is a popular practice, but test it on a small section before adding the stain to the floor.
Once you’ve stained the bamboo (if you decide to) and given it sufficient time to dry, you can add the sealer.
Most sealers are polyurethane-based to provide waterproofing and scratch protection. Apply the first coat and give it enough time to dry (according to the manufacturer’s specifications). Remember to buff the floor once the first coat dries to smooth out the sealer.
Finally, apply the second coat and give it a good buffing once dry (some products require three to four coasts, so ensure you read the instructions carefully).
Congratulations! Your bamboo floor is refinished!
Conclusion
While most bamboo flooring can be refinished, some situations, including severe water damage, are impossible. Getting enough information from the manufacturer before embarking on a refinishing project is critical, as some bamboo floors contain high levels of Formaldehyde. While experienced DIY enthusiasts can save some money by refinishing the floors, it’s recommended that you hire a professional flooring company to do the job.