Bamboo is an eco-friendly, durable, water, and moisture resistant flooring. More so it’s even resistant to some insect invasion, mildew and mold. This has made bamboo flooring a popular choice for homeowners. Maintaining the bamboo floor well can make it last longer, like any hardwood floor. It is no more difficult to clean and maintain than the hardwood surface. With simple cleaning procedures it brings back its shine and luster appearance, but can it be refinished and stained?
The bamboo flooring even with proper care and maintenance do scratch. The scratches trap dirt, dust, and dulling the floor and old looking. However, worry not, you can refinish the bamboo floor. Refinishing and staining the bamboo floor is the best solution instead of replacing it. The refinishing method highly depends on the flooring bamboo grade used. Sealing and cleaning the floor regularly lengthens longevity, unlike untreated and neglected floor.
How to Refinish Bamboo Flooring?
Steps to refinish bamboo floor
- Remove the old finish.
First, remove what has been leftover of the old finish. Use a Sander with a medium grit and ensure you apply consistent pressure to ensure you are removing the finish only. This will help leave a smooth bamboo surface.
2. Remove shallow scratches
To be able to identify the area with scratches easily, Sweep your floor and then wash with mild cleaner for bamboo floor surfaces. Sand with fine-grain sandpaper to remove shallow scratches while leaving your surface smooth. Sweep or vacuum cleaner to remove dirt, grime, and other particles before covering your floor with polyurethane.
3. Refinish deep gouges
Buy a good wood filler that is close to bamboo flooring texture as much as possible. Apply the filler into gouges and other scratched sections. Smoothen the putty and scrape the excess wood filler to give it a smooth surface. Allow it to dry and sand it with fine-grit sandpaper.
4. Apply wood stain.
After sanding some refinished parts of the floor are left light-colored than adjacent areas. Apply a light coat of wood stain to the area to match up the flooring color. Alternatively, you may just apply to the whole flooring area. Allow the wood stain to dry before sealing.
5. Select the best-desired finish.
Apply the new finish. Once the finish has dried, seal with polyurethane. The polyurethane sealant is very tough and scuff resistant able to reduce future the floor damage. Allow the sealant to dry before applying the second coat so as to make it a bit thicker.
How much does it cost to refinish bamboo floors?
The actual value depends on your ingredients or intended desired impression on your floor. However the value per square foot range between $1.50 to about $ 4.50. Take note of the type and quality of bamboo you want to refinish. Thinner bamboo flooring needs a lot of care and can only be lightly sanded once. For high-quality bamboo flooring which tends to be thicker, you can refinish many times.
How to Stain Bamboo floor?
In most cases, the bamboo floor will never need to be restained once installed. Classic or traditional bamboo can be sanded down and be refinished easily. Unlike traditional floor, strand woven bamboo flooring rarely need to be refinished. Its density gives it more protection against denting and scratching.
Steps to stain bamboo floor
You need to Clear the furniture from your room. Remove your furniture and rugs until the room is finished and completely empty. This will give you space to work as well as avoid immediate scratching on your bamboo floor.
1. Clean your room.
You may give it a good sweep or vacuum to remove dust and debris.
2. Remove the old stain.
Sand your floor with a light and even pressure to remove the first layer of stain. If sawdust is white you are a good DIY, incase its darker ease your sander to give it a gentle touch.
3. Clean or wash your floor.
Clean your floor to remove any debris. Take your time to remove all sawdust that can create uneven or rough spots in the next step.
4 Stain your floor appropriately.
Choose the best techniques to apply the stain or color in your room. Leave it to dry for at least 2 hours and apply the second coat. Make sure you don’t miss any area around your home floor.
5. Seal your floor with a polyurethane finish.
Apply the first coat and wait for at least 2 hours before applying the final coat. This would make your floor shine and be scuff resistant.
How to Seal Bamboo floor?
Sealing bamboo floor can help it to last longer. Sealing also helps to prevent premature deterioration of the bamboo floor. It may also help to protect it from normal wear and tear on a daily basis. It is recommendable to apply sealer on the bamboo floor semi-annually or at least annually.
Steps to apply sealer
1. Clean your floor
Remove all the furniture in the room. Clean it thoroughly to remove dirt, grit, and residue. Choose an environmentally friendly cleaning product especially those formulated for hardwood floors.
Ensure your cleaning product is compatible with your existing floor finish. Neutral cleaners are gentle to your bamboo floor finish. Use soft bristles brooms to sweep. Lightly mop your floor and allow it to dry.
2. Apply your sealant
Choose the sealant compatible with your finish from hardware stores around you. Tou can consult flooring experts to get the best brand bamboo sealant. Follow manufactures directions and apply evenly on your floor.
Leave your floor to dry before returning the furniture. Avoid pulling and pushing, request someone to assist you to lift the furniture back to their place.
Do bamboo floors scratch easily?
While this might be true, the prone to scratches depends entirely on the quality of your flooring. The lower quality will always scratch easily even with proper care and maintenance. But the highly durable quality bamboo flooring is very durable. Strand-woven and Cali bamboo flooring is less prone to scratches unlike traditional horizontal and vertical no woven ones.
Pointed or sharp furniture legs, high heel, small grit, tiny particles, and pet claws increase the scratch vulnerability of your bamboo floor. Luckily even for the lower quality bamboo floor can be refinished. Although, the thinner bamboo can only be refinished once with the very delicate procedure. Thicker bamboo can handle heavier sanding and can be refinished more severally.
