Strand Bamboo Installation Notice

JOHNSON HARDWOOD WILL NO LONGER WARRANTY STRAND-WOVEN BAMBOO INSTALLATIONS OVER CONCRETE SLAB SUBSTRATES

Why the alert? The industry is experiencing a ration of claims involving strand-woven bamboo installed over concrete slabs. As a result, we are seeing a good number of adhesive manufacturers’ that have discontinued offering a warranty when using their vapor retarders/adhesives for an installation involving strand-woven Bamboo over a concrete substrate. At this point, the reason for the failures has yet to be (fully) determined. That being said, Johnson Hardwood is working diligently with other industry experts to come up with an answer.

Here’s what we know so far. Not all strand-woven Bamboo installations over concrete slabs have failed or will fail, but due to the increase in failures (throughout the industry) associated with installations over concrete substrates, Johnson feels that it is in our/your best interest to stop recommending this method of installation. For alternative installation methods, please call Johnson’s technical department at 800-910-3047 ext: 122 or simply ask for Steve Marley.

The following information below will give you a better understanding of what constitutes “high” quality vs. “low” quality strand-woven Bamboo flooring. This also includes regular Bamboo when applicable.

Click below to download the official press release.

Download Release

Quality Manufactured Strand Bamboo

Poorly Manufactured Strand Bamboo

Bamboo harvested from the same geographical location Use Bamboo strands from the same age group Use portions of the Bamboo closer to the outside (bark) section of the culm Kiln dry process must include pre-glue, post-glue and post-bake Use high quality adhesives Place emphasis on pressing process Monitor/control ambient conditions within the mill throughout the year Discard the first 2’ of the culm above the ground and only use the next 10 to 12’ Don’t use old growth Bamboo for flooring

Mixing Bamboo from Northern and Southern China (may also include Bamboo from Vietnam) that have “distinctly” different levels in density Mixing mature/immature/old Bamboo Bamboo strands that contain too much “weak” inner tissue rather than the stronger outer (bark) tissue Bypassing “critical” steps in the kiln drying process Use of low quality adhesives Insufficient pressure during the pressing process Ambient conditions inside the mill fluctuate greatly from winter to summer months Utilizing the portion of the culm that should have been discarded Using old Bamboo Inconsistent moisture content levels from run to run after kiln drying