Sande and Deb, each of you have Cali Eucalyptus flooring. Is it still doing well? Thanks!!

We have the fossilized bamboo floors and an 85 pound pit bull with giant claws. 3 years later, the floors look great. Fantastic decision on our end to get these floors, we love them!

We installed the Cali Bamboo flooring in our new build. No gouges, but tons of little scratches which really show up in our darker color. Love the look, but disappointed that it gets surface scratches so easily, and we don't even have a dog, or kids.

Elizabeth Moron just curious which floor you got, versus katythegreat, which floor did you get? We also have two large pitbulls and are considering this flooring. We looked at the luxury vinyl tile, but I just can't get past the fact that when you get up close to look at it the vinyl kind of looks cheap. Coretec looks Ok but someone here locally that we know put it in their basement and it flooded. It was not waterproof, all of the cork attached to the bottom of it crumbled and they did not honor the warranty.

@Lisa...the best flooring for "scratches" is porcelain tile/ceramic tile/stone tile/concrete/tile or finished concrete. The next best option is a HIGH end vinyl with a SUBSTANTIAL wear layer. Bamboo is a tough floor to figure out because of so many low end products that give the rest of the industry a bad rap. The surface scrapes (mentioned by kathythegreat) are common (for any wood floor) especially in Aluminum Oxide finishes. The Aluminum Oxide offers the TOUGHEST option for a finish - but it still scratches. And all floors finished like this (wood, bamboo, cork, etc) will scratch. There is nothing to be done about it.

Coretec does not guarantee against water invasion from below or from "flooding". They state their floors are impervious to water from ABOVE (spills) but not complete immersion. The installation instructions even state that the floor is not to be considered a vapour barrier. The cork on the bottom is the "weak link" in this system. Once the cork gets "wet" there is very little to be done but buy a new floor. This is normal. This is the same as other cork backed vinyl. The cork cannot get wet.

The regular Coretec (not Coretec plus) is the one that is PURELY vinyl on a limestone core (no cork). That floor can possibly survive a flood so long as it is pulled out of the water quickly, washed down with a bleach solution, dried off (by hand) and then allowed to "dry in the sun" for several hours/days just to be sure.

This is the same for all "vinyl" floors that are click together or loose-laid. They can survive a flood ONLY if you rip them out quickly, clean them, dry them and then lay them out properly. Only 1 in 100 people have this ability to do all the steps necessary to "save" a vinyl floor after a flood.

Good luck. If you have energetic dogs and do NOT accept scratches in your flooring, then porcelain is your best option.

I have read several comments from people with large dogs that have installed Cali Bamboo and have had no scratching at all. There are very few comments where they have said they have had scratching, so I am wondering if it is just one style of theirs versus another, etc... We are interested in the Distressed Java or Distressed Mocha solid bamboo flooring. Feedback would be appreciated by all of those who have this in their house with large dogs. Ceramic tile is a no go for me, we are on a slab and it is too cold for Indiana winters and too hard on your feet.

Considering Cali Bamboo mocha for a high traffic family room area.

Concerned about reading about buckling issues, and temperature changes causing problems. We live in Ohio with a constant change in weather. Anyone have any advice?

Has anyone had any experience with Cali Bamboo vinyl?

Hi there! Hoping we can help answer a few questions...

Lisa, either of the two floors you mentioned will be ideal for large dogs. Distressed Java has a Janka hardness rating of 4698 lbs., and Distressed Mocha has a Janka rating of 4948, so both extremely hard floors. (We test each of our floors individually for those scores. Watch out for flooring companies that report the exact same score for every floor; there's usually some fudging going on!) Because they're so dense and hard, gouging, dents, and deep scratches should not be an issue. (Neither should Irish clog dancers!) We also use a 10-coat scratch resistant aluminum oxide finish, to help you avoid lighter scratches. Any marks that do occur in the finish are easily buffed out using a Bona Hardwood Floor cleaner. Sometimes the darker colors shows those light scratches more easily, but they are still well protected and easily cleaned. This video shows a couple 100+ lb. dogs running on one of our darker floors without leaving any scratches.

Tracy, any buckling would reveal an issue in the installation. Bamboo is extremely tough stuff, but it's still very important to acclimate the planks for the proper amount of time and make sure you have the right underlayment. Here's a full installation guide!

tcf1, our Cali Vinyl line is a relatively new collection but has already been installed in many, many commercial spaces (including the famous Kingston Mines blues club in Chicago!), which should tell you something about its durability. In fact, this line was specifically designed for industrial installations like hotels, supermarkets and restaurants where spills and heavy traffic are big issues. Here's a recent video testimonial from the owner of a pilates and cycle gym who had previous issues with her concrete floor chipping from all the equipment. Cali Vinyl has worked out much better there.

Hope this helps!!

Can anyone provide updates on how the cali bamboo has held up?

I have approximately 1000 square feet of the Java Fossilized Wide Plank Click Lock (https://www.calibamboo.com/product-java-fossilized-solid-bamboo-flooring-9009001001.html) installed on my first floor and we're going on around 5 years and it has held up great! We have a 60 pound boxer who hasn't really left as much as a mark on the product. I've added another 200 square feet to my office this year, the product has improved in my opinion with easier install. As the company has mentioned previously, acclimation and proper installation is key. I have a few areas that have separated due to not having the appropriate gaps around the edges (my fault). Another key is to not expect this floor to hold up to never being cleaned/vacuumed/etc. The key to having no scratches is to regularly vacuum/mop with Bona/etc and having the furniture on pads. The tiny rocks and such that get tracked in, or the little particle on the foot of a table/couch are the major causes of scratches for us, the pounds per square inch on a millimeter wide or less rock can definitely cause scratches. That being said, I'm the only one that notices them and even the chip from where I dropped a curtain rod isn't noticeable by anyone but me. I'll go as far as to say that in this house or future houses, Cali Bamboo is one of the very few options I'll utilize - looking forward to trying to vinyl next instead of Pergo which I currently have in the basement.

Hi David,

I'm forwarding this to our customer service department, I know they have touch-up markers that can remedy the white scratches. Do you happen to remember who your rep was or what email address you placed the order under?

I have had the fossilized bamboo throughout my house for 5 years since Super Storm Sandy. We have a German Shepard and the floors have held up beautifully! Looks as good as when they were first installed. Make sure your installer knows what they are doing. These floors are very hard and it takes some special teqniques to install properly.

I've heard of their floors buckling. I was interested in cali but afraid to invest in their products if they'e not warranting their products due to buckling if it's professionally install.

90% of buckling is related to solid floated floors and almost always is a result from improper (or no) acclimation or a lack of proper expansion space during installation. 2 very easy things to do, but if ignored, can spell disaster. Here's a video that explains it in greater detail:

Can cali bamboo be refinished?

I recently installed the antique java bamboo (I believe that was the color) in my own home. Fairly disappointed thus far. I am a professional builder and wanted to try this product to see if I would consider using it in a customer's home. I will not. The surface coat scratches way too easily especially with the darker colors. Even though the flooring is stained throughout the stock, the surface coating will create a bright white gouge that has a stark contrast to the rest of the flooring. Beware of the janka hardness claims. While they may be the world hardest floors that is not always a good thing. Glass is very hard too but try walking on that with any dirt on your shoes and see what happens. The problem is that brittleness usually goes hand-in-hand with hardness. You are much better off going with a softer wood (even pine) for dark colors because many people confuse denting with scratching. Pine will most certainly dent slightly but because of this, will also not show scratches as easily (which is what most people are really trying to avoid. The minor denting usually is not a concern). Same with oak. Real wood will give a little when pressure is applied to it where the fossilized bamboo (which is actually a compressed grass) will not give at all but will instead scratch because it is very hard and brittle. I tested pieces of the bamboo against oak with various objects both dropped and slid across their surface. Oak is much more resilient to visible scratches. Although in theory you could refinish bamboo the results will usually be pretty terrible and if you have that "antique" look, you'll never achieve that again. The bamboo is also very slow to install. The wood splinters very easily. Make sure you use nothing larger than 18g cleats or staples. I was impressed with how easy it was to mill though. Made a very nice stair tread with a bullnose router bit. But, as a professional high end builder you would think I would have known better and followed my own advice....if bamboo was actually more resilient, faster, better looking, cheaper, more reliable, or by any metric better than oak, that would be what we install in our day to day operations. But it's not, so we don't. I have photos and video I'll post soon that shows just how easy this floor scratches. Don't take the risk, stick to what has worked for hundreds of years and go with oak. Or see for yourself; go to Lowes, get a sample piece put it under your kitchen table chair and slide it over the sample. Drop your keys on it etc. See how easy the sample scratches. Your floor will do the same.

I had Cali Eucalyptus installed last September.......GAPS, BUCKING, SHRINKING.....speck is 5.250. Acclimated 5 weeks at South Lake Tahoe, Installed and within 3 weeks we started seeing shrinkage separations through the field. I miked the planks each and found them to be from 5.240 to 5.120, often in the same plank. one piece was 5.220 to 5.16 in 8 inches. I have gaps of 1/4 in places. The XXXX has pulled away under the base trim by 1/4 inch, in the field one joint will be "snug at one end and a 32 nd of an inch at the other. Cali has basically told my contractor....?? When the contractor came to "repair" the mess, I pointed out all the issues and I told him he was on notice, we agreed it would be a complete R&R which Cali would not agree to. I hate this crap and will do what ever I can to tell all "don't trust them". Customer NO service Cali!!!! If I have to sue the Bxxxxxds , I will, just to show them they can't just ignore people after they sell you some bad batch of something that should be quality and last a lifetime. I am so disappointed with Cali

Anyone interested in a class suit I have a GREAT lawyer????

We are considering the Cali Eucalyptus flooring over our radiant heat slab foundation. Recommended or no?

I purchased 1400 sq ft of Cali‘s natural wide click and lock Eucalyptus in 2017 and have experienced EPIC Failure! So has many others whom have joined the “Cali Bamboo Class Action Participants” group on Facebook.

Like many other buyers, I got “bamboozled” into believing that I was helping the planet, choosing a water resistant, pet friendly floor, without being told in their slick marketing literature the REAL limitations of their fossilized, engineered floors!

The negative features that Cali purposely hides are the following:

1) Bamboo, Eucalyptus are in the exotic category of hardwoods. They require PERFECT relative humidity 45-50%, and a constant temperature (can’t EVER shut off your HVAC) to not incur problems. If you live in a rapidly changing climate (the midwest) like I do, you most likely will need a whole house humidifier (humidistat) installed onto your furnace. Too much moisture causes the floor to expand, too little will cause it to shrink.

2) Cali’s click and lock system (I.e. their floating floor) has a weight restriction of 500 lbs! Placing heavy furniture will pin down areas on your flooring, causing separation and buckling. They don’t tell you this limitation upfront, but hide it on their installation tips video and Care and Maintenance literature!

3). The don’t warranty your floors for moisture issues; installation errors; scratching, denting, etc. They claim that their click and lock flooring system is designed for the DIYer, however, they include instructions taken from a NWFA manual and expert the novice to follow these complex instructions perfectly, that only a certified NWFA installer (with 3 years of training) could ever achieve! They use these NWFA standards as a loophole to come back on the buyer, when problems arise!

4) Most NWFA certified installers do not like installing bamboo/eucalyptus, exotic flooring. Too many issues to contend with! If you don’t believe me, call reputable hardwood stores in your area and ask them!

5) After investing $18,000 in materials and labor, I am stuck with junk floors! Instead of increasing the value of my home, it has drastically devalued it! My only recourse now is to litigate my case!

6) Choosing the right flooring for your needs/climate is the most important step! Go to a local, reputable company who can guide you through this process and whom will educate you properly on which flooring is right for you! If I could redo my decision, I would choose tongue and groove hardwood or a luxury wood looking pvc vinyl floor that is waterproof and is free flowing, without ugly transition strips!

Start a new thread, please.

I have cali bamboo that we installed about 9 years ago. Worst decision ever. While it has not scratched much from the dogs, the finish has worn off in MANY areas. I thought it was related to moisture as most issues are around doors but there are also areas under couches that are also like that and they have no chance of water getting on them. It has faded all over the place. Really honestly don't like it at all. I contacted them about 5-6 years ago and provided all sorts of photos to them showing all the finish issues and refused to address anything. Terrible customer service. Their finish warranty is a joke.

Does anyone know if there is actually a class action against Cali bamboo? I'm in!

@ Agate & Co. Builders

Find this group on Facebook and join. The new VP of Cali Bamboo - Alexandra Gerritsen is trying to help customers resolve their issues.

We were enamored with the descriptions of Cali Bamboo Flooring, the different selections, the widths and the hardness of the product. We installed it paying close attention to your recommendations for acclimation to the environment and literally let the product sit in our house in a latticed stacked position for 3 – 4 months. We installed following directions precisely, leaving minimal 1/2″ space all around at walls, doors, etc. We have had nothing but ongoing bulging, areas raised as much as 1 – 1 1/2 inches. We had to remove baseboard throughout the entire install area, pry the edge boards out as they had expanded under the drywall, re-cut the edge boards 1/2″ back from the wall, put baseboard back and 2 months later have encountered the same problems. Our opinion of this product is — I would never ever use bamboo flooring again unless it was glued or nailed down. But we can’t do that as we have a radiant floor heat system. We were assured this was an acceptable product to use. The local salesman who sold it to us (and the Cali customer service rep we spoke with) said it’s a great product and would work well in our climate. We are in the mountains of North Carolina and our humidity runs 40 – 65%. My recommendation is there are other and better products to be had for less money!

Hi all! Are most of you speaking about Bamboo flooring thru Cali bamboo? Anyone know how their engineered hardwoods hold up and being a better choice material that won’t cause gaps, cupping, etc? This is the whole reason I want to get engineered vs wide solid hardwood planks in TX. If anyone has info on there Meritage Collection- Sauvignon Oak wide plank I would greatly appreciate the feedback!! Looking to install in the next couple of months.

Thank you!

Hi msf80! Just wondering if you ended up installing the Sauvignon Oak? I'm about to order and wondering if you're happy. I've been looking for a good mix of brown with grey tones and this one seems to work!

I bought Cali Solid Eucalyptus floor to be installed on a slab for an 1800 square foot house that I bought and it is all on one level due to my disabilities from the military. I need assistance getting around my home, cane and sometimes my scooter. I also have dogs. I was lead to believe that this would be a great solution by the Cali Bamboo Sales person. The flooring was installed in November of 2019, I moved in in January of 2020. Not long after I moved in it started bulging at the garage door entrance in the middle of the house. I tripped over it several times. Glue was oozing out so I thought maybe it was an air pocket. Then it started cupping in the kitchen and living room no where near any water sources and an area near the hall to the rest of the house started coming up and splintering. Then not far from that a couple planks just popped up like a teepee and lifted up and off the base molding. This is all in the middle of the house! The flooring guy took a slab moisture test and nothing was coming up from the slab even after having torrential downpours for a week. They are going to come repair the worst areas but now I am stuck with a floor that is deteriorating and no way to afford an entirely new floor. Its getting worse. I have had oak floors all my life and thought I would go green and loved the look of the Solid Eucalyptus because it looked similar to Hickory. What a huge mistake! Please if you read this, just get solid wood, much easier to deal with and repair even with big dogs!

The pictures below show what started not even a few months after installation and constant temperature and humidity controlled in the house.. It has gotten worse since these pictures.

Adam Turner, west orange NJ.

I am a diy homeowner and installed antique java wide click 3 times. fantastic product , no scratches from my 100lb dog , who actually destroyed the oak flooring before being replaced. easy installation . floors are floated , no buckling, no seperation , hapily ’breathing ’ for 3 1/2 years . NJ .

DIY Homeowner here. I installed almost 900 sqft of Cali Fossilized Eucalyptus T&G flooring in 2018. It was simple, straightforward forward, and easy to do. It's sharp as hell when cut though...so cautions there. I stacked and acclimated the boards for a week, as the manufacturer advised as well as had proper expansion gaps around the walls.

I've had zero issues with bulging or gaps. Our household of cats, teenage boys (dragging laundry hampers mostly), and parents have put a few (maybe 10 noticeable) minor scratches in the flooring in those 4+ years. Cleaning the scratches and applying a matching stain makes them disappear.

We liked it so much we are extending it, another 900 sqft, into our living/dining/kitchen.

We put the cali bamboo floors in 2020 and we have 4 kids. lots if scrstched, some more noticable than others. im ssd that the floors have not held up like the resp said. The MUCH cheaper floors we installed other olaces in our home have held up better, but the Cali floors feel so much better.

We ordered Java Fossilized® Wide Click Eco-Engineered™ Bamboo Flooring 21.5 sq ft/box, 8 planks, 72-7/8" x 5-5/16" x 9/16"