Want to do a bit of testing and research on bamboo hardwood floors on your own? Are you the type of person that wants to see everything with your own eyes? Well, so are we! Here are a few tips to help you see which floor is right for your home.

1.) Always order a sample. This is the only way to know if you have the right floor for your project.

2.) Check the finish of the sample. Scratch it with your fingernail, your dogs paw or your children’s favorite toy. Always ensure that the sample can withstand the every day wear and tear that your family will put it through -- bamboo plywood or other discount floors might not be able to. Remember, the sample will be the same strength as your floor, if the sample passes your extreme tests, you floor will too!

3.) Check the color of the sample. Just because there is a pretty picture online of the floor does not mean your home will look like that too. The sample is a color swatch for you to hold against your wall color, cabinet color or furniture. The one thing to keep in mind is some bamboo has color variation in the board, so your sample may be lighter or darker than the vast majority of your floor. Bamboo is a natural product, so be prepared for some variation, even in high quality bamboo flooring.

4.) Inspect the manufacturing quality. This is harder to do unless you know what you are looking for. First check the finish, is it cracked, peeling or chipping off? Second look at the cross section of the board. Can you see holes in it? A blatant sign of poor quality bamboo flooring is gaps or divots in the sample. If you can see these holes now, sometimes large, sometimes the size of a pin, then over the years these can lead to cracks and weak boards.

5.) Ask your supplier about their warranty. Make sure the warranty is from the supplier, not the “manufacturer” which will be located overseas.

6.) The formaldehyde issue is simple, if your floor is below the E1 standard, then you are in the clear. Remember household objects like billiard balls have formaldehyde, even your body makes trace amounts of formaldehyde. Ask your supplier for their test results.

7.) Once again, Always Order a Sample!