Hi,
Just got an inquiry on refinishing bamboo floors. I'm an experienced
wood floor man working mainly w/red oak floors. What are the differences
between sanding and refinishing oak vs. bamboo.
Before you ask -- I'm not sure yet whether it is a laminate or not.
Anyone experienced in bamboo please let me know. If you have an
idea on the process, or where it can be found on the net -- pleasr let
me know.
Thanks,
redrider555

Sand and urethane, if it was a prefinish bamboo chances are it will have aluminum oxide in the finish which will make the sanding more difficult. Can it be screened and recoated or does it need a complete resurfacing? You should not need to stain it unless it is a special color bamboo. The natural and carbonized get their color from a steaming process and are colored through the wood. Make sure it is not a laminate or engineered before you sand it, some of the engineered have very thin wear layers. I would pop a piece of molding to figure out if it has a sufficient wear layer.

The bamboo I have sanded and installed has been either a 1/2" two ply or a 5/8" 3 ply. They sand great! I have not refinished a prefinished bamboo; only sanded unfinished bamboo floors. You favorite finish should work fine. I have used OMU and waterbornes on them and both worked well. Sand them like a soft maple. About the same hardness as red oak but without the graininess, you can achieve a very flat floor. If it is prefinished, it very well may have aluminum oxide in the existing finish. And that is much more difficult to sand off, especially those corners you need to hand scrape. But it can be done. Just allow for it. Don't try to stain it; natural only.