Ambient Bamboo Flooring Reviews – Prices, Pros, Cons, Installation

Our Ambient bamboo flooring review covers the various bamboo flooring, including Ambient strand-woven bamboo flooring, engineered, and rigid core.

We will also look at installation, pros, cons, cleaning, maintenance, and care. If your planks have scratches, worry not, we will tell you how you can fix them.

About Ambient Bamboo Floors

Ambient Bamboo Products (Ambient BP) began operations in 2005. It offers various premium flooring solutions, including bamboo, Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Click-Lock Flooring, eucalyptus flooring, and related cleaning installation accessories.

They also sell MagPanel® MgO Magnesium Oxide Boards, and Bamboo Plywood, among other products.

Over time, the various products they sell have become the top choice of many contractors, homeowners, architects, and designers, thanks to their superior, durable, and beautiful products.

Ambient BP headquarter is at 8230 Preston Ct Unit C, Jessup, MD 20794, USA, and they ship their products throughout the US and globally.

This review will focus on bamboo flooring products that Ambient sells and tell you more about them.

Ambient strand-woven bamboo flooring reviews

Ambient BP manufactures superior quality, durable, and stylish solid, engineered, and Rigid-core (SPC) strand-woven bamboo flooring planks using sustainably grown and harvested strand-woven Moso bamboo aged 5-7 Years.

These planks are available in over 30 different colors, and their surface textures may be hand-scraped, smooth/flat, wire-brushed, hewn carved, antiqued, or distressed.

Their dimensions vary and may have a tongue and groove (T&G) or click-lock installation profile or milling edge.

What’s more, All Ambient BP bamboo flooring have/are:

• Janka hardness as high as 5342
• Micro bevel edge style
• Mate/satin/flat
• Very durable Accuseal ultra with aluminum oxide surface finish
• Lifetime warranty
• Pet friendly
• Kitchen friendly
• Kids friendly
• ideal for places with high traffic  
• Radiant heat safe
• Money-back warranty
• FloorScore indoor air quality certification – they emit ultra-low VOCs
• Lacey Act Certified

Also, these planks meet CA High-Performance Schools EQ2.2.3, Carb Phase 2 (less than 0.05ppm), European Super E0, Japanese JIS/JAS 5-STAR standards.

Let us now look at the various Ambient bamboo flooring planks

1. Ambient solid strand-woven bamboo flooring - Tongue & Groove

There are 21 Ambient solid strand bamboo flooring with a Tongue and Groove (T&G) installation profile available in various lovely colors. You will not miss getting one that will perfectly complement your décor, furniture, or rooms.

All the Ambient solid strand-woven bamboo flooring are 6 ft (1850 mm) length by 5-⅝″ (142 mm) width by 9/16″ (14 mm) thick except for three planks, which are:  

• Mocha Pizzaz Bamboo that measures 6 ft (1850 mm) length by 5-⅛″ (130 mm) width by ⅜″ (10 mm) thick
• Natural and Carbonized Bamboo with dimensions of 6 ft (1850 mm) length x 3-¾″ (96 mm) wide and x 9/16″ (14 mm) thick

Finally, all these solid strand-woven planks have 24-hour spill protection.

Additional specs

• Acclimation: 72 hrs. (7 days if in extra humid or dry climates)
• Installation: Nail or glue. Don’t float
• Level or grade: On and above
• LEED contribution: LEED MR6: Rapidly renewal, LEED IEQ 4.4: Low-Emitting Material and Materials, LEED MRc7: Certified Wood (may apply or contribute).
• Additional certification: FSC&reg and EPA TSCA Title VI compliant

Name	Characteristics	Prices /Sq. Ft
Natural Bamboo	Blonde with a smooth or flat surface	$5.51
Carbonized Bamboo	Rich brown with a flat/smooth texture	$5.81
Cinnamon Wide Plank	Flat or smooth textured plank with a spicy cinnamon (reddish-brown) color	$5.02
Natural Wide Plank	Blonde with a flat/smooth surface texture	$5.75
Carbonized Wide Plank Bamboo	Rich brown with a smooth or flat surface	$5.55
Carbonized Antiqued Bamboo	Rich brown hand-scraped	$5.74
Studio White	Smooth/flat textured whitewashed/greying colored plank	$5.32
Rustic Kalahari	Khaki brushed	$5.92
Edgemere Wide Plank	Lightly distressed with creamy white and grey swirls	$5.88
Tahoe Hand-scraped Wide	Greige hand-scraped planks with subtle marbling layered ribbons	$5.68
Strand Hewn Oak Fog Wide	Whitewashed/grey with a hewn carved (embossed oak grain) surface texture	$5.10
Ashwood Distressed	Hand-scraped gray plank	$5.89
Mesa Antiqued	Antiqued hand-scraped plank with gray, tans, beige, and brown tones	$5.58
Walcott Hand-scraped	Ashy/earthen tones with hand-scraped texture	$5.43
Ambient Bamboo Floors tiger strand bamboo flooring wide plank	Smooth or flat textured planks with light and dark brown color stripes	$5.49
Toasted Almond Antiqued	Hand-scraped brown	$5.87
Chesapeake Bamboo	Rich medium brown smooth/flat	$5.32
Espresso Wide Bamboo	Dark, rich brown with a smooth or flat texture	$4.89
Coffee Hand-scraped Wide Bamboo	Dark mahogany color with a hand-scraped textured surface	$5.55
Java Wide Bamboo	Coffee/dark brown flat or smooth	$5.54
Mocha Pizzazz Wide	Mocha flat/smooth	$4.07

2. Ambient Strand Engineered bamboo flooring

Ambient Engineered Strand bamboo planks have a stranded bamboo veneer bonded on either a eucalyptus (strand-click) or recycled pulp HDF core (tongue and groove).

You can refinish these bamboo planks twice. They have 24-hour spill protection, a warranty for below-grade installation (basements), come in many lovely colors and surface textures.

Ambient BP has nine Engineered Strand Click and two Engineered Strand Tongue & Groove planks, both of which share the following specs:

• Acclimation: 72 hours (7 days in places that are drier or extra humid)
• Installation level: Below/On/Above
• Installation: Float or glue down
• Refinish: You can refinish these planks up to two times
• LEED contribution: LEED MR6: Rapidly renewal, LEED IEQ 4.4: Low-Emitting Material and Materials, LEED MRc7: Certified Wood (may apply or contribute).
• Additional certification: FSC&reg and EPA TSCA Title VI compliant

Let us look at each of these two engineered planks independently:

a). Ambient Engineered Strand Click bamboo

The engineered strand-click bamboo planks have high-stability multi-layer eucalyptus core, click-lock installation on four sides, and you should install them by only floating or glue down. Don’t nail them.

They come in three sizes with the following dimensions:

• Standard plank: 6 ft (1850 mm) length x 5-⅝ in (142 mm) width 9/16 in (14 mm) thick with a 4mm strand bamboo wear layer
• XtraWide plank:  6 ft (1850 mm) length x 7-½ in (190 mm) width x 9/16 in (14 mm) thick with a 3mm strand bamboo wear layer
• Copenhagen XtraWide Click Bamboo:  2 and 4ft (610 mm and 1220 mm) length x 7-½ in (190 mm) width x 9/16 in (14 mm) thick with a 3mm strand bamboo wear layer.

Name	Characteristics	Price per Sq. Ft
Natural Click 6ft Lengths	Blonde/straw toned with a smooth surface	$6.37
Carbonized Click	Flat or smooth surface and a deep blonde or toasty color	$6.37
Toasted Almond Antiqued XtraWide Click	Toasted tone with a subtle hand-scraping	$6.09
Java Hand-scraped XtraWide Click	Dark-brown or rich chocolatey hues and a hand-scraped surface.	$6.69
Casablanca XtraWide Click	Gray with a smooth/flat surface	$6.36
Rustic Mist XtraWide Click	Natural gray with a brushed surface	$6.58
Copenhagen XtraWide Click Bamboo	Soft sandy creamy and greyish brown hue and a cross-brushed surface	$6.58
Mesa Antiqued XtraWide	Gray with a tile-like hand-scraped surface texture.	$5.93
Ashwood Distressed Click	Streaked light shades of browns and cream with a hand-scraped surface.	$6.70

b). Ambient Engineered Strand Tongue & Groove bamboo.

If you prefer a chevron floor pattern, buy either of these two Ambient engineered strand tongue and groove bamboo planks. They come with a tongue and groove installation profile, and you can float, nail or glue them down.

These planks have a recycled pulp HDF core, 2mm strand bamboo wear layer, and they measure 1.5 ft (450 mm) length x 5-⅝ in. (142 mm) width x ½ in. (12 mm) thick

Name	Characteristics	Price/Sq. Ft
Rye Barrel Chevron	Greige with a brushed surface	$8.21
Skipjack Mast Chevron	Pale brown planks with an antiqued surface	$6.68

3. Ambient Rigid Core Engineered Strand Click Bamboo

There are six Ambient Rigid Core Engineered Strand Click bamboo planks. Their rigid core or SPC (stone polymer/plastic composite) is mainly limestone, making these planks very stable and better at resisting moisture.

You can use them in almost every room, including your bathroom, entryways, basement, kitchen, mudroom, or even places with high traffic, and it has a below-grade use warranty.

Additionally, the planks come with a below-grade warranty and have an Acoustical Vapor Barrier (IXPE pad), meaning you don’t need an underlayment.

There are six Rigid Core Engineered Strand Click, i.e., Annapolis White (wire-brushed), Oyster Shell (beige hand-scraped), and Skipjack Mast (antiqued light/medium brown). Others are the brown antiqued Schooner, Smith Island, and Log Canoe rigid bamboo core flooring planks.

Additional specs

• Dimensions: 3 ft (920 mm) length x 5-⅛″ (130 mm) width 9/32″ (7mm – including a 1mm acoustic pad) thick
• Wear layer: 1mm of stranded bamboo 
• Milling profile: click-lock
• Installation: Floating only. Don’t nail
• Acclimation: 24 hours
• Price: $5.26

Moldings and trims

Ambient has the most comprehensive array of bamboo trim molding designed to match your bamboo flooring. These trim moldings include reducer, stair nose, vent grill, cove molding, threshold, quarter round, stair thread, baseboards, stair riser, and spline.

Depending on what you choose, the trims or moldings may have flat/smooth, hand-scraped, wire-drawn, brushed, and are available in various colors and thicknesses.

Kindly always go for one that will match the bamboo flooring you choose.

Warranties

All Ambient BP bamboo flooring comes with the below warranties.

• Structural warranty: Lifetime residential and 15-year commercial structural warranties against delamination, separation, cupping, or buckling resulting from manufacturing defects
• Finish Warranty: lifetime residential and 5-year commercial against wear through to the underlying or separation from the underlying floor that results from manufacturing defects.

Price/cost

Ambient bamboo floorings price ranges from $4.07-$8.21 per square foot. This price is exclusive of professional installation that averagely costs cost you anything from $2-$

The ambient solid strand tongue and groove price range is $4.07-$6.58/Sq. Ft, rigid core engineered strand click $5.26 per square foot and Engineered strand-click $5.32-$8.21 per square foot.

Compared to brands other top brands, Ambient planks are slightly cheaper than Teragren ($5-$9/sq. ft) and ECOfusion ($6.19-$8.88/Sq. ft), comparable with Cali Bamboo ($3.79-$6.24/Sq. ft).

However, they are expensive than Hawa bamboo ($3.53-$4.29/sq. ft), Eco Forest ($1.99-4.29/sq. ft.) as well as other bamboo brands like LifeProof, LL Flooring (Lumber Liquidators), Home Decorators Collection, AquaGuard, and so on.

However, considering their quality, Janka hardness, certification, lifetime warranty, and other features, they are worth every penny. Price alone shouldn’t be a reason not to buy these great planks.

Finally, if you search, you may get Ambient Bamboo coupons to help you make a saving.

Pros and cons

• High-quality, durable, consistent, and uniform bamboo planks with a very high Janka rating (up to 5300+) and a lifetime residential warranty
• Ambient has a massive inventory of planks, including solid strand, engineered strand, SPC strand bamboo planks available in over 30 lovely colors, and various surface textures. You will find planks for all grade installation, including in your bathroom, kitchen, mudrooms, and so on.
• They offer the best customer service with experts ready to listen and assist you in the best possible way. Also, deliver all orders on time.
• Compatible with radiant heating systems
• Ultra-low VOCs backed with FloorScore indoor air quality. Also, they meet various international air quality standards and most planks quality for LEED credits.
• You can refinish these bamboo planks, except for the SPC

Cons

• Expensive
• While they don’t dent easily, these planks scratch easily, and others splinter.
• Some deliveries come with already warped planks.
• The are several ambient bamboo flooring complaints on cupping complaints and splintering.  

Installation

Installation ways, subfloors, and the climatic requirement of any wood or bamboo flooring planks are vital as they will help you decide if they are right for you. Therefore, we will tell you more about ambient bamboo flooring installation without going into the details.

Also, ensure proper subfloor type and condition (including crawlspace), expansion gaps, and use the various molding accordingly with T-transitioning used at the recommended successive width or length runs.

Let us look at each briefly:  

a). Solid Tongue and groove bamboo flooring – Nail/glue

Ambient Solid bamboo floors require an ideal temperature range of 60-80°F with a relative humidity of 40%-60% during acclimation, installation, and for the rest of their lifespan.

Acclimate your solid bamboo planks for three days (72 hours) or at least seven days if installing in areas with extreme temperatures or very humid.

Acceptable subfloors depend on if you are going for a nail-down or glue-down installation. For nail down, acceptable subfloors are Advantech OSB, PLYWOOD ⅝” min (floor joist 16” OC), ¾ thick existing wood floors, and firm linoleum or kitchen linoleum if over plywood.

On the other hand, for glue down, concrete, gypcrete, existing wood floors (sand first), steel, ceramic/marble (scuff first), PLYWOOD ⅝” min (floor joist 16” OC), Advantech OSB, and OSB ¾” min (floor joist 16” OC).

When installing on sub-floors that may emit vapor, ensure you have a 6-mil polyethylene sheet or approved 3-in-1 underlayment.

For gluing down, ensure your adhesive has a vapor barrier and when nailing, have the right nailer and cleats, i.e., 18-gauge pneumatic nailer, especially a Primatech Q550 ALR and an 18-gauge cleats (1-¼″ - 1-½″)

Finally, note that the radiant heat warranty works only for glue-down with a heat-safe, vapor lock adhesive with a spread of at least 2mm.

b). Ambient Rigid Core Strand Bamboo

You can install Ambient™ Rigid Core Bamboo Flooring on all grades (below/on/above), and installation is by floating only.

Ideal conditions during acclimation, installation and lifespan of the floor are 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit, with the humidity at 40% to 70%.

These planks require 24-hour acclimation. However, for extremely humid or dry areas, acclimate them for at least three days or 72 hours.

You can install the flooring on a structurally sound, clean, dry, and flat surface but ensure your concrete floor is fully cured and use a 6 mil poly film over it.

c). Engineered Strand Click Lock – Float or glue down

Ideal conditions are relative humidity of 40% to 60% and a temperature of 60-80°F during acclimation, as you install your flooring during their lifespan.

Acclimation requires at least 72 hours (three days) and at least a week if installing in places with extreme humidity or temperatures.

Float installation requires a stable subfloor that is clean, level, and dry. Use valid 3 in 1 vapor underlayment or mil polyethylene sheet on concrete or any subfloor or crawl spaces that emits moisture. If gluing down, go for an adhesive with a vapor barrier.

Finally, the 9/16-inch multi-ply engineered bamboo floors radiant heat warranty applies if you use them together with at least 2mm, IXPE closed cell 3 in 1 underlayment.

d). Engineered Strand Bamboo Tongue and Groove

The installation requirements closely match those of solid strand bamboo. However, you can install them below/on/above grade.

Care and maintenance

Proper care and maintenance will prolong your bamboo’s flooring planks, reducing scratches, damages and preventing warping, cupping, buckling, and so on. This care and maintenance include cleaning, maintaining the right conditions, and preventive care.

We strongly recommend you keep some bamboo planks for replacement or test-cleaning to ensure the cleaning product doesn’t damage your floor.

a). Maintain correct conditions

Invest in an HVAC or a humidifier/dehumidifier + an air conditioner to maint relative humidity at 35%-55% or as recommended, depending on the specific planks you purchase.

Also, ensure the temperature is between 60-80°F and don’t drastically change any of these two conditions.

How to clean Ambient bamboo flooring

Vacuum clean or sweep (with a microfiber dry-mop) your floors at least once a week or more times in places with high traffic to get rid of dirt or grit that may cause abrasion. Use a vacuum cleaner without a beater head or abrasive rotary brush.

For routine cleaning, use any products intended for hardwood floors like a Bona Hardwood Cleaning System. However, if you buy a new cleaner, test on any leftover or extra planks to see how your floors will look after cleaning them.

To remove grit marks or minor stains, rub the surface with a damp cloth and a dry one. However, if you have tough stains like paint, gum, and adhesive residue, try heavy-duty products but first test on leftover pieces.

Also, you can use any approved soap-based concentrate designed for prefinished wood floors or hardwood floor cleaner concentrates.

To clean the floor:

• Sweep with a broom, microfiber mop, or vacuum the floors to eliminate any grit or dirt.
• Wet your mop inside your concentrate and thoroughly wring it until it is only slightly damp.
• Use the damp mop to wipe the floor.

Never use paint thinners, turpentine, mineral spirits, or any other aggressive cleaning product. Also, don’t steam-mop (voids warranty), wet-mop, or leave a lot of moisture on the surface

b). Protective and preventive care

Some of the recommended protective care routines include the following:  

• Have furniture pads on your heavy furniture, such as chairs, couches, or tables. Never slide any appliances or furniture on your floors when moving them.
• immediately dry any spill or as soon as you notice them
• Place a mat on rolling chairs and ensure all your rugs have felt or rubber pads. Your natural rubber should have a breathable design. PVC pad is ok so long as its design makes it breathable.
• Have interior and exterior mats (collect grit, dirt, water, etc.),
• Never cover floors for prolonged times with construction papers (may cause discoloration as they absorb light unevenly) or plastic papers (cause humidity build-up that may cause cupping and moisture build-up related issues).
• Have UV protection film on windows, blinds, or curtains to prevent fading that results from exposure to the sun for a long time.
• Periodically rearrange area rugs and furniture to promote even wearing as well as fading from UV light exposure.

How to fix scratches – repair, replace or refinish

To remove minor scratches, buff the area with a soft rag dampened with an approved hardwood floor. Try rubbing a soft rag with almond oil or mineral oil for scratches that look a little deep or don’t come out.

However, if your floor has deep grooves, dents, or gashes, try Timbermate or Picobello floor repair kits (buy those matching your floor color). If you don’t achieve much success, get the help of a professional who may:

• Repair the gouge or gash with a floor putty and apply a protective finish on the small area.
• Refinish your bamboo floor by sanding it down until the scratches, dents, or grooves disappear and apply a protective coat. Sanding will remove prefinished surface texture (distressed, hand-scraped) and any stain and what you will have is a smooth, natural grain appearance.  Afterward, you have to decide on which finish you want (polyurethane or oil).
• Replace affected planks if they are in terrible condition. The process may be very challenging and tedious, but the only solution at times.

When fixing scratches, dents, or gouges, we strongly recommend you enlist the help of a professional if you are not an experienced DIYer.

How to remove cured adhesive

It is challenging to remove a fully cured adhesive. The process will dull the floor finish. We cannot guarantee that all will be a breeze.

However, you can try with the help of using a Bostik Urethane Adhesive Remover (apply a small amount on the spot with cured adhesive) or squeeze a small amount from Bostik Ultimate Remover Towel.

Let it sit on the adhesive for 15 minutes, wipe the area, apply more, remove it, and clean it off after a minute.  

Alternatively, you can try using Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser® and follow the instructions.

If your floor looks dull, refinish or remove the affected planks.  

Finally, should the adhesive remover leave an oily residue on your bamboo floor, wipe the area using a warm wet rag, soak as much oil as possible with a dry rag, and clean with an approved wood floor cleaner.