Teragren Bamboo Flooring Review – Pros, Cons & Costs

Teragren began operations in 1994 with a commitment to providing low VOC, durable, beautiful superior quality bamboo flooring, panel, countertop, and veneers to help reduce the dependency on declining timber resources. Later in 2017, Hallmark Floors acquired Teragren.

Teragren manufactures its various bamboo products using Optimum 5.5 Moso bamboo, sustainably grown in China’s Zhejiang province.

As you know, Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) is one of the hardest, with very dense fibers among the 1500 different bamboo species.

Teragren bamboo flooring products

Teragren has XCORA and PureForm bamboo flooring. XCORA has three collections, Essence, Neotera, and synergy, while PureForm Traditional Floors has Wright and Solid Naturals collections.

All Teragren bamboo flooring products:

• Certified USDA BioPreferred – 99% biobased content
• Have a lifetime structural and 25 years finish residential warranties and a ten year structural and five years finish commercial warranties.
• Come with a tongue and groove profile.

Below are details on Terragen bamboo flooring:

1. PureForm bamboo flooring - PureForm Traditional Floors

Pureform has two solid bamboo flooring collections, the Wright and Solid Naturals Collection. Both these two collections are popular and have planks that are 40% harder than red oak.

a). PureForm Wright Collection

PureForm Wright Collection has traditional solid bamboo with ultra-wide and extra-long planks in three fabulous colorways, i.e., PureForm Hughes, Crossfield, and Lindbergh.

These vertical bamboo flooring planks, made with FSC-certified material, are ideal for modern and traditional settings. Their lovely richer and darker colors and vertical grains will perfectly complement each other, while the light wire-brushed surface will create a sense of deepness and warmth. 

Finally, The extra-long PureForm Wright will create a sense of space since they will draw your eye towards the horizon or their length. 

Specs

• Construction: Solid vertical
• Surface texture: Light-medium wire brushing
• Edge style: 4-side hand-crafted micro bevel
• Finish: TrueMark® Glaze Tek
• Dimensions: 75.59″ x 7.48″ x .59″ (1920mm x 190mm x 15mm) Length x Width x Thickeness
• Indoor air quality certification: FloorScore
• Profile: Tongue & Groove
• Installation level: on or above grade
• Installation: Glue down with Premium Bamboo Flooring Adhesive or nail with an 18 or 20 gauge cleat with a 1.5-inch leg.
• Coverage: 23.56 square feet per box

b). PureForm Solid Naturals Collection

Solid Naturals Collection has one original traditional narrow plank design, i.e., the Pureform Flat Grain Caramelized (FGC) Narrow.

You will love the classic bamboo look with visible knuckles horizontal carbonized bamboo flooring, and it is perfect if you need a linear appeal.

Specs

• Construction: Solid Pureform Traditional Bamboo (horizontal planks)
• Surface texture: smooth
• Edge style: 4 side micro bevel
• Finish: UV Cured Polyurethane with aluminum oxide
• Dimensions: 37.80″ x 3.78″ x 0.59″ Length x Width x Thickness
• Indoor air quality certification: GREENGuard GOLD
• Profile: Tongue & Groove
• Installation level: on or above grade
• Installation: Glue or nail
• Coverage: 23.80square feet per box

Note: Craftsman II, Studio and Signature Naturals

While some are still available in the market, Signature Naturals (narrow), Teragren Craftsman II (ultra-wide), and Teragren studio bamboo flooring ultra-wide planks are no longer on Teragren’s flooring list.

2. XCORA bamboo flooring

XCORA is easily the hardest hardwood flooring (although bamboo isn’t a hardwood) that is 160% harder than red oak (Janka hardness of 1290). These planks are perfect for people looking for hardness, stability, and durability and will perform well in commercial and residential areas, including high-traffic places.

XCORA has three collections, Essence, Synergy, and Neotera. Essence and Neotera have engineered strand-woven bamboo flooring planks, while the Synergy collection has solid strand-woven planks.

a). Essence Collection - engineered strand,  ultra-wide plank

Teragren EXCORA Essence collection has six ultra-wide plank engineered strand bamboo flooring planks available in charming colors, i.e., Meadows, Open range, Praire, Savana, Wheat, Chestnut, Tundra, and Grasslands.

The textured surface (hand-scraped, wire-brushed, and natural saw marks) creates depth, which together with the lovely will match most home décor.

 Specs

• Construction: Strand-woven engineered
• Surface texture: Hand-scraping, wire brushing, natural saw marks
• Edge style: 2-side hand-crafted micro bevel
• Finish: TrueMark® Glaze Tek
• Dimensions: 72.83″ x 7.48″ x .55″ (1850mm x 190mm x 14mm)  Length x Width x Thickness
• Wear layer: 3mm
• Indoor air quality certification: FloorScore
• Profile: Tongue & Groove
• Installation level: below/on/above grade
• Installation: Glue, nail, or nail down glue assist
• Coverage: 22.70 square feet per box

b). XCORA Synergy Collection- Solid strand narrow planks

Teragren synergy bamboo flooring collection has XCORA Chestnut, XCORA JAVA, and XCORA Wheat solid strand-woven narrow planks (initially in the PORTFOLIO NATURALS COLLECTION). These planks have classic traditional colors which will look great in any space, be it your office, living room, bedroom, kitchen, and so on.

Specs

• Construction: Solid Strand Bamboo
• Surface texture: Smooth
• Edge style: 4 side micro bevel
• Finish: UV Cured Polyurethane with aluminum oxide
• Dimensions: 72.83″ x 3.78″ x .47″ (1840mm x 138mm x 12mm) Length x Width x Thickness
• Indoor air quality certification: GREENGuard GOLD
• Profile: Tongue & Groove
• Installation level: On/above grade
• Installation: Glue or glue
• Coverage: 22.70 square feet per box

c). Neotera Collection - XCORA Engineered Strand Wide Plank

Neotera collection has strand-woven engineered wide planks modern hues, i.e., XCORA Rothko, XCORA Pollock, XCORA Kruger, XCORA Warhol, and XCORA Sherman. Their texture with natural open grain makes them so alluring.

Specs

• Construction: Strand-woven engineered bamboo
• Surface texture: Smooth with natural graining
• Edge style: 2 sides hand-crafted micro bevel
• Finish: TrueMark® Glaze Tek
• Core: biobased wood core
• Wear thickness: 3mm
• Dimensions: 72.83″ x 3.78″ x .47″ (1840mm x 138mm x 12mm) Length x Width x Thickness
• Indoor air quality certification: GREENGuard GOLD
• Profile: Tongue & Groove
• Installation level: Below/On/above grade
• Installation: Glue, glue, or nail down glue assist
• Coverage: 20.71 square feet per box

Note: Portfolio Naturals, Synergy MPL, and Synergy Wide

Teragren Portfolio Naturals (wide), Synergy MPL (Java, Chestnut, and Chestnut narrow plank), and Synergy® Wide (ultra-wide) planks are no longer on Teragren’s bamboo flooring collections. However, we noticed some vendors still have them.

Pros

Some of the pros or what you will like about Teragren bamboo flooring products include the following:

a). Durable, stable, and hard

Timely harvesting (5-½ to 6 years) of Optimum 5.5 Moso Bamboo and superior manufacturing process ensures that Teragren bamboo flooring planks are very hard, durable and stable.

Their strand-woven planks are 160% harder than red oak. Red oak has a Janka hardness of 1290, and 160% harder means that its Janka hardness is about 3354.

Teragren has an ISO 9001:2000 and 14001 that has 11 quality control stations. Also, a quality engineer performs spot checks.

b). Superior TrueMark® Glaze Tek

The TrueMark® Glaze Tek Poly finish with 12 coats of finish, four hand-applied base & accent colors, and eight coats of ultra-clear finish will ensure superior performance.

The finish helps create superior color depth and durability backed by a warranty against finish both for residential and commercial usage.

They will resist scuffing and scratches and will last for a long time if you follow the proper care, maintenance, and cleaning routine.

b). Low VOC emissions

Teragren planks emit very low VOC. Most have FloorScore indoor air quality, with some having GreenGuard Gold certification.

Also, they have been tested and certified to have met the world’s most stringent California 01350 standard for indoor air quality, CARB Phase II and TSCA Title VI compliant.

Did you know that their SCS Gold standard for indoor air quality means that you will earn LEED credits?

Finally, Teragren uses an independent US-based ISO/IEC17025 accredited laboratory that analyzes building products’ organic emissions and tests their planks to ensure low VOCs.

c). LEED v3 credits

All Teragren bamboo floorings qualify for USGBCs LEED Green Building Rating System), i.e., LEED v3 credit (a point on MR6 -rapidly renewable material and another one IEQ4.3 Low Emitting Materials: Flooring Systems.

d). Adorable colors and finishes

You will find planks with contemporary and traditional appeal available in adorable light, darker, and richer colors, especially the XCORA Essence, XCORA Neotera, and PureForm Wright collections. 

e). Warranty

Should you follow guidelines for installing, maintaining, cleaning, and caring for your floor, you are guaranteed of lifetime structural warranty and a 25-year residential warranty on finish. The commercial warranties are 10 and 5 years.

Cons

Before buying any of the Teragren floorings, here are the cons or what we didn’t like.

a). Expensive

While Teragren has high-quality bamboo flooring, their planks are among the most expensive, their closest rival being Cali Bamboo, followed by Ambient BP. It is not easy to justify the high cost since other brands are equally good and match Teragren in various aspects.

b). Not approved for floating

Teragren flooring planks aren’t approved for float installation, and none of the planks come with a click-lock installation profile.

Floated planks are easier and quicker to install, some work with subfloor radiant heating systems, and have more flexible subfloor requirements.

c). Not compliant with radiant floor heat systems

You cannot install these planks where you have any radiant floor heating systems, be it electric or water-based systems.

d). Limited choice of cleaners

Unlike other planks where you can choose any good hardwood floor cleaners, Teragren doesn’t allow any other cleaner except TrueClean Wood, Bamboo & LVT Cleaner.

e). The horizontal and vertical dents and scratches easily

While claimed to be 40% harder than red oak, Teragren horizontal (carbonized) and vertical bamboo get marks and scratches easily.

f). You cannot refinish Teragren planks

Unlike other brands with planks you can refinish (sand, stain, and seal again), Teragren doesn’t allow sanding. Therefore, you cannot refinish their bamboo floors. They only allow sandless finishing Bona Prep or Basic Coating TyKote systems.

Teragren bamboo flooring prices or costs

Teragren bamboo flooring prices range from $5-$9 per square foot depending on where you buy them and the exact collection or planks you are buying. This price is exclusive of professional installation services, ranging between $2-$5 per square foot.

Essence collection is the most expensive, with costs being between $8.27-$8.53/Sq. Ft in most online stores. However, expect a slight price variation.

Installation

All Teragren bamboo flooring planks come with a T&G profile intended for glue or nail installation only. Don’t float them or use staple Systems.

Also, don’t install these planks over radiant heat (electric or water-based) systems. They are not approved for use with radiant subfloor systems.

During acclimation, installation, and throughout your Teragren bamboo floor lifespan, keep the temperature between 60°F and 80°F and relative humidity at 35% and 55%.  

Finally, use approved adhesives, underlayments, vapor barrier/vapor retarder, and nailers. Use 18 to 20 gauge cleat systems with a 1.5-inch leg. Don’t use 15 Gauge Cleat Systems

a). Solid bamboo

You should install all Teragren solid bamboo planks (Portfolio Naturals, Synergy MPL, Signature Naturals, Craftsman II  or Wright Bamboo) by glue or nail down.

However, before installation, let them acclimate. The horizontal or vertical bamboo planks need 3-7 days. However, solid strand-woven planks will take longer, up to one month.

How long it takes for acclimation depends on the indoor environment (temperature and humidity), with extreme conditions requiring a longer time. Invest in an HVAC, humidifier, or dehumidifier to keep desired conditions.

On subfloors, you can install your solid bamboo plans on wood, concrete, or existing floor coverings (unbroken terrazzo, porcelain, ceramic tiles in sound condition). Don’t install on full spread vinyl, VCT, rubber tiles, and Concrete Perimeter-glued resilient-vinyl.

During installation, stair nose, clamshell reducer, T-molding, baby threshold, floating floor reducer, and stair nosing-floating floor accessories will be handy. 

b). Engineered bamboo

Teragren engineered bamboo flooring (Neotera and Essence) is ideal for installation on all levels (below, on, or above grade). You can nail or glue them down or use nail down glue to assist in installation.

Before installation, give them at least 48 hours of acclimation. Acclimation will prevent excessive expansion, buckling, shrinking or splitting.

On subfloors, they will work well with wood, solid board, or concrete. You can also install them on dry terrazzo, full-spread glued-down vinyl, or existing tile floors. However, don’t install them on VCT, rubber tiles, or Concrete Perimeter-glued resilient-vinyl.

Finally, the relevant coordinating accessories for engineered planks are stair nose, clamshell reducer, t-molding, and baby nose.

c). Adhesives 

Adhesives tested for Teragren include

• Franklin Flooring Products Titebond 811, 821, 741, 531, and 571
• Mapei ULtrabond Eco 985, 995, 980,
• DriTac 770, 7500, 7000 and Golden Bullet

d). Underlay

Except for rubber (SBR) or cork underlayment, you should use no more than 3mm (⅛″) thick underlayment as too large may stress the T&G joint. This stress will result in damages or separation of the joints.

Warranty

All Teragran bamboo floorings (solid and engineered) come with a limited lifetime structural and a limited residential 25-year finish warranty (guaranteed not to wear). They also have limited commercial structural and finish warranties of 5 and 10 years, respectively.

These warranties are for the original owner and are not transferable. Also, you need to ensure you follow the care, installation, and proper environmental guidelines given by Teragren. Negligence, UV light-caused discoloration, squeaking, and color variation will invalidate your warranty.

Finally, when receiving your Teragren flooring planks, check for consistency in color, finish, and quality to see if they are within the allowable range. Return any that has defects.

Teragren bamboo flooring cleaning

For longevity and validity of your warranty, you must exclusively use TrueClean Wood, Bamboo & Vinyl Floor Cleaner, the only recommended Teragren bamboo flooring cleaning product.

Avoid oil soaps, paste wax, products with lemon oil, tung oils, ammonia, citrus oils, or silicone, or two in one cleaner with urethane polish or acrylics intended to restore glossiness.

To keep floors clean and dust-free, sweep them with a broom or use a dust mop. Alternatively, you can vacuum using a canister vacuum with a hardwood floor brush attachment. Don’t use a vacuum cleaner with a beater.

During a regular cleaning, shake your TrueClean Wood, Bamboo & LVT Cleaner for about 30 seconds, spray some on your Microfiber Mop Floor head, and mist the floor with this cleaner.

Afterward, wipe it in natural grains or plank direction and replace the pad once it appears dirty. You will wash it later. However, don’t use any treated dust-mop or swifter as some have petroleum-based solvents that may heave chemical residues.

Also, never wet mop, including string mops or sponge mops, or use steam cleaners as they will damage your floor. 

In case of puddles or spillages, dry them with damp or moistened and wrung cloth or sponge, and afterward, clean the area using Trueclean® Wood, Bamboo & LVT cleaner. Spray it on a moist, clean towel and wipe the area that had spills.

Care and maintenance

Besides cleaning your floors correctly, proper care and maintenance will help reduce scratches, dents, or damages. Some of the recommended care routines include:

• Dry spills immediately
• Keep your pet’s nails short and clean (free of grease, oil, gravel, and dirt), and clean any feces, vomit, or pet urine immediately.
• Protect furniture with cloth furniture glides or furniture pads. Don’t use metal, rubber, or plastic glides, and replace metal or hard rubber wheels with double-barrel coaster wheels.
• Avoid using high heels or shoes with spikes
• Place rugs on high traffic areas with inside and outside doormats (reduce grit and dirt) and mats on kitchen skin or stove.
• Avoid rug backers or pads with solid vinyl / flexible backs as they are not breathable, stain the surface, and make it slippery. Also, avoid jute and drawback rugs may cause scratches while those with PVC may damage the floor finish.
• Use Glide N Guard protectors on your fridges and protect the floor when moving heavy furniture or appliances. Consider buying moving rollers, Scuff Shield, and using protective plywood.
• Rearrange your room furniture once or twice for even wear. It will change areas exposed to the sun and shift areas with traffic for balanced wear.
• Have rags and use blinds if the sun penetrates your how as it can cause photochemical reactions that may discolor your bamboo floors.

Refinishing

You may refinish your dull floors using a sandless recoat system like Bona Prep or Basic Coating TyKote.

Dents and scratch repair/fixing

Scratches may leave unsightly white marks. TO get rid of them, use Zenith Almond Stick or put some mineral oil on a rag and wipe the area.

For deep dents, nicks, divots, open corner joints, or gouge, clean the area and use RPM/Mohawk Fil Stiks wax crayons to fill the void and choose one that matches your bamboo color. Also, you can use PVA/Sawdust Mix but sand it a little once it dries.  

Where to buy Teragren bamboo flooring - Teragren dealers/distributors

If you are looking for Teragren bamboo distributors or dealers, they are available across the US. All you need to do is use Teragren Locator. Enter your location, and you will find hardware, home improvement, or floor stores nearest to where you stay. 

If you can’t locate any near your place, call them via +1-800-929-6333 for further assistance, especially outside the US, such as Canada.

Alternatively, you can buy Teragren bamboo flooring online at Greenbuildingsupply.com, Greengoodsusa.com, or any other online store that stocks these planks.

Verdict

Teragren bamboo flooring planks are one of the best bamboo flooring planks on the market. They come in gorgeous colors, are durable, and emit low VOCs, among many other benefits. However, they are expensive.

We highly recommend them so long as you are willing to keep the right conditions (humidity and temperature), use correct cleaning techniques and cleaners, and care for and maintain them well.