Discover more on Yanchi Bamboo flooring, i.e., Yanchi Varuna Waterproof Engineered Bamboo Collection. As we review this brand, we will look at the pros, cons, installation, prices, cleaning, maintenance, etc.
Also, we will do a brief Yanchi bamboo vs. Cali bamboo to see how well they compare. Also, we will look at Yanchi bamboo flooring are formaldehyde-safe.
However, note that the Yanchi bamboo strand woven click collection (glueless) and T&G were discontinued.
Contents
- Overview
- Yanchi bamboo products
- 1). Yanchi Varuna Waterproof Engineered Bamboo Collection
- 2). Moldings
- 3). Yanchi bamboo strand woven click collection glueless installation
- 4), Yanchi Bamboo Strand Woven Collection T&G
- Pros and cons
- Yanchi Bamboo vs. Cali
- Yanchi bamboo flooring formaldehyde
- Price/cost
- Installation
- Cleaning, care, and maintenance
Overview
Yanchi bamboo floorings are superior quality bamboo flooring made by Yanchi, a renowned Chinese company.
These floorings are available at BuildDirect, a platform that links global quality building material sellers and suppliers with homeowners, property developers, DIYers, and home improvement professionals.
Whether you want flooring (wood, tile, vinyl, carpet), decking, outdoor, kitchen, bathroom building materials, or related accessories, BuildDirect has them all.
Yanchi bamboo products
Yanchi has prefinished strand-woven bamboo flooring planks made using the Mao Zhu, the hairy bamboo species which is fast regenerating and not part of what the Panda eats.
Let us look at what bamboo products Yanchi has.
1). Yanchi Varuna Waterproof Engineered Bamboo Collection
Yanchi Varuna Waterproof Engineered Bamboo Collection has ten beautiful planks with natural-looking strand bamboo, not the repeat patterns noted in laminate or vinyl flooring.
These planks come with a click-lock installation, are easy to install (float them), and the rigid core made of a high-density plastic composite will prevent telegraphing, and minimize vertical deflection, i.e., they are dimensionally stable.
Also, they are 100% waterproof (according to the manufacturer), pet-friendly, you can damp-mop them, and are twice as hard as oak. You can install them in places that may experience higher humidity or a higher risk of spills.
Specs and details
- Dimension: 0.28″ (7/25″) Thick 5-⅛ ″ wide by 36.22 inches long
- Wear layer: 1.5mm strand-woven bamboo veneer
- Finish: Urethane
- Gloss level: Low gloss
- Carbonization: Only the carbonized plank
- Surface texture: Distressed except for Riviera and Carbonized planks
- Edge style: Micro-beveled
- Installation: Float
- Milling: Click-lock
- Installation level: All grade levels installation, i.e., below/on/above grade
- Certifications: GreenGuard Gold indoor air quality certification, CARB 2 certified, and EPA (TSCA Title VI) compliant.
- Warranties: A limited lifetime residential warranty and a 10-year commercial warranty. Also, there is a 25-years warranty on the finish (residential use)
Additional specifications (color and characteristic include the following:
| Name | Color | Shade |
| Cliffside | Gray | Medium/neutral |
| Chateau | Brown | Dark |
| Riviera | Brown | Light |
| Cerise Moderne | Red | Neutral/medium |
| Cannes | Gray | Light |
| Marseille | Gray | Medium/neutral |
| Café Au Lait | Gray | Neutral/medium |
| Patchwork | Brown | Medium/neutral |
| Alezan | Brown | Dark |
| Carbonized | Brown | Medium/neutral |
2). Moldings
Besides the planks, you need to buy the various moldings that match the specific plank color you select. These moldings include an overlap reducer, T-mold, stair nose, overlap stair nose, and a reducer.
3). Yanchi bamboo strand woven click collection glueless installation
While still in the market, Yanchi bamboo strand woven click collection floorings are no longer available at BuildDirect - discontinued. These were solid, stranded planks with a click-lock, glueless installation, on or above grade only.
These planks came with a 25-year residential finish (UV-cured 9-layer aluminum oxide), a 25-year residential, and a 5-year commercial warranty.
Yanchi bamboo strand woven click collection came in various lovely colors, including stained ones, edge style, and surface textures – distressed, hand-scraped, and so on.
4), Yanchi Bamboo Strand Woven Collection T&G
Besides the Yanchi bamboo strand woven click collection, this manufacturer also had a solid, strand-woven tongue and groove planks such as Barn intended for on/above grade installation and several stained planks.
These planks had Janka hardness of 2820, a Treffert aluminum oxide finish with a 25-year residential finish warranty, and a nail-down installation. However, they too don’t seem readily available except among very few vendors, who we cannot ascertain their authenticity.
Pros and cons
Why should you buy these planks? Here are the pros.
a). Versatile and beautiful planks
Yanchi bamboo floorings are charming and very versatile planks that are pet-friendly. Also, they are installable on all levels and have natural real bamboo-looking grains.
We bet you will love their many colors and the fact that you can install them in almost any room in your home or office.
Also, they have an anti-slide vinyl backing that will reduce noise or sound transmission, and you can damp-mop them.
b). HDPC Rigid core
The patent-pending HDPC core ensures that the planks perform well in higher temperatures when compared to ordinary hardwood floorings.
Also, the core makes the planks dimensionally stable, and the planks are unlikely to cup or telegraph. Be sure that the HDPC will hide any subfloor imperfection.
c). Durable and affordable
These planks are worth every penny you spend on them. They are durable (backed with a lifetime/10-year residential and commercial warranties) and twice as hard as oak.
e). Ultra-low VOCs
These planks have a GreenGuard Gold indoor air quality certification. Also, they are and EPA (TSCA Title VI) compliant and CARB 2 certified.
f). Easy to install
Yanchi Varuna Waterproof Engineered Bamboo flooring planks are easy to install, i.e., click-lock float installation. DIYers love them. Also, you can install them on tile, wood, tile, vinyl, or concrete.
On the downside, some of the issues we have with these flooring include the following:
g). Warrantied finish
These planks have a HardMax finish warranty. The HardMax wear layer will seal any topical household stains or moisture.
a). Unlikely 100% waterproof
While the manufacturer says that Yanchi Varuna Waterproof Engineered Bamboo Collection is 100% waterproof since they have a closed-cell construction that will prevent moisture absorption and air pocket, we don’t think so. We believe this information may be misleading.
None of any organic flooring is 100% waterproof. What may be waterproof is the rigid core, and it may also resist water better, a reason why you can install these planks in places with increased humidity or higher risks of spillages.
b). Scratches
While Yanchi, like most other bamboo flooring manufacturers, promises that their planks are scratch-resistant. However, contrary to this assertion, scratches are the most mentioned complaint.
c). You cant refinish them
Unlike other planks, you cannot refinish these bamboo planks. Therefore, should they get serious scratches or dents, you have to replace them.
Yanchi Bamboo vs. Cali
Cali Bamboo flooring is easily one of the best bamboo flooring brands. How does it compare to Yanchi? This Yanchi bamboo vs. Cali Bamboo will look at aspects such as prices, features, and so on.
We will only compare their SPC products. Their SPC bamboo planks are pet-friendly, ideal for all-grade level installation, compatible with radiant heat systems, and have a rigid core making them dimensionally stable.
a). Variety
Both these two companies have strand-woven bamboo flooring planks available in several colors. However, Cali offers more variety with Fossilized® strand-woven solid, engineered, and SPC.
On the other hand, Yanchi has only Varuna Waterproof Engineered Bamboo Collection, a rigid core or SPC product. The Yanchi bamboo strand woven click collection and T&G are no longer available.
b). Pricing
Yanchi has the edge over Cali when it comes to price if you consider similar planks, i.e., $4.99 (Cali) vs. $3.99 (Yanchi) per square foot.
c). Quality and versatility
Both these two brands have excellent quality, versatile and durable planks with a Janka hardness of 5 and a lifetime residential warranty.
However, Cali’s SPC comes with a slightly longer light commercial warranty of 15 years while Yanchi offers the 5-year.
On the other hand, Yanchi beats Cali as these planks have an anti-slide vinyl backing, you can damp-mop them, and they can work in slightly higher temperatures.
d). Formaldehyde and VOCs
Cali Bamboo has the coveted FloorScore indoor air quality, while Yanchi has GreenGuard Gold. Both are therefore suitable for indoor use. Also, both are CARB 2 certified and EPA (TSCA Title VI) compliant for formaldehyde.
In addition to the above, Cali is Prop 65 Compliant, giving it a slight edge over Yanchi.
Yanchi bamboo flooring formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a risk factor for some types of cancers. Therefore, it is everyone’s concern on the level that any flooring emits.
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about Yanchi bamboo flooring formaldehyde since they have a GreenGuard Gold indoor air quality certification. Also, are CARB 2 certified, and are EPA (TSCA Title VI) compliant for formaldehyde?
Price/cost
Yanchi bamboo planks go for $3.99 per square foot. The price doesn’t include the $2-$5 per square foot require for professional installation.
Here is how these SPC bamboo planks compare with similar products
| Brand | Price per Sq. Ft |
| Ambient Rigid Core Engineered Strand Click | $5.26 |
| Cali GeoWood | $4.99 (Lowes) |
| SmartCore Naturals | 3.79/sq. ft. (Lowe’s) |
| AquaSeal 72 bamboo flooring by LL Flooring | $2.99-3.99 |
| Home Depot’s LifeProof | 2.99-$3.79/ |
| Floor & Décor’s AquaGuard | $2.99- $3.49 |
| Home Legend Strand-woven click water-resistant (SPC) | $2.49 |
Considering it is an excellent quality brand, Yanchi bamboo flooring planks are competitively priced. They are cheaper than Cali and Ambient, comparable with several planks, and expensive than a few.
Installation
We will be looking at Yanchi Varuna Waterproof Engineered Bamboo installation only. The other two planks are no longer available.
Installation is only by floating (click lock), and you can install them on all levels (below, on, and above grade). Ensure you have a suitable subfloor, keep the correct expansion gaps, and use moldings as required.
When buying your planks, always include a 5% waste factor and have a few extra planks in case of replacement or damage.
During acclimation or installation, and throughout your bamboo floor lifespan, maintain ideal conditions of 65-80ºF (18°C -26.7°C) with a relative humidity of 40-55%. Maintain these conditions three days before you begin acclimation.
Allow your Yanchi Varuna Waterproof Engineered Bamboo planks to 48 hours before installation. Make this duration longer if in extreme temperature or humidity.
Acceptable subfloors are any hard surface structurally sound, i.e., wood, tile, vinyl, or laminate. However, remove carpet and any textile flooring.
The surface should be even, have the correct moisture levels, and ensure you use the proper underlayment on subfloors that are not moisture-sealed. Let the concrete cure for up to 60 days.
Finally, if you intend to use a radiant heating system, consult your manufacturer to recommend a compatible one. The temperature shouldn’t exceed 85° F, and a change should be gradual.
Cleaning, care, and maintenance
Care, maintenance, and cleaning Yanchi bamboo flooring is more or less similar to how you clean and maintain any other bamboo flooring.
a). Cleaning
Regularly vacuum or sweep the floor to remove any grit as it acts like sandpaper and will contribute to scratches and scuff marks. Ensure your vacuum doesn’t have a beater bar.
We recommend you use bamboo and hardwood cleaners intended for aluminum oxide and urethane finishes during routine cleaning. Bona is one such excellent brand.
As you clean, don’t excessively wet the floor, especially if you decide to damp-mop it. Sightly dampen the cleaning cloth or micro-fiber mop and use it to wipe the floor. Don’t use a wet mop.
Finally, avoid harsh and abrasive cleaning products. Also, don’t use industrial-strength cleaners, soap, oil, wax, or any other product not meant for bamboo or hardwood floors.
b). Preventive care and maintenance
- Maintain the recommended humidity and temperature (normal living conditions) and avoid abrupt or drastic swings even if you are within limits. To do so, invest in an HVAC or an air conditioner together with a humidifier/dehumidifier.
- Wipe or dry any spills immediately using a slightly damp soft cloth or a microfiber mop and clean the area with your bamboo or hardwood floor cleaner.
- Remove pointy high-heels or shoes with cleats
- Use protective furniture felt on your furniture legs and clean these pads regularly as they may accumulate grit,
- Never slide or drag any heavy appliances and use protective sheeting, rag, or plywood when moving heavy items to protect your floors.
- Trim your pet’s nails
- Occasionally vanish your floors to help maintain the attractive lustrous appeal. How soon you do it depends on traffic.
- Use a putty pen to fill any minor scratches that may occur on the finish
- Buy blinds or drapes and periodically re-arrange your rooms to ensure even wear and effect of UV light.
