Bamboo and Exotic Wood Floors - bamboo flooring - water damage?

Hello.

We bought an apartment with bamboo floors already installed so I don't have a lot of detail on how it was put down or where the bamboo came from. The bamboo pieces may be pre-sealed, as there is somewhat of a gloss to the surface. I have two questions.

1.) It's obvious that there was no top coat or sealant applied after installation as the seams are exposed. What can I use to seal the entire floor as sometimes the seams get dirty and the only way to clean it is to really get in there with a toothpick or toothbrush?

2.) In one spot, there appears to be some discoloration at a junction of two pieces. This is most likely due to water being spilt from our pet's water bowls. It's not that bad yet, but I imagine it's going to get worse. Any thoughts on how to fix this? Should I repair this before I seal the whole floor?

Thanks

1. Prefinished floors do not require nor is it recommended to apply a top coat of any kind, unless repairing the entire floor after wear.

2. The floor should change back to original color once it dries. The best and cheapest thing to do is to prevent water damage altogether. We have shammy like material over plastic underneath our pet's bowls that absorbs everything and doesn't leak through to the wood.

If you start to get cupping or peaking at these joints you may have an installation or a more serious water issue.

Thanks for the quick reply.

1.) So in terms of top coats, there's basically no way to prevent dirt/dust/etc. from slipping through the cracks of the floor boards? Just so I know the risk, is there any chance of damaging the bamboo by putting a top coat down?

2.) We'll give it a chance to dry and definitely put something underneath the bowls. My worry is that the discoloration is a result of multiple spills not just one recent one. The discoloration is at a junction of two pieces that were most likely cut manually at the edges and my fear is that the pieces were never sealed after cutting so water has gotten in there and now something is 'growing' in there...

i hv exactly the same issue.

the crack in between the wood get dirty and its almost impossible to clean them. my bamboo is the natural color and our dogs/dog hair/drips from water bowl and even the dog bed traps moisture and creates what looks like mold/water damage in the seams of the wood.

anyone hv a solution ?

i hv exactly the same issue.

the crack in between the wood get dirty and its almost impossible to clean them. my bamboo is the natural color and our dogs/dog hair/drips from water bowl and even the dog bed traps moisture and creates what looks like mold/water damage in the seams of the wood.

anyone hv a solution ?


Bamboo will grow mold quickly!!

Because of the shrink and swell coefficient of bamboo being twice that of red oak, if you refinish thinking your going to seal the joints, you will be highly disappointed when the boards shrink, and the finish cracks at the joints, or in the case of waterbased, the finish stretches and you get white lines at the joints.