Is all bamboo flooring alike?
No. Some bamboo floors are more durable than others or emit varying levels of volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, depending upon how they are manufactured.
As one of Pyramid’s trusted manufacturers of bamboo products, Taragren floors are all tested for 78 VOCs. You’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing that your bamboo floors have achieved one of the most rigorous indoor air quality standards in the world.
You can also expect a variety of flooring styles, colors and installation methods. Information on our specifications and test results, including the Janka hardness test, is available here on the Taragren web site.
Is there a grading system for bamboo flooring?
No. Hardwood flooring is graded (No. 1 Common, Select, etc.) according to certain standards. However, no U.S. or international grading standards exist for bamboo flooring. You must rely on the manufacturer’s standards and warranties. Taragren bamboo flooring, for example, comes with a lifetime structural warranty and a 25-year residential/10-year heavy-use commercial finish warranty (except for Spectrum and Elements flooring).
How hard is the bamboo
Hardness is the main factor in durability. Bamboo flooring can be as soft as pine and harder than maple depending on the species of bamboo used and when it was harvested. Taragren specifies only Optimum 5.5® Moso bamboo harvested at maturity (5-1/2 to 6 years) when fiber density peaks. As a result, Taragren bamboo averages 25 percent harder than red oak and 12 percent harder than North American maple. Here on our web site, you will find Janka ball test results and other performance data on every Taragren product.
What kind of finish is used??
A durable finish is the first line of defense for lasting beauty in wood floors. On Taragren prefinished products, we use a water-based, solvent free, 7-coat German finish with an aluminum oxide wear layer to boost abrasion resistance, including two polyurethane topcoats for added protection. Developed with internationally known Klumpp Coatings, the finish carries a 25-year residential/10-year heavy-use commercial warranty.
How much formaldehyde is in the adhesive??
All bamboo products are laminated, and the industry standard for this laminating process has long mandated the use of urea-formaldehyde adhesives. However, some urea-formaldehyde adhesives emit much less formaldehyde than others. Taragren’s proprietary manufacturing adhesives emit 0.03 ppm or less of formaldehyde, much less than allowed by U.S. OSHA, German E0, CARB Phase 1 and Phase 2, and Japanese JIS/JAS (F☆☆☆☆) emissions standards. Many of our products are available formaldehyde-free by special order. Our countertop/table tops are made with formaldehyde-free manufacturing adhesives.
Does all Taragren bamboo flooring qualify for LEED® credits??
Yes. All Taragren bamboo products have such documentation and contribute to LEED certification under MR Credit 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials. All Taragren flooring products have also been FloorScore®-certified, a standard that qualifies them to contribute to LEED® v3 IEQ credit 4.3: Low-Emitting Materials—Flooring Systems.
Pyramid products made with non-urea manufacturing adhesives, including traditional bamboo flooring, panels and veneer made with our proprietary IEQ 4.4 urea-free adhesive, our strand bamboo flooring, panels and veneer and our formaldehyde-free bamboo countertops and table tops—also contribute to IEQ Credit 4.4: Low-Emitting Materials—Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products.
Are CSI specifications or MSDS available??
Only a manufacturer can provide documentation to certify CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) specifications, MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) or other legal specifications required by architects and other design professionals for commercial and government projects. As we are the manufacturer of all Taragren products, we make such documentation available conveniently through our web site.
Is product readily available??
Taragren maintains supplemental inventory at two distribution centers in the United States to be certain that their stocking wholesale distributors and the retailers they serve are able to fulfill orders on time.
What coordinating products are available??
Taragren is the only bamboo flooring manufacturer that provides a full spectrum of coordinating flooring, stair parts and trim, architectural casings, floor vents, panels, veneer, edge banding and countertops to help you complete your design.
All of our panels and veneer are SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold-certified, which means they comply with California Special Environmental Requirements Specification 01350, designed to ensure health through good indoor air quality.
Does it matter which company I purchase from??
Yes, it matters. The bamboo flooring, panel and veneer market is very competitive and relatively easy to enter. As a design professional, you want to work with a reliable company that offers not just a great price and a wide variety of coordinating products, but manufacturing information, good warranties and prompt technical service.
