Question
I was told that if you use a solid bamboo that the humidity in the house needs to be around 40-60% RH to keep the floor from cracking.
I live in Northern Nevada were the RH is generally around 10-20%
Answer
Clark,
First off there is no such thing as solid bamboo flooring.
- Bamboo is a fast growing grass with a hollow core and thin walls.
- Because of this all bamboo flooring and sheet goods are a composite material made up of multi layers of bamboo or a combination of bamboo and other wood products.
Generally it is good practice to keep your home at a relative humidity (RH) of 40-60% for all finishes as well as providing a healthy environment.
If you plan on installing bamboo or any other wood flooring product I would always refer to the manufacturer's specifications and recommendations prior to installation.
If you are unable to provide the proper RH levels recommended by the manufacturer, I would suggest selecting an alternative material for your home's flooring.
For more information:
Read "Is bamboo really better than FSC wood flooring? I've heard bamboo uses a lot of glue to keep it together and even eco glue sounds scary!" a Q&A answered by David Bergman.
