Green Shoots Blog
For eco-conscious homeowners considering new flooring, bamboo is generally the first option that comes to mind. While bamboo is a beautiful choice for any home, we cannot overlook another wonderful green alternative to hardwood: Eucalyptus Flooring.
GreenClaimed™’s Natural Fossilized® Eucalyptus flooring is Cali Bamboo’s March Product of the Month, so let’s take a look at the many benefits of this amazing floor!
Sustainability
Eucalyptus is a 100% renewable crop. Like bamboo, the eucalyptus tree is one of the most rapidly growing plants on the planet, reaching full height in as little as 14 years (compared to 50 years for other woods). Eucalyptus can also be harvested without being cut down, making it the most sustainable choice for wood flooring. Because of its quick growing cycle, eucalyptus trees tend to be cultivated in carefully managed plantations, which helps to divert logging in the rainforest. Additionally, eucalyptus trees require little water and grow globally in almost any climate.
Durability
Eucalyptus is eco-friendly, yes, but how does it hold up in flooring? Cali Bamboo’s eucalyptus flooring is manufactured with the same proprietary manufacturing process as our bamboo flooring, making it at least 3x as hard as most hardwoods! Our strand woven, or Fossilized®, process creates a random grain similar in look to traditional hardwood flooring but with significantly superior strength and durability, all backed by a 50-year residential warranty. Our flooring is also topped with a 10-coat scratch resistant finish helping to reduce damage from dog nails, high heels, and furniture. Like all Cali Bamboo flooring, our eucalyptus flooring undergoes third-party testing to ensure that it is CARB compliant with ultra-low VOCs, emitting 8x less formaldehyde than the strictest California standards!
Beauty
The best thing about eucalyptus flooring is that it is so beautiful, you can be happy about picking the sustainable choice. One of our best-selling products, eucalyptus flooring has a look and wood grain similar to white oak or maple with all the eco-benefits of a rapidly renewable material. Our Natural Fossilized® Eucalyptus flooring features unique knots and mineral bleeds that make it a stunningly beautiful, eco-friendly alternative to reclaimed timber. Stylish and sensible, Cali Bamboo eucalyptus flooring was recently named one of Green Builder Magazine’s Hot 50 Products of 2015. Depending on your home décor, Natural Eucalyptus flooring can lend itself to an exotic look that transports you to the tropics, or a bold, sophisticated look with reclaimed character. We’ll let the photos speak for themselves…
I am considering fossilized eucalyptus for my entire house (2700 sq ft +) which includes the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry – is it reasonable to install in these toilet and sink areas?
People do it, but it’s a risk. I guess their logic is, since bathrooms, kitchens and laundry areas are typically small, should damage occur, it’s not a big expense to replace it. To avoid voiding your warranty you’d still need to break up the rooms using t-moldings. If you want a continuous floor from room to room, I’d go with Cali Vinyl, it’s nearly indistinguishable from actual wood and it’s waterproof.
Do you make stair treads from the mocha fossilized Eucalyptus?
Hi Sarah,
Yes we do, you can see it here on the Lowe’s website.
Item # 7108002417
Does fozzilized eucalyptus require an acclamation period. Does the adhesive that holds it all together separate with expansion and contraction. If glued down t&g how does natural expansion and contraction affect adhesion. The construction reminds me of epoxy, which can be brittle.
Hi John,
Great questions, I think I get what you’re asking. Best thing you can do is call us, we have the best reps in the business that love to talk shop, but I’ll try to answer best I can.
Yes, Fossilized Eucalyptus does require you to make the acclimation stack in the same room where the flooring is to be installed. In most locations, 5 days of acclimation is sufficient, but in extremely humid or extremely dry environments, 10 or more days is required.
When you glue down a T&G floor, expansion and contraction is reduced but not eliminated, the adhesive will allow for a small amount of movement, and we still recommend 1/4″ expansion spaces around all fixed objects.
If you are floating the floor with T&G glue, the floor expands and contracts as one unit.
For the construction question are you referring to the Fossilized process of how we make the planks? The process is very similar to how plywood is made, just with an incredibly larger amount of hydraulic pressure. Check out our Fossilized Video.
We just bought 1400+ ft2 of the Click Lock Eucalyptus from our local Lowes. What is the maximum length of a run for the click lock version? Do we have to put T-Molding at doors on click-lock? Also, the guy at Lowes was not able to find T-Molding and Stair Nose – does Lowes sell this or do we need to order it direct from you?
Thanks!
Hi Alan,
If you float the click-lock flooring (which is what most people do) then you’ll want to use a T-molding between rooms and spans over 30′. Here’s the Lowes.com links to the natural t-molding and the mocha t-molding.
I’m considering using cali bamboo flooring natural fossilized wide t&g from Lowes on a slab flooring. Any recommedations on how to install properly? Also, Lowes only has 4 foot lengths in stock. I’d like the longer stock if it’s possible.
Hi Ken,
First thing first, acclimate for 5-10 days, take the planks out of the boxes and sticker stack in the installation area. If you are floating, use Cali Complete underlayment and metalized seal tape. If you’re glueing down, seal the slab with Titebond 531+. When you install, make sure to leave 1/2″ expansion space around all fixed objects. After installation, when you clean, don’t wet mop, give the floor a light spray of Bona Professional and use a damp swiffer, rinse and wring often. Do all this and you’re golden.
We’re considering the Natural Fossilized Eucalyptus Wide flooring throughout our upstairs and wondering what baseboard styles would both look good and be affordable. Any recommendations or pics out there?
Hi Joan,
Standard white baseboards are the most cost-effective solution, and still look great for most homes. If you want something other than white, we sell matching baseboards for every color but they can get expensive. One middle of the road solution I’ve seen people do wich looks clean and modern is to use quarter round (aka toe molding) as a mini-baseboard. Check out the gallery at the bottom of this page, and you can see it used in a bathroom with java and in a bedroom with the gray moonlight flooring.
What is the best way to take care of eucalyptus flooring in our kitchen
Hi Khem,
How to clean it? Start by sweeping or vacuuming with a hard surface vacuum (no beater bar) regularly. I damp mop my floors using the technique found in this video. Make sure to use the Bona Professional for hardwood floors and wring the mop pad out as dry as you can, so moisture doesn’t sit on the floor too long (less than 1 min).
OK, so I have been inquiring about Cali Bamboos Natural Fossilized Eucalyptus tongue and groove flooring and am getting various responses about how to acclimate the flooring prior to installation. Internet tells me up to three weeks, sales guy at big box store tells me Cali rep says 3 days, contractor tells me a few days, past experiences with other hard woods about a week.
I will be getting about 750 sq ft and its application is in various areas of the house (kitchen, powder room, living, high traffic and areas with lots of sunlight.
I come across a lot of discussions about improper acclimation and failed installations.
What is the recommended acclimation period for the Natural Fossilized tongue and groove Eucalyptus flooring prior to installation? Subfloor is OSB and above grade.
Hi William,
Sorry for the confusion. Our Eucalyptus Flooring follows the same acclimation requirements as our Solid Bamboo Flooring. The quick answer is a minimum of 5 days. You’ll need to build the acclimation stack in the installation area just like this video demonstrates but let it sit for 5 days (not 72 hours as mentioned in the video). If you happen to live in an extremely humid (think Miami) or extremely dry climate (think Phoenix) you’ll want to extend these acclimation times. I’m really glad you are thinking ahead about this William, a little preparation before you install can save you lots of headaches after the fact.
Does the eucalyptus come in a walnut stain or only natural
What is the cost of eucalyptus flooring. I am in the market for about 1500 ft. Also what is the cost of bamboo.
Hi Joe,
It ranges between $3.99 to $5.99 per sqft. I see Jason Scott has been assigned as your sales rep, his direct number is 1-858-799-0585 and would be happy to talk flooring with you.
I am having significant issues with my Cali Bamboo strand eucalyptus flooring. I sent photos of the board shrinkage issue and had a seemingly good conversation with the rep, but am now not getting any response at all. I need this problem solved and highly recommend against this flooring until / unless the company can prove it stands behind its warranty.
Thanks for reaching out Laura. I looked up your account in our system and didn’t see a support ticket. Do you remember what rep you spoke to? We typically request a third party inspector come out to perform an inspection to confirm the floor was acclimated and installed properly. I have emailed our customer service department and someone should be contacting you on Monday.
Found you case Laura, it was under your contractor. Looks like customer service stepped up and shipped a new order of flooring to your contractor on the 6th. Be sure to insist that the contractor properly acclimate by sticker stacking your flooring in your home environment for at least 2 weeks prior to installation, otherwise it will gap again. Watch the video.