What is a Meritage floor made of?
Meritage planks are topped with a 4mm thick veneer of European white oak, responsibly sourced from France’s Ardennes Forest. Trees are selectively harvested according to their specific age, size, and level of maturity. New trees are then planted in their place. We use European oak for its beautiful look (long, trailing knots and intricate grains) and extreme density, which allows for longer, wider planks to be cut. The oak veneer rests over a foundation of layered acacia wood -- a renewable, plantation-grown timber. Using a fast-growing wood for the core allows planks to be larger, more dimensionally stable, and get 4x as much flooring from each tree.

Why do some planks not seem to “match” the rest?
Like any natural product, the European oak used in Meritage flooring has a good deal of color and grain variation. This is what makes each plank so unique and brings an authentic organic beauty to completed installations. Order multiple samples to get an accurate idea of a flooring style’s range, and when installing, mix and match planks from various cartons to get a well-blended look.

Are Meritage floors safe for my home?
Yes. All Cali Hardwoods floors are FloorScore Certified and use materials and adhesives that are safe for children, pets, and those with odor sensitivities.

Will my Meritage floor change color?
Like all natural wood products, Meritage planks will see some faint color change over time as they’re exposed to the home environment. Natural oxidation may make lighter flooring styles appear slightly darker.

What kind of finish is used on a Meritage floor?
Meritage planks are protected by a 7-coat aluminum oxide finish.

How do I fix a scratch on my finish?
If the scratch is white, the finish has not been compromised and is repairable. Simply using a flooring cleaner, like Bona, should eliminate these blemishes. If the scratch is deeper but the raw wood is not exposed, light buffing with a microfiber cloth can shine up the dull area. Often the damage becomes less obvious. For scratches that cannot be buffed out, use a Cali Bamboo touch-up marker.

The wood veneer was damaged through the finish. Can it be repaired?
If you have a minor chip or slight damage, this may be minimized using a Cali Bamboo touch-up marker and/or Fil-Stik. Cali Bamboo Fil-Stiks are wood fill products that work great to reduce the appearance of deeper blemishes. In most cases, more than one shade may be appropriate. If the damage is severe enough, board replacement is typically the best option.

How can I remove a stain?
When removing stains from any wood floor, always begin at the outer edge of the stain and work toward the middle.

Can I refinish my Cali Bamboo® Flooring?
Major modifications are not recommended and are never a guaranteed solution; all repairs are unique. Nevertheless, it is possible to refinish or recoat the floor 3-4 times. Always seek assistance from an NWFA Certified Installer, and always test on a sample plank before you proceed. Refinished or recoated floors are not covered under warranty.

Occasional Flooring Noise
Floor noise is normal and will vary from one installation type to the next. Occasional noise is due to structural movement and may relate to sub-floor type, flatness, deflection, and/or related to the fasteners, changes in environmental conditions, relative humidity, and the amount of topside pressure applied to the flooring. For these reasons floor noise is not considered a product or manufacturer defect.