Coconut wood flooring problems anyone???
Anybody else have problems with coconut wood flooring? Have you also found some boards extremely soft???
The supplier from San Francisco is advertising 1450 psi hardness – same as maple. I bought some (very expensive) and installed it in a client’s bedroom. After waiting a week, we let the dog in and within about 10 seconds the dog trotted out and we noticed a deep gouge in one of the boards. After the hands and knees inspection, I noticed the dog nail scratch crossing 3 boards. Left board scratch was in the finish only. Right board scratch was in the finish only. Center board scratch was a deep gouge – the worst of it about 1/16″ deep. I found I can easily dent this board with my finger nail (softer than Fir or Pine). Who knows how many of the boards are this soft?
After many calls with many individuals at the supplier…they offered only to give me a new board that I would have to install myself, and $100 off my next order. They declined even to have someone inspect it – even though they have a local rep and local distributors. I don’t intend to ever, EVER!!!! use this product again. I told them to keep the generous offer of a 3′ board.
I’m rather upset…and would like to know if my experience is unusual.
Replies
Coconut trees are a growing, spongy, soft, bendy tree. There is no way in He!! you could get me to put in that flooring. If the company is not willing to back up its product....
There are many other great choices for flooring, hope this job doesn't bite you too hard. I would be prepared for the worst though.
Judo Chop!
Lemon: I hear you. The only reason I tipped the customer in this direction is that I stayed in a place with coconut floors once (in Indonesia). The floors were hard as rocks...and really beautiful.
Regarding the palm tree, the outside wood is extremely hard. The inside wood is really soft. These guys are likely having problems figuring out where to stop.
I'm especially ticked that the supplier won't accept ANY responsibility beyond their absolute minimum legal obligations stated in their warranty. They won't even send the local rep over to take a look!
Anybody else out there use this stuff? What has your experience been?
Sounds like he forgot to put the lime in.
be shaking it all up
Beware. RFID is coming.
I'm shocked that I'm laughing...
...but I like the lime comment.
he, he, he....Funny__________________________
Judo Chop!
Well post their name and info, and saleperson name, so I can be sure to never use them also.
Dont want to make the same mistake
ohmy:
The name of the company is Smith and Fong out of San Francisco. They also use the name "Plyboo". The product I used is called "Durapalm". These guys do most of their business in bamboo flooring.
...and they were really great to deal with until the hiccup.
The client and I are negotiating a "settlement". It's not her fault she ended up with a substandard floor. It's not mine either, but I do feel some responsibility for not doing more homework prior to purchase. ...and it's just not worth it to sue the b**tards who provided the material.
I have actually dealt with plyboo from over here on the east cost. They are very big and well known. It sucks that they couldn't even be bothered with sending out a rep.I for one now have a reason to find a different bamboo supplier.
I generally hate to say bad things about people...but these guys REALLY deserve it.
It's good for you there are other bamboo flooring suppliers.
I'm suprised to hear that from them.
never bought from them ... but came close.
started at looking into the plyboo then prices a load of bamboo flooring ....
then the customer went the complete other direction with the project.
they're a pretty well known company ... keep us posted on how things shake out.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I did research prior to purchasing my engineered flooring from MIRAGE. It was yellow birch and was sopposed to be hard, but I thought that it too was easily scratched or dented and my wife reminds me that i was the picked it out.
What should I use to do my first floor when my that time comes? I have a couple of miniture dachshunds that do a number on the floor with there nails.
Hang in there, and good luck with your flooring issue.
KaiserRoo
Ceramic tile or a stone product.
mycarwood: I'm with you on that. Unfortunately this project is in the corner of a floating home with somewhat sketchy floatation. The extra weight would be a concern.
Edited 6/1/2006 3:04 pm by Idratherbeahammer
Edited 6/1/2006 3:04 pm by Idratherbeahammer
We also got prefinished Mirage strip flooring. Maple. Within weeks we saw scratches and gouges. The softest maple I've ever seen!
Now it is a 3 years later and the floor that is exposed to sunlight is pretty badly discoloured (yellow). I expect some finish discolouring in the sun but this is pretty bad.
I'm definately not going with Mirage again.
Yeah whats the deal with there product? The installer said it was one of the easiest floors due to how well the pieces fit together but I doubt that I'd go with them again. I looked at Kahrs but it looked too plastic like. I was begining to think it was the wood type, but my other choice would have been maple.
I haven't looked for fading/yellowing but it wouldn't surprise me if it has degraded eve with the 10 layers of the oxide finish.
We need to find a company other than mirage any hints?
KaiserRoo
They are called palm "trees" but I was told here in Florida that palms are not trees, but grasses. I've cut a lot of sable, date and other palms. Nothing in there I'd consider hard.
Coconut wood??
Next youre gonna tell me they make floors out of cork and bamdboo
If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!
TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]
What about that hardener stuff they use to consolidate softwoods before finishing?
Just a thought.
I'm afraid that any effective hardener (like that "Liquid-Wood" epoxy) would have to be injected and I would end up with a tremendous number of holes to patch/putty in that board. Probably would be hard to hide/blend well. ...not that replacing the board and blending the finish is any small feat.
I'm thinking the choice is between replacing the soft board(s) or leaving them as is and letting the floor, ahem, "patina" until a full refinishing becomes appropriate...then replacing the boards and refinishing everything.
Any thoughts?