With the many varieties of wood, there are many natural colors and these can be stained to a completely different color. 

Bamboo is a light color naturally. During manufacturing, all strips are subjected to a bleaching process where strong oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide are used to suppress color differences and oxidize troublesome organic matter. During this process, care must be taken not to soften the bamboo or leave residual oxidizing agents that can react with finishes and cause them to peel at a later date.

Most manufacturers have both a light and a dark color.  The dark color is obtained not by staining but by carbonizing.  A variety of finishes are used with site finished and factory finished floors. 

Penetrating Seal: The sealer penetrates into the wood or bamboo where it hardens.  Since the sealer has penetrated it will wear only as the floor wears.  Penetrating sealer will not chip or scratch.

Maintenance

• Usually maintained with a thin application of wax.
• Refinish worn areas by cleaning and applying another coat of sealer or using a reconditioning product.  Sanding will usually not be required. 
• With a sealer/wax system two coats of penetrating sealer is recommended by most manufacturers.

Polyurethane “Swedish finish”, moisture cure urethane and water-based urethane are a few of the many blends of synthetic resins, plasticizers and other film-forming ingredient.  Is polyurethane is durable and moisture resistant, available in high, low and semi gloss.  Urethanes other than moisture cured are a good choice for higher moisture areas such as kitchens.

Oil Modified Polyurethane: Durable and moisture resistant.  Usually will take on an amber color with age.

Water Bases Urethane Acrylic: Clean I color, non-yellowing and durable.  Has similar advantages to oil modified without the odor of mineral spirits during application.

Moisture Cure Urethane: Hardens with a greater moisture resistance than the other surface finishes.  Usually available only in gloss.

“Swedish Finishes” (Acid cure urethane): Durable finish, usually harder than polyurethane’s, resist yellowing, clear in color.

Polyurethane with aluminum oxide: Exceptional hardness, more scratch resistant and longer gloss retention.

Stain & Wax Finish

Maintenance

• Following installation apply a coat of wax.
• Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove loose dirt before it scratches or gets ground into the surface.
• Buff floor between waxing to restore sheen.  A heavier buffing machine will give a higher sheen than a lightweight machine.  Use only fiber bristle brush.  Frequent waxing may be required in dry or damp weather climates or areas of high traffic.

Urethane Floors

Maintenance

• Clean per manufacturer recommendations after installation.
• Sweep and vacuum regularly.

Maintain with a manufacturer recommended product.