Flooring FAQs

Customer safety has always been CALI’s top priority. We use only the highest-quality adhesives and manufacturing techniques to ensure our flooring is free of harmful chemicals. All our flooring is tested by a third party for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalates. Every CALI vinyl floor is also FloorScore certified. Learn what it means to be FloorScore Certified here.

Yes! Because luxury vinyl plank expands and contracts minimally with changes in temperature and humidity, this floor will work perfectly in all regions of the U.S. Be sure to follow our vinyl floor installation guide to ensure your floor will last a lifetime.

We have detailed installation guides for your convenience.

Yes. All CALI flooring products have color matching accessories available for purchase. CALI vinyl flooring accessories and stair parts can be found on our Flooring Accessory page. Accessories include stair treads, stair nosings, reducers, t-moldings, quarter rounds, and thresholds.

Yes. These floors are Radiant Heat Compatible up to 85°F.

We’re a company of animal lovers, and we’ve designed our flooring with a 20 mil thick protective wear layer that keeps planks looking fresh for years, even with active furry friends of all sizes. You can always order a sample to test out at home! Keep in mind that while our flooring is highly durable, it’s still a good idea to keep your pets’ claws trimmed to avoid excess scratching.

Yes. Similar to other flooring types, it is best to limit direct sunlight on the floor by using curtains and blinds in areas that are exposed to high UV rays.

No. CALI vinyl is strengthened from within by a rigid SPC or WPC core, made to endure indentation and warping. The SPC core is made of limestone composite which is 100% waterproof and extra strong. Previous generations of vinyl flooring were made to be extremely thin and malleable, like a wallpaper for your floor. CALI vinyl is completely remastered to perform as impressively as it looks.

Meritage planks are topped with a 4mm thick veneer of European white oak, responsibly sourced from European forests. Trees are selectively harvested according to their specific age, size, and level of maturity. We use European oak for its beautiful look (long, trailing knots and intricate grains) and higher density, which allows for longer, wider planks to be cut. The oak veneer rests over a foundation of layered acacia or whitewood plywood -- renewable, plantation-grown timbers. 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.

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.

Customer safety has always been CALI’s top priority. We use only the highest-quality adhesives and manufacturing techniques to ensure our flooring is free of harmful chemicals. All our flooring is tested by a third party for formaldehyde.Every CALI hardwood floor is also FloorScore certified. Learn what it means to be FloorScore Certified here.

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.

Meritage planks are protected by a 7-coat aluminum oxide finish.

If the scratch is white, the finish has not been compromised and is repairable. Simply using a hardwood 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, and often, the damage becomes less obvious. For scratches that cannot be buffed out, use a CALI touch-up marker.

If you have a minor chip or slight damage, this may be minimized using a CALI touch-up marker and/or Fil-Stik. CALI 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.

Major modifications are not recommended and are never a guaranteed solution; all repairs are unique. Always seek assistance from an NWFA Certified Installer, and always test your chosen method on a sample plank beforehand. Refinished or recoated floors are not covered under warranty.

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 the subfloor 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.

Customer safety has always been CALI’s top priority. We use only the highest-quality adhesives and manufacturing techniques to ensure our flooring is free of harmful chemicals. All our flooring is tested by a third party for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalates.Every CALI hardwood floor is also FloorScore certified. Learn what it means to be FloorScore Certified here.

GeoWood is a revolutionary engineered hardwood combining real timber layered over GeoCore™ -- CALI’s stabilizing limestone composite foundation. The SPC core is also 100% waterproof. This technological breakthrough yields rock solid hardwood flooring with exceptional water resistance and comes at a lower price point than solid wood planks.

Yes! GeoWood is water resistant and great for all rooms in your home, including bathrooms, basements, and kitchens.

As a company of animal lovers, we’ve made sure to design our floors to stand up to active furry friends of all sizes. GeoWood bamboo flooring is protected by 7-coats of scratch resistant finish that keeps planks looking fresh and easy to clean. Keep in mind that all hardwood flooring can be susceptible to dents and scratches, so keep your pets’ claws trimmed to avoid excess scuffing.

Visit our Flooring Installation page for detailed instructions on how to install all the various types of flooring we provide. You can also call us to discuss the specifics of your project.

Yes. We sell all types of GeoWood flooring accessories and stair parts including GeoWood stair treads, stair nosing, reducers, t-molding, quarter rounds, and thresholds, as well as all the glues and adhesives you will need for to complete your project.

Customer safety has always been CALI’s top priority. We use only the highest-quality adhesives and manufacturing techniques to ensure our flooring is free of harmful chemicals. All our flooring is tested by a third party for formaldehyde.Every CALI bamboo floor is also FloorScore certified. Learn what it means to be FloorScore Certified here.

The raw material for CALI's bamboo flooring is sourced from the provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. Most of the world’s bamboo is concentrated in these regions, making them the most sustainable place to harvest, process, and manufacture bamboo products. The warm, moist climate provides ideal conditions for bamboo to thrive, and we source our bamboo from well-managed plantations.

Like all wood floors, care should be taken to avoid standing water. Never wet mop your floor and soak up spills as soon as possible using a microfiber towel or dry mop. See more bamboo flooring care & maintenance information.

Yes. We sell all types of bamboo flooring accessories and stair parts including bamboo stair treads, bamboo stair nosings, bamboo reducers, bamboo t-moldings, bamboo quarter rounds, and bamboo thresholds, as well as all the glues and adhesives you will need to complete your project.

As a general rule, the ideal indoor humidity range for hardwood is 40-60% relative humidity and a temperature range of 60° to 80° Fahrenheit. In some climates or households, the average humidity range may be higher or lower. That’s okay! In this case, simply extend the acclimation period, and maintain humidity levels at normal living conditions set during acclimation. Bamboo, like all hardwood flooring species, is hygroscopic. This means its size and shape changes naturally with the absorption and release of moisture. The amount of movement varies depending on the preventative steps taken at the time of installation (i.e. acclimation, moisture barrier application, etc.) and the stability of the home environment thereafter. Care should be taken to control fluctuating levels of moisture indoors.

Visit our Flooring Installation page for detailed instructions on how to install all the various types of flooring we provide. You can also call us to discuss the specifics of your project.

As a company of animal lovers, we’ve made sure to design our floors to stand up to active furry friends of all sizes. Our solid bamboo flooring is protected by 10-coats of scratch resistant finish that keeps planks looking fresh and easy to clean. Keep in mind that all hardwood flooring can be susceptible to dents and scratches, so keep your pets’ claws trimmed to avoid excess scuffing. Watch pet owners talk about CALI bamboo flooring.

Not all bamboo flooring is created equally. CALI bamboo flooring undergoes a proprietary manufacturing process that makes Fossilized® strand woven planks twice the density of any other hardwood floor in the world, with a score of up to 5000+ on the Janka hardness test. Learn more about our Fossilized® flooring manufacturing process and the Janka Hardness Test.

Customer safety has always been CALI’s top priority. We use only the highest-quality adhesives and manufacturing techniques to ensure our flooring is free of harmful chemicals. All our flooring is tested by a third party for formaldehyde.Every CALI bamboo floor is also FloorScore certified. Learn what it means to be FloorScore Certified here.

The raw material for CALI's bamboo flooring is sourced from the provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. Most of the world’s bamboo is concentrated in these regions, making them the most sustainable place to harvest, process, and manufacture bamboo products. The warm, moist climate provides ideal conditions for bamboo to thrive, and we source our bamboo from well-managed plantations.

Like all wood floors, care should be taken to avoid standing water. Never wet mop your floor, and soak up spills as soon as possible using a microfiber towel or dry mop. See more bamboo flooring care & maintenance information.

Yes. We sell all types of bamboo flooring accessories and stair parts including bamboo stair treads, bamboo stair nosings, bamboo reducers, bamboo t-moldings, bamboo quarter rounds, and bamboo thresholds, as well as all the glues and adhesives you will need to complete your project.

As a general rule, with geographic exceptions, flooring will perform best when the interior environment is controlled to stay within a relative humidity range of 35-65%. It is the owner’s responsibility to maintain indoor relative humidity within range of 35-65%. In some climates, the use of humidifier and/or de-humidifier may be necessary for this.

Controlling flooring moisture content is important for success. Bamboo and eucalyptus, like all hardwood flooring species, is hygroscopic; its size and shape changes naturally with the absorption or release of moisture. The amount of movement varies depending on the preventative steps taken at the time of installation (i.e. acclimation, moisture barrier application, etc.) and the stability home environment thereafter. Care should be taken to control fluctuating levels of moisture indoors.

Visit our Flooring Installation page for detailed instructions on how to install all the various types of flooring we provide. You can also call us to discuss the specifics of your project.

As a company of animal lovers, we’ve made sure to design our floors to stand up to active furry friends of all sizes. Our engineered bamboo flooring is protected by 13-coats of scratch resistant finish that keeps planks looking fresh and easy to clean. Keep in mind that all hardwood flooring can be susceptible to dents and scratches, so keep your pets’ claws trimmed to avoid excess scuffing.

Not all bamboo flooring is created equally. CALI bamboo flooring undergoes a proprietary manufacturing process that makes Fossilized® strand woven planks twice the density of any other hardwood floor in the world, with a score of up to 5000+ on the Janka hardness test. Learn more about our Fossilized® flooring manufacturing process and the Janka Hardness Test.

As one of the planet’s fastest-growing trees, eucalyptus is a highly environmentally-friendly natural resource. It takes 30-50 years for an oak tree to grow back after being cut down for wood flooring. Eucalyptus, on the other hand, can be sustainably harvested for flooring every 5-7 years

Visit our Care & Maintenance page for a detailed guide to keeping your flooring looking like new.

Visit our Flooring Installation page for detailed instructions on how to install all the various types of flooring we provide. You can also call us to discuss the specifics of your project.

Yes. We sell all types of eucalyptus flooring accessories and stair parts including eucalyptus stair treads, stair nosing, reducers, t-molding, quarter rounds, and thresholds, as well as all the glues and adhesives you will need for to complete your project.

Cork is harvested from the renewable bark of the cork oak tree and is one of the most sustainable materials available. Cork trees are not damaged during harvesting because the outer bark is only “trimmed” and then allowed to grow back. A cork oak can live for up to 200 years with harvesting occurring once every nine years, for about 20 harvests during the tree’s life. Most cork products, like our flooring, make use of the excess material after corks have been punched out for wine bottle stoppers. Cork is also able to be recycled and reused without losing its spongey, insulating composition.

CALI cork flooring can withstand years of wear and still look great. This is thanks to its high resistance finish and cork’s unique, self-repairing structure. This flooring is backed by a 25-year residential warranty and a 5-year commercial warranty.

CALI cork flooring is lightweight and made with click-lock milling, allowing boards to fit into one another easily without the need for nails or glue. A floating installation over any existing hard subfloor saves time and extra costs. Watch our Cork Flooring Installation Video.

Because cork is a natural insulator, CALI cork flooring reduces noise in and between rooms, creating a quieter, more peaceful home environment. Cork’s spongey composition makes it extra comfortable, with a natural elasticity that protects against and relieves strain on your feet, legs, joints, and back. Cork is also water resistant, making it especially versatile and able to be installed throughout the home. Finally, CALI cork is antimicrobial with a high resistance finish that prevents trapped dirt, dust, germs, and mold. This makes for a healthier, more hygienic environment, perfect for nurseries, kids’ rooms, and anywhere you want to enjoy a more supportive, pleasant flooring experience.

See our full Care and Maintenance Guide here.