Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is a recently marketed flooring option which is particularly popular in this environmentally conscious era. Bamboo is a member of the grass family of plants, and is a more renewable resource than the hardwood trees that are typically used for flooring in North America. Bamboo reeds grow back quickly after harvesting and mature in a few years, unlike hard wood trees which take decades to reach full maturity. Bamboo grows to around 50 feet in height after only a few years and is therefore a much more renewable resource than hardwood trees.

Once the bamboo reeds are harvested, they are cut into strips which may be soaked in chemical agents, depending on the manufacturer, to kill any insects and mildew which may be present and to make the bamboo meet fire safety standards. Since the bamboo boards aren't chemically stained it is an excellent option for people with asthma or chemical allergies.

At this stage bamboo has a natural golden blonde tone which is very pleasant if you are in the market for light colored flooring. However, the color can be altered through a process of carbonization. This means that the cut and treated strips of bamboo are steamed in a pressure chamber. This alters the natural color of the bamboo fibers creating a range of over 30 various shades and tones of honey brown. No matter what color and tone you choose, your bamboo floor will have natural variations and subtle distinctive patterns, similar to how hardwood floors show the grain of the wood.

Bamboo flooring is generally sold as a pre-finished product, and requires professional installation. Prices generally start at around $5.25 per square foot, plus the cost of installation. Bamboo flooring can be nailed down or glued to a concrete sub-floor. Beyond standard flooring strips, bamboo is also available in the form of stair parts, panels, veneers and wide planks.

Bamboo flooring is very durable and long lasting. It is relatively dent and scratch resistant and is also not prone to warping since it is water resistant. This water resistance is a particular advantage that bamboo has over hardwood and laminate flooring and which makes it suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms. Bamboo is comparable to many North American hard woods in terms of its strength and in fact it has greater tensile strength than steel. To make a comparison with traditional flooring materials, bamboo is as hard as maple and harder and more stable than Red Oak.

A further benefit of bamboo flooring is that it does not require a rigid maintenance routine. As with other pre-finished flooring products, it just needs frequent sweeping or vacuuming. If necessary it can be cleaned more thoroughly with mild cleaning agents: no harsh chemicals are necessary.

If you choose bamboo flooring for your home, you can be secure in the knowledge that you have made a wise investment in a material which will last for years with little trouble, and which has a minimal impact on the environment.