These days, wood flooring has become something of an industry standard. Wood flooring’s vaunted status stems from a number of positive attributes. For one thing, many people find its look aesthetically pleasing – wood floors can help to create a dialogue between a house’s modern conveniences and its humble beginnings. After all, houses are shelters first and foremost – up until very recent historical times, they were always built out of natural materials.
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Why Bamboo Wood Flooring?
Bamboo has become a popular option in recent years partially because it represents a positive sort of rustic aesthetic. But that isn’t the only reason why bamboo has become popular – it’s also a relatively environmentally friendly material to work with. In a day and age where human exploitation of the planet is increasingly being called into light, many home builders and renovators are turning to bamboo.
Bamboo is Sustainable
When bamboo is harvested, the bamboo stalk is cut at a point above the root structure. Due to bamboo’s impressive regeneration abilities, a bamboo stalk will continue to grow after being cut this way. In the next three and a half to seven years, a cut bamboo stalk will regrow back to a height of full maturity. This makes bamboo a renewable form of flooring. By comparison, many of the other types of trees that are used for wood flooring are killed when harvested. It may take fifty years or longer for these other varieties of trees to be regrown to full adulthood.
Bamboo is Versatile
In addition to being known for its quick regeneration abilities, bamboo is also known for its versatility. When the normal treatment process is applied, bamboo flooring ends up being a light blond color that many people find appealing. However, a method known as carbonization can be used to darken bamboo to degrees that vary from honey to coffee. Additionally, it’s possible to stain bamboo and change its color composition quite a bit this way.
Besides offering a range of color options, bamboo also comes in variety of build styles. Each build has its own pluses and minuses. Each construction type will look different and also have different durability and installation profiles.
Types of Bamboo Flooring
- Horizontal Construction: In this format, bamboo strips are layered directly on top of one another. Usually each board contains about fifteen strips of bamboo total. Then these strips are pressed together to make a board.
- Vertical Construction: In vertical construction, bamboo strips are laid next to each other vertically, then pressed. Each board typically contains nineteen strips when constructed in this manner.
- Woven/Stranded Construction: This technique involves weaving bamboo strips into each other in a variety of intricate-looking patterns. When bamboo flooring is constructed in this way, it takes very heavy pressure to compress it into planks. The pressure and woven structure makes this type of bamboo flooring the strongest and most durable.
Bamboo Flooring: Solid vs. Engineered
A further consideration involved with choosing the right bamboo floor comes when deciding whether to opt for solid or engineered bamboo. Solid bamboo flooring is created only through the process of compressing bamboo strips. While this is the most natural choice, solid bamboo flooring needs to be either glued or nailed down to a subfloor. On the other hand, engineered bamboo floors consist of bamboo strips that have been glued to wood backing. Engineered bamboo tends to be more durable and also easier to install.
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Justin runs a small hardwood and laminate shop, Flooring HQ Store. He loves to share his knowledge about all of the different flooring and home improvement options available on the market today.
