Why Bamboo Flooring

A bamboo floor is a type of flooring manufactured from the bamboo plant.

Why bamboo flooring.

Laminated bamboo flooring with a top layer glued to multiple sub layers is diy friendly. Bamboo floors have become more popular in recent years due to their many similarities to hardwood flooring. Moso bamboo the primary species used for the manufacturing of floor planks grows up to 24 m high in 40 to 50 days. Although it is commonly grouped with hardwood flooring bamboo is not actually a wood but rather a woody grass.

Like other hardwood flooring bamboo may be refinished depending on the thickness of the planks. This flooring is comparable to engineered hardwood and is installed in the same way usually with click lock planks that float over a foam underlayment. While more of a pure floor solid bamboo can only be nailed or glued on the subfloor. Engineered bamboo flooring is made by bonding a thin layer of bamboo onto a plywood or mdf core.

While bamboo boasts an appearance similar to that of hardwood it s considerably denser than many wood species frequently used in flooring these caramel color planks from mohawk mimic maple but. But understanding the benefits and drawbacks of any type of flooring before installation is. Bamboo can be manufactured without added formaldehyde and can test for very low levels of formaldehyde overall. Bamboo a native plant to tropical regions with heavy rainfalls grows much faster than hardwood and has a different cellular structure.

Similar to grass bamboo grows much faster than any other wood. Bamboo is not wood. This type of flooring is very eco friendly because bamboo is a highly renewable source of energy. The majority of today s bamboo flooring products originate in china and other portions of asia.

Moso bamboo is the species most commonly used for flooring. It usually takes 3 5. It is the least expensive and least durable form of bamboo flooring and it cannot be refinished. Aesthetically speaking bamboo is a very versatile material as it comes in myriad shades and grains.

Bamboo flooring comes in a wide range of colors and styles including hand scraped and engineered planks all with the beautiful marbling effect that is typical of strand woven bamboo flooring. Properly finished bamboo flooring cleans easily with a mop and mild soap. Better manufacturers publish their test results for formaldehyde levels. Many bamboo flooring products are made with adhesive or binders containing urea formaldehyde which can emit a toxic gas through a process called off gassing after the flooring is installed.

The pros cons. Bamboo flooring has a chic exotic look but is still relatively inexpensive which makes it a highly appealing flooring option for many. For those who prefer modern décor bamboo flooring has a clean contemporary look. Engineered bamboo flooring consists of bamboo strips usually 1 8 on top of the plank and is layered with other types of wood underneath.