You might have heard a lot about bamboo flooring recently, since this interesting flooring type has been getting more and more attention.
Many of us who haven’t seen bamboo flooring find it hard to envision. We’re pretty sure it’s not made up of round poles, but it can be hard to imagine how those poles are processed into bamboo.
Unlike hardwoods used for flooring like oak and walnut, bamboo is classified as a grass, even though it doesn’t look much like one.
That’s because bamboo is one of the biggest grasses in the world, and can be mistaken for a tree. Some species can grow up to a foot across and a hundred feet high.
Despite its grassy classification, you’ll find that flooring made from bamboo still has a lot in common with hardwood as a floor material. Maintenance is done in the same way, and this flooring offers a similar look.
This kind of flooring is also hypo-allergenic, since there are no places for dander, pollen, mildew and dust to hide. It’s warmer than tile and other materials and beautiful to look at.
This durable material is ten percent harder than floors made from red oak, so it’ll last a long time. Installing bamboo flooring can only increase your home’s value.
This kind of flooring is made from split bamboo stalks flattened by enormous pressure. These flattened stalks are then laminated together, and more pressure applied to create a unit of flooring – plank, tile or strip.
The result is something a lot like a hardwood laminate floor – multi-layered, pre-finished, and with a tongue and groove installation mechanism. These floor planks are very regular and even and easy to install, even on your own.
So what’s the fuss about bamboo and the environment? Most of us have heard that bamboo is an extremely ecologically friendly material to use on a floor.
Thats because of the speed with which bamboo grows, and its low pesticide and fertilizer requirements. To make a bamboo floor, the plants need to grow only for five to six years, and they regenerate extremely quickly after harvesting.
Because of this bamboo flooring is considered one of the more sustainable options. Just make sure you choose your floor carefully.
Bamboo’s newfound popularity has caused some people to try boosting their profits by adding extra chemicals while the material is growing, and to produce lower quality flooring material. These floors aren’t as good for the environment and don’t last as long – avoid them if you can.
Fortunately, this is isn’t really difficult. Most distributors and manufacturers of bamboo flooring want you to know all about their products and the benefits of installing them, so avoid cheap floors and people who don’t want to talk about their flooring or its origins.
Bamboo flooring is an excellent investment, both for the beauty and value of your home and for the environment. Most of our waste each year comes from the housing industry – if you choose an environmentally friendly option for your home, you’re cutting down that waste.
Think about bamboo flooring when the time comes to choose the floor covering for your home, whether it’s new construction or a remodel. You’ll love this durable, beautiful natural material, and so will the environment.
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