Homeowners who want an exotic look for their homes typically look for new types of flooring, and bamboo is one of the materials that is new in the market and can relatively hold its own when compared with some traditional flooring materials.
Bamboo flooring may not be comparable to sturdy hardwood and at best compares with black walnut and maple. Nevertheless, bamboo is extolled by environmentalists as a “green” material because it is a renewable resource. Being a type of grass, it grows very quickly – it only takes about three years before it can be harvested.
It can grow to heights of 60 feet and it is said that if these grasses are not cut in 5 years, the bamboo trees will fall on their own. It is thus perfect for use in house construction as the consumption demand for rainforest hardwood is reduced each time someone opts for bamboo flooring.
On the other hand, oak and other hardwood trees take hundreds of years to mature. Thus, despite its being a bit softer compared to traditional materials, its regenerative qualities cannot be discounted.
It is also easy to care for bamboo flooring. To clean it, use a dry mop, a broom, or a non-abrasive brush attachment for the vacuum cleaner. To clean stubborn stains, a slightly damp mop can be used. Protect a bamboo flooring by using pads for your furniture legs and avoid walking on it in spiked heels.
One advantage of using bamboo flooring is that it is dent-resistant. It doesn’t contract as much as wood and is highly resistant to molds. Another is that it is much less toxic than carpets. One bamboo flooring manufacturer’s products have been tested with less than 0.00563 milligrams of VOCs per square meter per hour, while carpets register around 0.5 milligrams.
People think of bamboo flooring as an uneven surface made from rounded bamboo parts, with a lone color available – that is, its natural light-honey hue. Nowadays, thanks to technological advances, bamboo can be processed into smooth, laminated strips, tiles, or planks.
Bamboo flooring is also now available in darker shades, such as “Tea” or “Green Tea” due to carbonization. This is a process of heating the bamboo to offer consumers a wider variety of hues to choose from. However, the more bamboo is heated, the softer it becomes – so keep that in mind when choosing colors for your bamboo flooring.
This type of material can be installed in a number of ways, one of which is nailing or gluing it down such as one would a traditional floor. The other method is to float the bamboo and assemble them into place.
Homeowners in the U.S. still find it difficult to source bamboo flooring [http://www.homeimprovementbliss.com/flooring/install-a-patio-swing-and-enjoy-hours-of-relaxation-50], however. This grass abounds in China and other countries in the Pacific Rim and may considerably increase in cost once they are exported to the U.S.
If you are forunate enough to source materials for your bamboo flooring, you will be rewarded with a higher resale value for your home because with the proper care, bamboo becomes more beautiful over time – it develops a quaint patina that can only be achieved with years of use.
