Imagine a list of hardwood floors and the chances are it would include the likes of ash, oak, beech, cherry, walnut and possibly pine. At a push, it could include unusual materials like merbau and wenge. But few would consider bamboo.
Strictly speaking, this is correct, since, despite appearances to the contrary, bamboo is in fact a type of grass. However, this is one of the advantages of the material, particularly for those who like to be eco-friendly. While normal hardwood can only be acquired through the death of a tree through felling – therefore, robbing the environment of its ability to capture carbon – bamboo can simply be harvested by the trimming of its stalks. Just as the grass of a mowed lawn will grow back, so too in time will bamboo, allowing the living plant to be harvested again and again.
In addition to this, as a tropical plant, bamboo is better able to deal with moisture than normal wood. Although it will still expand and contract with variations of heat and humidity, this will happen less. Bamboo flooring is made of fibrous strands and one way of creating the floors is by making them strand-woven, where it is broken down into individual fibrous strands and then boiled to remove the sugar, before being re-woven and thus made much stronger.
The other method of creating bamboo flooring is the cutting of the material into slats, which are then pressed together again using a high-pressure laminate. This can be done with either a horizontal or vertical alignment and some manufacturers do both, as with Westhollow bamboo flooring. These slats bring out the natural lines and nodes that are particularly characteristic of bamboo and mean those having such floors can enjoy these unique features.
Another variation is that of colour, with the alternative to traditional pale bamboo being carbonised bamboo flooring. This is created by heating the surface of the wood, which browns the sugars in the material and darkens it. As a result, householders may enjoy a much darker bamboo if they wish.
So with bamboo being tough, moisture-resistant, eco-friendly, available in different styles and possessing unique markings, it offers a new and attractive option for those looking for a new hardwood floor.
