So, you’ve decided to stay in your present home and make some updates. Whether you’re planning a major overhaul or just environmentally green-up a room or two, flooring is the best place to start. And here’s the best news… adding warm, inviting hardwood floors can be much less expensive and eco-friendly at the same time. Welcome bamboo flooring!
The Good
Bamboo flooring is growing in popularity as the new hardwood of choice for many home builders and renovators worldwide. Many consumers, however, instantly picture rows of bamboo cane lashed together with twine. Not so. Picture, instead, vibrant wood tones in a vast array of hues and varying styles, much like those of a gleaming oak, maple or walnut finish. Now think: bamboo.
Bamboo flooring is actually manufactured by slicing the reeds of the bamboo plant into strips and then soaking and boiling the strips to remove the starch and provide pliability. The bamboo strips are then dried and laminated into boards, then treated with a preservative. The naturally light color of the bamboo is darkened according to the amount of pressure steaming.
Bamboo flooring is durable and one of the harder flooring options. Actual hardness will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and from batch to batch. The hardness range is slightly less than red oak to much harder. An added plus is that bamboo floors are also fire resistant.
Bamboo flooring is easy care for. Sweep every couple of days with a soft broom and mop once weekly – the same treatment you’d give a traditional hardwood floor. Bamboo flooring is also non-allergenic.
For the cost conscious, bamboo flooring starts at less than $2/square foot. The price can go to as high as $8/square foot. As with anything, you get what you pay for. A little research will yield high results as to the cost variables. At any rate, the finished product can be up to 50% less expensive than with traditional hardwoods.
Bamboo flooring can be easily installed by nailing, gluing or floating over many types of existing subfloors.
Other bamboo options? Engineered bamboo is more durable and stable than regular bamboo flooring. It is created with layers called plies. The more plies, the stronger the bamboo floor. Note, however, that engineered bamboo is not 100% bamboo. Also, engineered bamboo stands up to humidity better. Stranded bamboo floors are made with bamboo fibers that are mixed with adhesive and pressurized. Stranded bamboo is the most dense bamboo flooring, but also the most difficult to install.
The Bad
As stated earlier, while bamboo is generally durable, the hardness will vary, usually with the price. Verify your flooring selection either in-store or if ordering on-line, ask for a sample. Check your sample with a fingernail to see if it dents easily and then compare against a comparable traditional hardwood sample.
Most bamboo flooring is manufactured in China – the Hunan region. Although the bamboo forests of this region are government owned, there is no way to certify that the bamboo flooring from this region has been cured or treated with non-toxic preservatives. Most bamboo flooring from China is treated with formaldehyde. Boric acid is also a common and non-toxic preservative. However, because of its growing popularity, many brands of bamboo flooring now have a water-based finish. Check with your supplier for preservative specifics.
If you’re a DIYer, note that not all bamboo flooring can float. Bamboo flooring that requires nailing or gluing should be installed by a professional. Once again, check with your supplier for your best bamboo options.
Shipping can be a problem. While most bamboo flooring originates in China, India (the largest bamboo producer, incidentally), Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Costa Rica also export bamboo for flooring.
While many consumers love their hardwood floors, most don’t like the care that is required. It’s no different if your hardwood is bamboo. Sunlight can bleach bamboo just like traditional hardwoods. Protect any hardwood floor from sun bleaching with blinds, shades or curtains. Use felt based casters on all furniture. Avoid scratching and denting from high heels. In short, treat all hardwoods with care.
Proper sealing is imperative, as with any wood flooring.
The Green
Calling bamboo a hardwood is an anomaly. Bamboo is actually a grass that renews to maturity every three to five years – much quicker than the100 years or so it takes for an oak or walnut to fully mature. This makes bamboo flooring very environmentally friendly, much more so than any other type of wood or laminate flooring. In fact, harvesting bamboo every three years or so aids the plant’s growth. After harvesting, bamboo regenerates, negating the need for replanting. Plus, bamboo is hardy – no need for pesticides.
Another eco-friendly bamboo flooring fact is that darkening of the wood is accomplished through pressure steaming. No dyes or tinctures. Lamination helps seal and protect the bamboo and its coloring.
Animal enthusiasts need not worry that the Panda will suffer from a lack of bamboo (their favorite food source). Pandas actually live in northern China, much further north than the Hunan region.
And the not so green: Unfortunately, some bamboo producing countries have begun clearing their natural forests to make room for additional bamboo production. Of course, this deforestation leads to erosion. To make matters worse, some have begun experimenting with chemicals to enhance their bamboo yields. As of yet, there is no environmental certification for bamboo farming. Because of its growing popularity, however, many bamboo companies are creating environmental plans to soon be placed into action, calling for sustainable and responsible bamboo harvesting.
Bamboo flooring is fast becoming the eco-friendly, wallet-friendly choice for not only today’s home builders, but also home owners looking for a positive change. Bamboo flooring styles, textures and colors lend even the most savvy decorator with choices to easily coordinate with any décor. DIYers love the versatility of installation as well as purchasing options. Environmentalists embrace bamboo as a quickly renewable resource. Economists appreciate the fact that you no longer have to substitute quality to maintain a budget. And Pandas… well, they just like the way bamboo tastes.
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