Bamboo Hardwood Flooring
What’s Sizzling and What’s Fizzling in Bamboo
Bamboo hardwood flooring is the way to go if you’re planning on updating your home décor. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant, so using it for flooring does not negatively impact the environment, since it is in abundant supply. Bamboo flooring comes in two shades: a light natural color and a slightly darker brownish color. Here’s a quick update on what’s hot and what’s not in the world of bamboo hardwood flooring.
What’s Hot
- Sustainability. Bamboo is a grass that grows up to 40 feet tall in just four years.
- Insect repellence. After harvesting, bamboo strips are boiled in a solution of lime and boric acid, which drives out the starch that attracts wood-destroying insects.
- Versatility. Solid bamboo hardwood flooring can be made as either an even product composed of flat strips or a smooth vertical product that has many thin strips glued together that stand on edge.
- Easy maintenance. Bamboo flooring cleans easily with a Swiffer or similar type of dry mop. You should avoid unnecessary moisture, as with a hardwood floor.
- Cost. In most cases, bamboo is less expensive than hardwood while installation costs are about the same.
- Non-allergenic. Bamboo floors are perfect for allergy sufferers as they do not promote dust or conceal dust mites.
What’s Not
- Irresponsible farming techniques. Given the recent trend towards bamboo hardwood flooring among Western consumers, producers in Asia have been overly aggressive with their planting, often to the detriment of mature forests and their attendant bionetworks.
- Poor manufacturing techniques. Factories often use glues with excessive levels of formaldehyde when bamboo is converted into planks, which can result in dangerous health concerns for consumers.
To minimize the disadvantages, ask questions before you buy. Find out about the farming and manufacturing techniques, so you purchase bamboo flooring with a clean conscience. Despite the drawbacks, bamboo possesses remarkable qualities, especially when compared to traditional hardwoods.