What is Bamboo Flooring?

Bamboo flooring is an eco-friendly, durable alternative to traditional hardwood floors. It’s faster-growing, more sustainable, and easier on the environment than many types of woods used for flooring. Bamboo also displays excellent dimensional stability, meaning it will remain flat and not warp over time.

This makes bamboo a sensible choice for homeowners looking for ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality or style. If you are considering bamboo flooring as a solution for your space, here are some important basics about the bamboo you should know before making your decision.

Types of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo floors come in three different types: strand-woven, strip, and plank.

1. Strip bamboo flooring

Strip bamboo flooring is created by gluing or snapping together thin bamboo strips to form one long piece. This alternative is often used in commercial spaces where high durability is required. Strip bamboo flooring can be installed almost anywhere but it’s not recommended for use outdoors due to its tendency to warp under the sun.

2. Plank bamboo flooring

Plank bamboo flooring consists of wide, rectangular strips that are manually pressed into a finished wooden surface as a floating installation, meaning it doesn’t require additional support from nails or adhesives with the exception of backer boards if you’re attaching them to concrete floors. It is naturally resistant to moisture and warping, making it a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

3. Strand-woven bamboo

Strand-woven bamboo flooring is created by weaving together dried bamboo reeds to create a textured, solid surface. This type of flooring is usually more expensive than other types but its natural resistance to moisture and warp make it worth the investment if you’re looking for an eco-friendly and durable alternative to hardwood.

10 Benefits of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is incredibly durable. It has a higher quality than most traditional hardwood floors and it will maintain its natural beauty long after they’ve become worn or scratched. Bamboo flooring is also eco-friendly, which means that your new hardwood floors are good for the environment too! This sustainable wood requires no special treatment, causes little to no waste during growth processes, and requires fewer chemical treatments in the manufacturing process.

But that’s not all bamboo flooring has to offer. In fact, bamboo offers a number of benefits that make it an ideal material for your home.

1. Naturally Beautiful

Their rich, complex grain patterns and coloring can mimic hardwood or tile flooring perfectly. This natural look means less time spent trying to match the design of your new floors with existing decor elements in your room. Bamboo floors also come in a range of finishes, allowing you to find the best style for your space whether it be a light gloss or matte finish.

2. Water Resistant

Unlike traditional hardwood floors, bamboo is naturally resistant to moisture damage due to its tight cellular structure. If you have pets who enjoy drinking from their water bowls on the floor or kids who are prone to spilling their juice boxes, you’ll find that bamboo floors are easier to clean and generally more durable.

3. Easy to Maintain

Because of its water resistance, durability, and fine finish, bamboo flooring is easy to clean with just a quick sweep or mop with warm soapy water. Bamboo can also be refinished if it becomes scratched or faded over time just like traditional hardwood. This re-finishing process simply requires sanding down the surface then applying an oil or lacquer sealant for added protection. It will look as good as new in minutes!

4. Strong and Stable

The tight grain texture of bamboo makes it very strong and resistant to cracking and warping. Many types of bamboo (such as golden bamboo) are actually more dense than hardwood, making them even more resistant to dents and scratches.

5. Eco Friendly

Not only are you saving trees by choosing bamboo, but you’re also protecting the environment with sustainable lumber that requires few chemical treatments during the manufacturing process. Bamboo grows very quickly in many regions of Asia without causing harm to the surrounding ecosystem or using dangerous fertilizers and pesticides that may enter local waterways. In fact, bamboo plantations help prevent erosion, improve water quality and provide habitats for native species of plants and animals.

6. Easy Installation

There’s no need for underlayment when installing bamboo floors. Unlike traditional hardwood floors, an underlayment is not required when adding a new bamboo floor. The material is naturally water-resistant and the smooth surface provides optimal traction. You may, however, want to consider adding an underlayment if you’re planning to install bamboo over a concrete sub-floor. This will help create a smoother surface for installation and it will also protect your new floor from any moisture damage that results from cracks in the concrete.

7.  Incredibly Easy to Maintain

Bamboo floors require no special treatment or finish before or after installation which makes them much easier to care for than hardwood floors. There’s no need for sanding, staining, finishing, or sealing when installing bamboo flooring. All you have to do is sweep or mop with mild soap and warm water then buff dry with a soft cloth.

8. Low Environmental Impact

Because it grows so quickly, bamboo harvesting does not cause deforestation or soil erosion problems associated with other lumber types. Bamboo plantations actually help to protect the environment by providing habitats for native species. Reducing soil erosion, and improving overall water quality.

There’s no need for chemical treatments. Bamboo floors are naturally resistant to moisture and pests which means you don’t have to treat them with any harsh chemicals. This makes bamboo flooring ideal for people looking to reduce their exposure to potentially harmful toxins in their homes. Unlike traditional hardwood floors. Bamboo is also much less likely (or completely resistant) to insect infestations like termites, carpenter ants, or cockroaches.

9. Healthier Indoor Air Quality

The core of solid bamboo lumber contains a substance called “bamboo Kun” which acts as a natural anti-fungal agent that resists rot and decay. This means bamboo is naturally resistant to moisture and pests which makes it a perfect choice for people looking to reduce their exposure to potentially harmful toxins in their homes. There’s also no need for chemical treatments when installing bamboo flooring so your indoor air quality remains cleaner longer.

10. Incredibly Quiet

The smooth surface of properly installed bamboo gives it a much quieter and more stable walking surface than traditional hardwood floors. The engineered wood core in most types of solid hardwood contains spaces that can lead to squeaking. Bamboo has a solid core with no space between the vertical planks, making it an excellent choice if you enjoy the sound of silence!