Many homeowners desire the look and durability of traditional hardwood floors, but are concerned with the environmental impact that comes with producing the material. Although most hardwood flooring manufacturers use responsible harvesting practices, the fact remains that harvesting the tree kills it and new trees must be planted to replace it. Fortunately, there is a green flooring alternative that will give practically the same look as hardwood, but without the environmental repercussions. That material is bamboo flooring.
What to Know About Bamboo Wood Floors Bamboo is a material that has been in use for many different applications over many, many years, gaining popularity for use in flooring. Bamboo wood flooring is a durable and reliable, not to mention environmentally-friendly, option for your home or business. In addition to a flooring material, bamboo can be crafted into any number of products from oriental styled furniture to attractive bamboo rugs. This gives homeowners a certain type of design flexibility that is difficult to obtain with most other flooring options.
Two Colors in Bamboo Wood Flooring Bamboo wood flooring boasts of a natural beauty that shines through in whatever the shade and style. There are two distinctive colors of bamboo available – natural and carbonized. Natural bamboo is a creamy blonde shade, the color of bamboo in nature. Being a light-colored bamboo wood flooring option, this type tends to make rooms appear larger. Carbonized bamboo is the darker bamboo wood flooring option; it comes in a dark caramel shade, achieved by boiling the bamboo. While carbonized bamboo is about 30 percent softer than the natural type, it is still as strong and durable as traditional hardwood. Three Styles in Bamboo Wood Flooring Horizontal bamboo flooring offers the most natural look for bamboo. The growth rings of the bamboo plant are visible on this type of flooring. Strips of bamboo are glued together and then bound in three separate layers. This is an excellent choice for rooms that require a casual or open appearance.
Vertical bamboo flooring offers a more uniform appearance throughout the floor. Strips of bamboo are glued with their narrow edges facing up, resulting in an attractive pattern and consistent color. This style of bamboo flooring are good choices for rooms that require a slightly more elegant and sophisticated design.
Strand-woven bamboo flooring create a different look entirely. Excess strands of bamboo taken from bamboo fillets during milling are crushed, pressed, and glued together at high temperatures to produce scratch-resistant, UV-resistant, and moisture-resistant boards. They are perfect choices for high traffic and high humidity areas of the home where a more durable flooring option is required.
Environmentally Friendly Bamboo Floors Bamboo wood flooring is an environmentally friendly flooring option. Bamboo grows abundantly in China and other parts of the world, and it matures quickly. Bamboo is also not permanently damaged by harvesting – each individual bamboo plant can source several harvests and remain healthy.
Since bamboo wood flooring needs fewer chemicals to clean and maintain, it is a great choice for homeowners who are looking for that environment-conscious flooring choice without sacrificing beauty or strength. They are also high on the convenience scale in terms of maintenance, with only a minimal amount of effort being required to keep them looking their best.
