Bamboo floors are becoming steadily more popular among homeowners because of their low cost and because they are extremely environmentally friendly.
Bamboo is one of the most ecologically and economically sustainable building materials. The average tree takes decades to grow until it’s ready to be harvested for construction use. Conversely, bamboo is ready to be used in construction within three years of planting — it’s the ultimate renewable construction resource. It also requires very little in the way of fertilizer or pesticides.
Bamboo harvesting provides jobs for millions of people in poor nations. More than six million people work in the bamboo industry in China. Worldwide millions more derive at least some part of their income from bamboo.
Bamboo is a cheap, but tough material. The average bamboo floor costs somewhere between $4 to $10 per square foot. Compared to oak and other types of flooring, it’s a steal.
In a recent consumer test, product testers stained a sample of different flooring materials with a wide variety of substances, everything from nail polish to ketchup to markers. Surprisingly, the bamboo floors were among the most stain resistant materials, beating out traditional flooring materials such as oak and walnut.
In another test, the flooring materials were subjected to a barrage of stresses and strains meant to simulate years of floor traffic. Once again bamboo performed impressively, holding up better than the more traditional flooring types.
Part of the bamboo flooring’s resilience comes from a new manufacturing process that shreds the material into strands that are then glued together with a tough, adhesive substance. This manufacturing process exponentially increases the durability of bamboo.
Another great benefit of bamboo flooring is that it is extremely resistant to insects and moisture, making it a great fit for coastal and river area homes.
Bamboo flooring is generally divided into two categories — vertical and horizontal. Vertical bamboo floors consist of vertical planks that are stood on their narrowest edge and then press laminated from side to side. This creates a lined, nearly uniformed look to the top of the plank. In horizontal bamboo floors, individual slats are arranged horizontally, and then fused together by high pressure lamination. In horizontal bamboo floors, you can see and feel the nodes of the bamboo.
Bamboo flooring comes in both light and dark hues, depending on the desire of the customer.
For a cost-effective, environmentally friendly flooring type, take a moment to consider bamboo flooring. It’s the best deal out there.
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