Bamboo Flooring Tips

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• Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo Flooring

If you think about bamboo flooring, the first thing that may come to mind is a simple house raised on stilts in a southeast Asian village, with bamboo stems cut as flat as possible to similar lengths and nailed to wooden beams. Such floors are practical for the hot climate in southeast Asia, as they provide for air circulation through the floor. And they are within the budget of the low-income farmer installing them: they cost literally nothing beyond the cost of nails and labor, as bamboo is readily collected from surrounding forests.

However, the manufactured bamboo flooring that is now commonly available through dealers around the world is another matter altogether. Mature bamboo poles are first cut to length and sliced into strips, depending on the width desired. The outer skin is removed, and the strips are then boiled in a solution of lime or boric acid, to remove starch and sugars. The strips are then dried and planed.

Bamboo’s natural color is light, similar to beech, and bamboo flooring can be purchased in this color. If a darker color is preferred, one can purchase carbonized bamboo; the bamboo strips are steamed under controlled pressure and heat, darkening the natural color to a brownish shade similar to that of oak. However, this carbonizing process can reduce the wood’s hardness significantly. The hardness of natural bamboo is around 1,380 on the Janka hardness scale (similar to oak), whereas carbonizing reduces hardness to 1,180 on the scale, which is softer than most pines.

Bamboo is also considered a “green” alternative when selecting hardwood flooring. Traditional hardwood trees can take from 20 to over 100 years to mature, while bamboo can grow nearly 80 feet in 2 months, and matures in 3-5 years. Also, when harvesting bamboo, the root structure can be left intact, making bamboo an easily renewable resource. No pesticides are required to grow bamboo. On the other hand, in processing bamboo strips for flooring, the strips are usually laminated with urea-formaldehyde adhesive; these resins can emit volatile organic compounds. Also, bamboo requires international transport; most of the bamboo used for flooring in North American and Europe originates in China. So, whether bamboo can be considered an eco-friendly alternative is open for debate.

Bamboo floor boards are available in two patterns. “Horizontal” bamboo indicates that the strips are laminated together in such a way that the wood’s natural growth rings appear. The overall appearance is of short, choppy rows. “Vertical” bamboo, on the other hand, is laminated with the strips laid on their sides, creating long, thin rows. Either style is sold in strips or planks that are usually a bit thicker than half an inch, with tongue and groove, so they can be installed much like you would install any other kind of hardwood floor.

And, as with most other kinds of wood flooring, bamboo is available as engineered wood. Engineered bamboo is not 100 percent bamboo; the strips or planks have a veneer of bamboo on the surface, perhaps 1/8" thick, with plywood or other woods forming the base underneath. Because of this mixture of woods, engineered bamboo is stronger than solid bamboo boards. Installation is similar to that of solid bamboo.

Yet another variation of bamboo flooring is strand-woven bamboo. In this process, strands of bamboo fiber are pressed together to form the floorboards. The finished looks is woven, and can appear exotic. Strand-woven bamboo is generally the strongest of all bamboo floors, because of the pressure used to construct the boards; it is also considered the most environmentally friendly, because it requires less adhesive.

There are many benefits to bamboo flooring. It can cost 50 percent less than conventional hardwood floors, and it is fire resistant. Bamboo can be installed over many different kinds of subfloor, and it can be either nailed, glued, or floated. It is considered environmentally friendly, and is non-allergenic; it is easily cleaned and lasts a long time. On the other hand, as mentioned, most bamboos use formaldehyde binding agents in the adhesives used to bind strips together, although some manufacturers are beginning to use safer resins. Bamboo can bleach in direct sunlight, and can stain if not sealed properly. Like most woods, bamboo can dent or scratch, particularly the darker boards that have been carbonized.

And like other hardwood floors, bamboo floors require proper care and upkeep. Keep your floor swept and damp-mopped regularly, as dust and grit can damage your floor. Get into the habit of removing your street shoes before walking on your floors, as the grit you track in on the soles of your shoes can act like sandpaper. Use felt pads under furniture legs, and if moving heavy pieces of furniture, get some help and lift the furniture -- don't slide it! Use area rugs in high-traffic areas. Wipe ups spills immediately, and use only cleaning products recommended by your dealer. Abrasive cleansers and harsh detergents should never be used.

If you take maintain your floor properly and take simple precautions, it will last you for decades.

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