Home Remodeling Tips

Bamboo flooring provides another avenue for those looking for something other than hardwood.  Growing in popularity as an alternative, bamboo flooring has many features that make it stand out when compared to hardwood.  Although harvested primarily in China, bamboo flooring can now be found easily in both European and North American markets.  Many of those that adopted bamboo flooring early on point out its environmental friendliness.  The bamboo plant regrows very quickly when compared with the time it takes a forest to regrow.  In fact, the bamboo plant is considered a grass, as it grows far faster than a forest.  When done responsibly, bamboo plant harvesting can be accomplished in a environmentally friendly manner.

How does bamboo flooring compare with traditional hardwoods?  High quality bamboo flooring is harder and more durable than even the most expensive hardwood flooring.  Moisture does not affect bamboo in the way that hardwood suffers from water damage.  Where traditional hardwood may buckle and crack because of water exposure, bamboo flooring can absorb the moisture without a problem.  Bamboo flooring is processed as a laminate and treated under very high pressure with a high quality glue.  This makes bamboo flooring very resistant to abrasions and scratches, where a hardwood floor would end up showing scratches.  Bamboo flooring has become significantly more affordable in the past few years as well.

Best of all, bamboo flooring is easy enough to lay down without any professional help.  Like many of the newer hardwoods, bamboo flooring is produced with a tongue and groove construction, making them considerably easier to install.  Before installing a bamboo floor, let the planks to adjust to their new environment for no less than 72 hours.  Although bamboo flooring does not suffer from water damage like hardwood, they do need some time to adjust to their new climate before installation.

What should be done to maintain a bamboo floor?  Maintenance requirements are fairly simple for bamboo flooring.  Make certain to sweep and mop the floor after it is laid down.  Regular dusting and sweeping should be done after installation.  This will prevent dust and dirt from collecting on the finish.  A mat should be placed at the entrance to prevent dust and dirt from coming into the room.  Dirt and small rocks will end up damaging the finish, and a mat can do a great deal to prevent this problem.

Learn more on flooring go to Oak Hardwood Flooring