Caring for Your Floor

 

Caring for you bamboo flooring is really important to keep it look new and shiny. Most manufacturers provide you with a simple set of guidelines to follow. These guidelines help you care for your flooring, but incase you do not get these tips with your floor it is important to call your manufacturer, and find out what to do in this situation.

 

Here are some tips you can follow when caring for bamboo flooring.

 

• Place rubber pads under the legs of your furniture to prevent scratches or scuff marks.
• Also, never drag furniture across the floor, instead carry it.
• You should avoid letting sharp objects come in contact with the floor. You can do this by keeping the floor clear of debris, and also by making sure that pets in the home have clipped nails to insure that it does not scratch the flooring.
• Because bamboo flooring is a hardwood, it can absorb moisture easily which is why you should always clean up spills immediately to prevent staining.
• You should never use any kind of harsh chemicals on bamboo flooring, and you should never use any kind of household cleaners or oils unless recommended by the manufacturer.
• Use blinds or curtains to protect the floor from powerful UV rays that can fade or damage the floor.
• Keeping the floor out of direct sunlight by using these methods will protect it from any harm done by sunlight. Place a pan underneath plants, so that no moisture will make contact with the floor. And again, use mats and area rugs whenever the floor could come in contact with water, or just in high traffic type areas of your home.
• Use only the recommended cleaner for you bamboo flooring.
• Use a soft cloth that will not scratch the floor, some bamboo floors are softer than others making them more susceptible to scratching, so be careful with your flooring and be sure to read all instructions for care and maintenance.  

What are the Downsides to Bamboo Flooring?

 

There are some health risks involved with certain bamboo flooring. Formaldehyde is something that occurs naturally both outdoors and indoors, and it can cause symptoms such as itchy watery eyes and even in some cases skin irritation. But most of the time formaldehyde is not much of a worry, because it takes a large amount to really affect someone. Bamboo floors can sometimes contain a small amount of formaldehyde, but it is nothing to worry about, so don’t sweat it!

 

Formaldehyde is found in all different kinds of things such as paints, tobacco smoke, cosmetics and even wood burning stoves. Obviously bamboo floors do not contain enough formaldehyde to actually cause damage. They have made many tests on bamboo flooring and discovered that it really does not have that many problems. Although some people complain about scratches and dents, but that is something which can happen with any hard wood flooring not just bamboo. Plus, some even enjoy the rustic look that it has over a long period of time. But most of all bamboo floors are durable which provides you will the secure flooring you need in your home or office. 

 

The Bamboo Plant

 

The bamboo plant is a rapidly growing plant that produces bamboo used in bamboo flooring, the bamboo plant, mostly found in Asian countries, reaches maturity in approximately five to six years. By then this hardy little plant is ready to harvest bamboo for flooring and other materials. The bamboo plant continuously regenerates so removing bamboo from the plant does not actually harm the plant in any way, making this an eco-friendly way to make many useful products. Bamboo is really durable and is the perfect plant to be used for making floorings. Unlike some other hard woods, bamboo is almost entirely bug-free, and can make a great addition to your home or office.

 

Installation

 

Installation involved in bamboo flooring is a mystery for some. Very few brands actually have instruction on the installation process. But, one of the most important parts of installation in the case of bamboo flooring is the preparation process. Be sure that your floor is dry and clean before all installations. This can prevent many problems in the future. Flood preparation is important and many neglect this ever so important step when preparing for installation. Most bamboo flooring is installed by means of staples or floor cleats, but you should always be gentle with the staples to insure that none of the flooring is damaged in the process.

 

Bamboo floors must be carefully measured and double measured before ever cutting, always make sure that everything is going to fit into place before cutting the wood, so you do not waste any bamboo. With most bamboo floors, you should not use the floating method, because they are not originally intended for that use and may cause uneven and a generally unpleasant look. Always remember to ask your local contractor when attempting a do-it-yourself project, to see what you should and should not do to produce the best floor possible.

 

Using the glue down method is extremely risky if you are a do-it-yourselfer and should not be attempted even by the experienced do-it-yourselfer, using the wrong adhesive could cause major problems. Bamboo flooring is extremely durable and in some cases it is even said that it is harder than normal wood floors. And because of this, it is a good solid floor and will not scratch or dent easily. If you are considering putting down bamboo flooring you should consult a professional on the right tips and tricks to use when laying the floor and what kind of preparations should be used to produce the best results.

 

When it comes to bamboo, the darker it is, the softer it will be. And you should pay close attention to this factor when purchasing new bamboo floors. However, most people do tend to choose the darker colors, because it adds a certain amount of warmth to the room giving it a cozy and relaxing feel. But the softer it is the more will be the chances of the floor getting scratched or damaged. But, it is really just a matter of choice; you should research and find the perfect floor for you. A lot of people choose the carbonized bamboo flooring which is soft and is susceptible to scratches, just like any other hard wood floor. Choose what you like, there are many options that you are sure to love.

Bamboo flooring is a great choice for your wood flooring requirements. Bamboo comes from a family of evergreen plants and despite its sometimes small size, it’s a strong wood. For this reason, it is used as flooring, because although it is flexible, it is strong as well. This strong wood is turned into flooring by first steaming it to make it even more flexible, then it is flattened and glued together. After this it is finished with a protecting UV coat in order to be put down in homes across the world. Most bamboo flooring comes from China, where bamboo flourishes.

 

But, bamboo is not just a common wood, or at least that is the belief of some Asian countries. Some believe that all humanity came from one single stem of bamboo. Though that may sound a little far-fetched, bamboo is certainly helpful in the world we live in today.  Bamboo flooring is stylish sleek, and certainly good for the environment. It is all natural and therefore makes it a popular choice in homes all over the world.

 

Colors and Styles

Bamboo flooring comes in many different styles and colors, virtually any kind of color you could want from a hardwood floor you can get with bamboo flooring. This wonderful wood has been used for many different purposes all over the world for centuries. It makes for a sleek and elegant wood floor that you would surely like.  From burnt mocha to natural medium the color range is wide. From extreme light colors to extreme dark colors, the possibilities are nearly endless particularly when you are buying bamboo flooring for your home. Some people, when they think of bamboo, imagine uneven thick round polls of a light cream color, but in reality, bamboo flooring is nothing like that at all.

 

Pricing and Where to Buy

The price for bamboo floors ranges from two dollars a S/F to eight dollars a S/F. It all depends on the color and what quality of wood you buy. Bamboo can come in a variety of styles and with each of these styles is a certain price, some cheaper while some are higher, because of the value of the wood, and how hard it is for the merchant to get the wood. Most bamboo floors can be purchased at most flooring companies, but some online stores can be cheaper depending on the kind of bamboo you are buying. You will have to pay shipping and handling when it comes to ordering online, but if you can get a better deal on the price of the actual flooring the shipping costs may not be such a hassle.

 

In fact, sometimes it is cheaper to buy the flooring online and pay shipping and handling rather than buy from some flooring stores. You should keep in mind that most of the cheaper flooring is that way, because it may have a different protective coating on the outside of the wood, which makes the bamboo more susceptible to wood boring worms that can seriously harm your flooring if the UV coating is not properly done or done with the right kind of UV coating. But no matter what type of bamboo flooring you choose, you will surely like the stylish and elegant edge it gives your home and your lifestyle.