Bamboo Flooring - Advantages and Disadvantages

 

 

Bamboo floors are one of the fastest growing varieties of natural flooring. It was introduced to North America in the early 1980s. Today, it can be found in homes, offices, sports facilities and even on the floor of popular retail stores like Wal-Mart. As a result of the rapid growth of bamboo, its price has come down significantly while its appearance and strength have improved. While this natural flooring trend is favorable for those who are looking for ways to improve the look of their homes without spending a fortune, there are also many benefits of bamboo flooring that make it an excellent choice for builders and homeowners alike.

A bamboo floor is basically a composite floor made from vertically growing bamboo plants. Most of today's bamboo flooring items originate from China and other parts of Asia. One variety of bamboo flooring commonly seen in North America is Moso bamboo, which is often used as a building material in the construction of walkways, patios and floors.

Lumber that contains more bamboo stalks makes it less expensive than solid hardwood planks. In addition, bamboo flooring is stronger than hardwood, making it ideal for use in high traffic areas such as hallways and kitchen floors. It is also more flexible than hardwood, making it easy to work with while avoiding any scratching or gouging that could cause dents or cracks.

Unlike regular wood planks, bamboo flooring does not require any nails or glue to attach them to the subfloor. Bamboo planks are self-adhesive, so the process of attaching them requires no special tools or equipment. When laid, the planks interlock with each other and form a smooth, glossy appearance similar to walnut. Because of this, it is possible to install bamboo flooring over already existing floors. Bamboo planks are also easier to install compared to other types of hardwood. If the planks are nailed, they may split or bend when exposed to moisture.

The durability of bamboo flooring is superior to hardwood flooring. In addition, bamboo is more environmentally friendly than hardwood, due to bamboo's renewable nature. Bamboo flooring is ideal for families with children, as it is stain resistant and scratch resistant. Bamboo floorboards are available in a wide range of colors, allowing you to coordinate the color of your room while striving to conserve energy. Bamboo flooring also has the added benefit of creating a cooler environment in your home.

Although bamboo flooring products have many advantages, they do come with some disadvantages. Most bamboo planks are about twice as long as a traditional hardwood planks. If you live in a small apartment or have limited space, this disadvantage may not be a problem for you. Also, hardwood is more expensive than bamboo flooring products, which could be a turn off for some consumers