Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring

When I first heard about using bamboo as flooring I couldn’t really picture what this would look like.  I had a vision of trying to walk on a floor covered with small diameter bamboo shafts laid out side by side.  I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how this could be a good flooring solution.  So, I did some research and found out this is not how a bamboo floor is constructed at all.  Instead, it is a green flooring product that uses a renewable resource and also gives a nice floor surface.  It is a composite material that is taking the flooring world by storm. Below is some of  the information I found. I hope you find this article helpful.

Strand Woven Bamboo flooring is becoming a popular choice among homeowners for a variety of reasons. While everyone has their own reason for choosing strand woven bamboo flooring most of the reasons fall into three main categories. The most popular reason homeowners’ select this style of flooring is because of how it looks, while others choose it because of the benefits it has on the environment and its amazing properties.

The majority of homeowners choose bamboo flooring because of its amazing finish. Bamboo is a grass rather than a tree, so the finish really stands out from other hardwood flooring options due to the fact they are all made from wood. The main aspect that really catches people’s attention with bamboo flooring is the dark band pattern that is formed due to nodes. Another reason why people like how bamboo looks compared to other hardwood flooring options is the color in the flooring material, there is little variation in the shades on a single piece of flooring.  This flooring generally comes in one of three colors depending on the carbonization process used. One of the most popular choices is a natural bamboo color, which is quite similar to beech wood; to obtain this color the bamboo is not carbonized. To get the darker color, similar to oak, the bamboo must be carbonized, which involves using controlled pressure and heat to steam the bamboo strips. The longer the carbonizing process is applied to the raw material, the darker the bamboo will turn.  The non treated natural bamboo flooring has a very light tannish color and the carbonized bamboo flooring gets darker and darker as the process is left to run its course.

Environemtally Friendly Bamboo Flooring

Not only is bamboo flooring beautiful to look at it is also a great choice for those who are worried about the environment. When it comes to hardwood flooring, strand woven bamboo has very little  impact on the environment because trees are not being cut down to create the flooring. Not only that but bamboo is also fast growing. Bamboo reaches full maturity in five years, and it can reach heights of up to 50 feet in that same period. With the trees that are used to create your hardwood flooring it can take anywhere from 30 to 120 years for one tree to fully mature.

When a tree is cut down to be manufactured into flooring or some other building product, it will no regrow on its own.  Another tree has to be planted in order to replace the one that was harvested.  Since bamboo is a grass it does not need to be replanted, when one stalk is harvested another will regrow and thus the raw material for the flooring can be harvested from the same plant for years on end. Most of the bamboo that is harvested for bamboo flooring is harvested in China, as well as a few other regions in Asia. Not only is the bamboo harvested in these areas, it is also manufactured into bamboo flooring in the same areas. The main type of bamboo used for flooring is known as Moso.

Strand woven bamboo flooring is also one of the hardest flooring choices available, many people are surprised to learn that it is stronger than most of the other hardwood out there. Bamboo flooring ranges in hardness based on how it was first processed. Natural bamboo flooring, meaning no carbonization process was used, is the strongest form of bamboo available. As bamboo is carbonized, it turns the wood softer, so the longer the carbonization process, or the darker the bamboo is, the softer the wood. Many people assume that because the dark bamboo has been carbonized that is no longer a strong or durable hardwood flooring choice, but according to the Janka hardness test even after carbonization bamboo is still one of the strongest woods around. Not only is the flooring harder it is also a lot more resilient, it can take a lot more abuse than most hardwood floor choices. Heavy objects can be dropped on a bamboo floor without leaving any kind of dent, which is almost impossible when compared to other types of hardwood floors.

That is not to say that bamboo floors can not be harmed by denting.  Denting occurs when a heavy object impacts the floor over a very small area.  Dropping a heavy sharp object can damage the floor. Also, small diameter legs on tables and chairs can cause the same problem.  Felt pads should be utilized on table and chair legs and if you use casters be sure they are at least one and a half inches in diameter.

One of the biggest problems that people have with hardwood flooring is the gapping and warping that can happen over an extended period of time. This is very common in hardwood floors which are constructed of solid pieces of wood.  If you have ever been in an old home with hardwood floors you have probably noticed the gaps between some of the board strips and the curling that occur at the edges.

Bamboo Flooring Durability

With bamboo, there is only a minimal chance of the floor warping or even gapping because it is able to resist moisture due to it being a laminated product. However, what makes it even more resistant to moisture is that it is grown in a tropical environment, so it has a natural resistance to moisture. Being able to resist moisture brings an even better advantage because that means no spills will be able to soak into the flooring to cause stains.

Not only is bamboo flooring resistant to moisture it is also naturally resistant to insects. Out in the fields where this grass is grown no pesticides have to be used because bamboo actually has very few natural pests. With no need for pesticides, the cost of growing bamboo is far lower than growing other types of hardwood trees. However, despite the lower cost to grow bamboo transportation costs do add up because it must be shipped from China and other regions of Asia to the rest of the world.

If you are thinking about installing laminated floors in your home then take a look at bamboo.  To be honest not everyone likes the look of the product as it doesn’t have the same grain structure that you would find in an oak or other hardwood product.  But it is something you should at least consider due to its cost structure and the lack of affect on the environment.