Bamboo floors have become immensely popular over the past few years, and for good reason. Bamboo as a building material has numerous advantages over its hardwood counter parts. To start with, Bamboo has a unique aesthetic quality. The grain in bamboo is much tighter than in hardwood. It comes in a wide variety of colors and styles. Bamboo flooring comes in horizontal and vertical grain, as well as unique woven patters. It can be darkened without the use of stains and chemicals through a process known as carbonization. Carbonization subjects the bamboo to varying levels of heat and pressure, which create darkening through natural reactions in the bamboo.
In addition to its good looks, bamboo is extremely durable. It has a hardness rating nearly two times that of oak floors. Certain species of bamboo are rated higher than maple, the industry standard for hardwood. This means that bamboo can take plenty of punishment without becoming dented or otherwise damaged. Another advantage this tropical grass has over wood is that it is adapted to moist environments. Bamboo is grown in humid, tropical regions. As a result, it is more likely to withstand water damage than hardwood. Bamboo floors can even be installed in bathrooms without warping or gapping.
Bamboo floors are easy to maintain and hypoallergenic. Dust does not cling as readily to bamboo flooring as it does to hardwood or tile. This means less upkeep is required for sparkling clean floors. Bamboo also has the advantage of being easier on the feet and legs than most other hard floor. Bamboo is not only good for people. It is also good for the environment.
Unlike hardwood trees, which can take nearly thirty years to reach maturity, bamboo is ready to harvest in just five years. Bamboo can be harvested repeatedly from the same plant. It reaches a height of fifty feet at maturity, and it does so in one sixth the time it takes a hardwood tree. The renewable, sustainable nature of bamboo makes it the ideal building material for those who are environmentally conscious. With concerns mounting over deforestation, bamboo provides a green alternative. Bamboo’s properties make it the ideal building material for people who want a strong, beautiful and environmentally friendly floor.