Bamboo Flooring Or Hardwood Flooring?

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 is now widely available in North America and Europe.  Many early adopters of bamboo flooring point out its environmental friendliness.  The bamboo plant regrows within a few seasons and can be harvested repeatedly without permanent damage.  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 done without causing any permanent damage.

How does bamboo flooring compare with traditional hardwoods?  High quality bamboo flooring provides a tougher surface than even the rarest and most expensive hardwoods.  Moisture is also less of a problem for bamboo flooring.  Where traditional hardwood may cup and crown due to water exposure, bamboo flooring can absorb the moisture without a problem.  Bamboo flooring is engineered like laminate floors and treated under extremely high pressure with a high quality adhesive.  This makes bamboo flooring extremely hardy and resistant to abrasion, where less treated hardwood floors may show scratches after a while.  Bamboo flooring has become significantly more affordable in the past few years as well.

Best of all, bamboo flooring can typically be installed at home without any professional assistance.  Like many of the newer hardwoods, bamboo flooring is produced with a tongue and groove construction, making them considerably easier to install.  Prior to laying down a bamboo floor, allow the planks to adjust to their new environment for no less than 72 hours.  Although bamboo flooring is very resistant to moisture, unlike a hardwood floor, they do need some time to adjust to the new environment before installation.

What steps need to be taken in order to provide upkeep for a bamboo floor?  Maintenance requirements are fairly simple for bamboo flooring, as well as any hardwood floor care.  Be sure to clean the floor after installing it, using a mop with only a little bit of water.  Regular dusting and sweeping should be done after installation.  This will prevent a build up of dust that can dull the finish.  A mat used at the entrance way will keep out a great deal of dust and dirt.  Dirt and small rocks can easily scratch the finish, and a mat can go a long way in preventing this problem.