Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is a grass not a wood. As a grass bamboo regenerates faster than wood. In fact, bamboo is typically harvested within five years of sprouting, making it a truly renewable resource. Its use can provide a positive impact on the enviroment. Harvesting bamboo serves to stimulate the growth of very extensive underground root systems, which develops fast growing sprouts the following Spring. Sprouts breaking through the soil can grow as much as 2 feet the first day.

Bamboo floors are available in natural colors or can be factory stained. Bamboo is naturally a light yellow color, or can be baked to a carbonized caramel. Like all naturally occurring materials, bamboo flooring display shading and color variation, although not as much as hardwoods. Bamboo floors can be purchased with a factory applied finish or can be purchased unfinished and then finished onsite, and are available in a matt, low gloss, high gloss and satin finish, giving versatility in terms of design and matching of décor. Note that high gloss finishes tend to show more scratching when compared with non high gloss finishes, and carbonized bamboo tends to be softer as a result of the baking process.

Bamboo has been used as a construction material for thousands of years. In fact, bamboo has a tensile strength of 28,000 per square inch compared to 23,000 for steel and a Janka hardness rating of between 1300 and 1900, depending on finish and region of growth, making it harder than most hardwoods and perfect for flooring. Bamboo is a grass not a wood, and as a grass, it develops quicker than hardwoods and can be harvested within five to six years of planting, making it a truly renewable resource.

Once the bamboo is harvested, it is cut into strips and then milled into rectangular pieces. These rectangular pieces are then glued together in a horizontal or vertical construction. It is important to ensure that the adhesives used are low in formaldehyde, this is especially important for products manufactured in China, as they do not have legislation controlling the composition of formaldehyde adhesives.

Bamboo floors are available in a solid or engineered construction, and come with square or beveled edges. Most solid bamboo floors are 5/8” thick and come in lengths ranging from 2’ to 6’, with the longer strips commanding a higher price. Solid bamboo is available in widths from 2” to 4”, while engineered bamboo is generally ½” thick and available in widths up to 7”.

Bamboo floors can be stapled, glued or floated, depending on the construction and type of sub floor. Always check the manufacturers’ specifications for recommended installation methods. Recent technological advances have resulted in floating floors that can be installed without the use of adhesives, opening the door to the DIY market. Like with hardwood and laminate floors, bamboo is available with all the matching trims and moldings that will facilitate the installation of your floor.