Why Not Bamboo Flooring

The popularity of bamboo floors continues to rise as more and more homeowners search for greener alternatives to traditional hardwood floors.

Why not bamboo flooring. Bamboo is not very common in north america. Lower quality bamboo dents or scratches fairly easily although any type of bamboo flooring is impossible to keep completely smooth if used regularly. Bamboo flooring problems 1. Because bamboo is grass the grain runs the length of the board.

Easily scratched humidity swings can cause cracks toxins present in adhesives. Exposed to moisture for an extended period of time bamboo flooring products can absorb moisture and weaken. It has some weak natural antibacterial properties. Bamboo is technically a grass not a tree that starts with rhizomes stems that grow underground and send shoots and leaves above ground once the young bamboo is planted it takes anywhere from four to 10 years for the usable wood to mature.

But you might soon begin noticing it more. The bamboo floor is more dense and steady against water impact than the majority of wooden floor coverings. While some manufacturers of quality bamboo flooring offer materials from forest stewardship council fsc certified forests much of the bamboo flooring on the market does not come from fsc forests and may not promote sustainable forest management. Bamboo grass readily absorbs water and is susceptible to damage from water and excessive humidity.

Yes bamboo grows quickly. The contemporary look of bamboo doesn t fit with all décor. Bamboo is appearing in everything from flooring to panelling and there are even people riding around on bamboo bicycles now. First unlike hardwood flooring bamboo isn t strips of bamboo.

First there s bamboo s rapid growth and regeneration. One of the biggest benefits of bamboo is its ability to regenerate so quickly and another is the extreme toughness of strand woven bamboo. In the not too distant future it is possible to imagine bamboo replacing wood in a number of furniture and fencing. The bamboo plant can regenerate in as little as 5 years.

For the most eco friendly bamboo flooring look for fsc certified products as a starting point. Why bamboo flooring may not be your best option bamboo flooring can contain toxins. Inexpensive bamboo flooring is susceptible to scratches and dings. Lack of fsc certification.

Some species can grow as much as five feet a year. Bamboo is prone to moisture cupping and swelling. There are still environmental concerns. Furniture pets and even pointy heeled shoes can damage the surface of bamboo floors over time as can sand or the tiny particles of everyday life found on adaptdesignpdx.

Its eco friendliness is because bamboo is a grass and not hardwood. Moisture still constitutes a danger to a bamboo.