Note: often people will call cork flooring “bamboo cork flooring,” but in fact, cork is different from bamboo.

Most people know about the beauty of bamboo flooring and how sustainable and environmentally friendly it is, but they may not know about cork flooring. In fact, if asked, cork flooring would probably not sound like a good idea to most people. They envision cork like is found in wine bottles and can’t imagine using it as a flooring option.

Cork has been used as a flooring source for hundreds of years and the main reason for this is that it is an extremely long lasting flooring source and a completely renewable resource.

Unlike other flooring sources which require the harvesting of the entire tree, cork is made from the outer bark of the oak tree. This means that the same tree can produce cork indefinitely, or at least until the tree is cut down for some other reason. The cork that is harvested regenerates in about six years. This is approximately the same amount of time it takes for bamboo to reach maturity. This make bamboo and cork flooring similar in sustainability and both of them excellent choices in flooring.

The durability of cork flooring cannot be stressed enough. Cork resists scuffs and scratches better than any other flooring choice available and is the only wood flooring choice that is completely moisture resistant, making it a perfect flooring choice for bathrooms and kitchens.

Corks durability can be seen in some of the flooring installations that are over one hundred years old. Cork is an excellent insulator and can help reduce energy costs, another factor that plays into it being an environmentally friendly choice in flooring. This same insulating factor that makes cork an energy saver also helps it reduce the transference of noise.

When comparing the beauty of the different types of hardwood flooring available, both bamboo and cork flooring are beautiful in their own rights. Each brings an aesthetically pleasing touch to any room they are installed in. Cork has its own unique mottled appearance that most people are familiar with and can be found in many different colors, depending on the manufacturer and the colors they chose to stain the cork with.

Bamboo can be found in several natural colors, from blonde to ambers and in many other colors depending on what color stains the manufacturers decide to use and market.

Bamboo and cork flooring are both excellent flooring choices for homeowners looking to go ‘green’ with their present and future flooring choices while at the same time adding beauty and durability to their home.

-Sharon V. Chapman

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Bamboo click flooring is made using a process that creates pieces that interlock like puzzle pieces. The bamboo strips are placed on top of a supporting piece of wood before being cut into the click and lock pieces and sold in kits to the public.

This type of bamboo flooring offers several advantages over solid bamboo flooring, the main one being that it can be installed as a floating system over any subfloor. Solid bamboo flooring must be attached to the subfloor and cannot be installed as a floating floor.

Some bamboo click flooring manufacturers suggest using glue in the joints of the flooring pieces for added strength. However, not all click flooring systems suggest glue and some leave the decision up to the installer.

Just like other bamboo flooring types, click flooring is a strong, durable choice in bamboo that will last for many years and bring beauty and elegance to any décor. It is also an environmentally friendly flooring choice that is sustainable.

Bamboo’s sustainability comes from its ability to regrow and be ready for harvest in such a short time. Bamboo can be harvested for use at three to six years of age. This means that the land that was harvested is only barren for three to six years, which prevents major damage from occurring due to runoff and erosion.

Traditional hardwoods, on the other hand, take from fifty to one hundred years to mature and be ready for harvest. This means the land is left barren for just as many years. Animals are displaced, the land is left to the effects of the weather, the soil is altered during the process and the atmosphere suffers from the lack of exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen that occurs.

These environmental facts make it easy to see why installing a bamboo flooring system is a good idea. Some people might argue that they can’t find the variety of colors in bamboo that they do in traditional hardwoods. The simple reply would be that they haven’t looked.

Bamboo is available in many different colors. Natural bamboo is a beautiful blond color that is light and airy enough to match any décor. For a darker wood, the bamboo is carbonized or boiled. This process darkens the wood to an amber color. The color becomes darker the longer it is boiled.

Finally, some manufacturers will stain the bamboo in many more shades than are available through carbonization. This staining makes it possible to find colors similar to those in the oak, cherry and pine families.

Bamboo click flooring is bamboo’s answer for the do-it-yourselfer who wants to bring the beauty of bamboo into the home and be environmentally friendly at the same time.

-Sharon V. Chapman

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An example of this would be concrete. Concrete sub-floorings are not uncommon and yet can cause problems with the flooring installation years down the road due to the moisture of the concrete seeping through and damaging the glue that is holding the flooring down or even the flooring itself.

In the case of concrete, a floating bamboo flooring installation would be the best route to go. The bamboo doesn’t come in direct contact with the concrete and moisture damage is avoided. The planks in a floating floor are coated to prevent moisture damage even though they won’t be touching the concrete.

Modern Asian home with bamboo flooring

A bamboo floating floor installation is installed much like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. The pieces interlock and are laid end to end with just enough space to allow for expansion over time. Typically there is an underlayment material between the subfloor and the bamboo flooring but it is not a necessity. The underlayment provides a softer cushioning to the flooring than if it were floated without one. A cork type material made from recycled tires is often used underneath the floated floor.

Floating installations have an advantage over solid bamboo flooring in that there is room for the flooring to expand over time due to building in extra space during the installation. With solid flooring there is not room for the expansion and contraction that comes with humidity and temperature changes and so it can buckle if not installed properly. Floating flooring does not buckle and warp as easily as solid flooring because it is engineered to move with the contracting of the wood.

Homeowners are particularly fond of bamboo floating floors because of their ease of installation. Floating floors are click-n-lock type installations where the pieces fit together like jigsaw puzzle pieces. Because nailing is not necessary there is little chance of damaging the wooden planks and homeowners can usually perform the installation on their own.

Some floating bamboo flooring installations do suggest that glue be applied to the interlocking joints as they are pieced together. If this is the case, top quality glue should be used. Skimping and purchasing water based glue will cause the flooring to be ruined in a short period of time. Although the glue will be somewhat expensive, the end result will be a flooring installation that will last for many years to come.

Bamboo floating floor installations allow homeowners the option of installing their bamboo floor without having to hire a professional to perform the install. This saves money while at the same time bringing beauty into the home. Floating bamboo flooring installations can be installed over any subflooring and is perfect for any home wanting bamboo floors.

-Sharon V. Chapman

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Before looking at vertical bamboo flooring and other types of bamboo flooring available, it is helpful to understand a little about bamboo and how it is used in flooring. Although it is considered a hardwood flooring choice, bamboo is actually a grass that can reach height of a hundred feet or more and do so in three to five years. This is much faster than it takes an oak tree to reach maturity and be ready for harvest.

The stalk of the bamboo plant is what is used to make flooring and other strong durable products. The Chinese people have known for hundreds of years that bamboo is an excellent choice not only for flooring but also for walls and other structural components. Today, bamboo is being used as a flooring choice around the world.

Modern Asian home with bamboo flooring

Vertical bamboo flooring is the result of the bamboo being laid on edge with the wider side of the bamboo planks being glued together to form a tight bond and create a vertical look. Many decorators use vertical bamboo flooring in smaller areas and horizontal bamboo flooring in larger, more open areas.

Horizontal bamboo flooring is created by laying the bamboo strips in a stacked manner, one on to of the other and using an adhesive to bond them in that position. The bamboo strips are usually wider in horizontal bamboo flooring that they are in vertical bamboo flooring.

Having different options to choose from when looking for bamboo flooring doesn’t stop at vertical or horizontal. There are many color options to choose from in the bamboo flooring family, some created using stains and some created using a natural process.

Natural bamboo is a blond color that is light and beautiful. It is inviting in any room of the house. This same natural bamboo can be altered to have various amber colors using a process called carbonization.

During carbonization, before the bamboo is transformed into vertical or horizontal bamboo flooring, the bamboo is boiled to high temperatures. This high heat causes the fiber of the bamboo to become amber in color. The longer the bamboo is exposed to high heat and the higher the heat, the deeper the amber coloring will be.

If ambers and blonds aren’t enough color choices, homeowners can also choose from many colors that have been made using stains added to the bamboo either during the manufacturing process or after the planks have been made and cut. Colors range from light to deep cherry and everywhere in between.

Vertical bamboo flooring is but one option that consumers have when choosing their new floor. Careful consideration and window shopping should be used before making that final purchase and installing the new floor.

-Sharon Chapman

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As most people know, bamboo’s biggest advantage over traditional hardwood is that it is environmentally friendly and sustainable. Bamboo is able to regenerate and be ready for harvest in as little as three years, typically three to five years. When compared to the fifty to one hundred years that it takes for hardwood trees regenerate and be ready for harvest it is easy to see that bamboo is the environmentally friendly choice in flooring.

Modern Studio

Choosing natural bamboo flooring prevents the atmosphere from being robbed of nitrogen and carbon dioxide and prevents the land from being damaged by uncontrolled drainage due to barren lands after the forest harvested and the land is cleared. This can also cause damage to the soil and change its makeup which is detrimental to the native plants and animals.

In addition to having the environmental factor that natural bamboo offers there is the strength and durability. When compared to traditional hardwoods bamboo is as hard as or harder than many. The type of bamboo flooring chose has an impact on how strong the flooring is as well. Engineered bamboo brings a little more strength and durability due to being bamboo planks with an additional layer of wood underneath them.

Solid bamboo and engineered bamboo are both natural bamboo floorings. The difference being the addition of the wood boarding that supports engineered bamboo. This allows the wood planks to be cut into the pop-and-lock or tongue and groove boards that are necessary for floating installations.

Solid bamboo cannot be installed as a floating installation and thus is harder for homeowners to install without the help of a professional. This is due the bamboo being very hard to nail through without cracking the boards. Some installers prefer to use professional strength staples and a pneumatic stapler to install solid bamboo flooring.

Natural bamboo flooring is the perfect flooring choice for the environment and the bank account as it is not as expensive as other hardwood choices. And, if natural bamboo flooring in its solid state is still out of reach due to price; bamboo laminate flooring can be purchased to achieve the same bamboo appearance with even less cost.

Natural bamboo flooring is the popular choice of the day in hardwood floors that are beautiful and environmentally friendly. This flooring choice ushers in a new generation of flooring that will continue to grow in popularity.

-Sharon Chapman

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A professional installer will most likely use floor staples as they tend to provide a firmer hold than nails or glue. Regardless of whether nails or staples or glue is used this type of installation is best left in the hands of professionals and a floating installation used by homeowners.

The gluing process can be used by homeowners provided the right adhesive is used. Water based adhesives should not be used and a urethane glue is the one that should be requested. A top quality glue is going to cost more but in the end the flooring will be properly installed and not have to be repaired. If a cheap flooring glue is used the flooring may cup in a short period of time

Modern Asian home with bamboo flooring

Installing a floating bamboo flooring requires that the bamboo flooring be engineered. Solid bamboo flooring will not work using a floating installation. When the flooring is ordered the sales person or company ordering from should be told that a floating process will be used to install the floor. This will insure that the correct type of flooring is picked out.

In addition to choosing the proper bamboo flooring, an appropriate underlayment should be chose. This provides a moisture barrier and a cushioned feel underneath the wood. The best underlayment material is a 3-1 type material that provides cushion and moisture protection, particularly when the subfloor is concrete.

Homeowners need to decide if they are going to use a quick lock installation or a glue installation when preparing to install a floating bamboo floor. Click or snap lock flooring has become a popular choice but should not be used in areas that have excess moisture. Glue floating floor installations use glue that goes into the joint areas as the planks are installed. Most installers agree that the glue floating installation is the preferred method.

When the bamboo flooring is installed using a floating process there needs to be expansion area worked into the layout. The planks should not be pushed too tightly up against stationary objects to prevent the wood from buckling over time.

Homeowners who are looking to save money on their bamboo flooring can opt to install it themselves using the floating bamboo flooring installation process. This is not a difficult installation and will bring beauty to the home in a matter of days.

-Sharon Chapman

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When picking out the bamboo flooring to be floated it is important to get the right type. Solid bamboo flooring cannot be installed as a floating floor. Engineered bamboo flooring is designed to be used in floating installations and the flooring shop should be able provide various shades and patterns to choose from.

Condo dining room with bamboo floors

With measurements of the room in hand and accounting for an added twenty percent to account for mistakes and waste, purchase the flooring ahead of time and allow it to acclimate to the room that it is going to be installed in. This is the time needed for the wood to become adjusted to the humidity and temperature of the room so that it doesn’t warp or buckle over time. This is also a good time to make sure the wood planks are not damaged. A floating floor is installed in a click and lock or tongue and groove type method which makes it important to check each piece to insure that the ends were not damaged during shipping.

The main step to any flooring installation and to a bamboo floating floor project is the preparation of the subfloor. If old flooring was removed the subfloor needs to be cleaned thoroughly of any glue residue that might cause the underlayment to not go down properly. If carpet was removed make sure there are no tack strips or nails remaining in the subfloor. Sweep thoroughly and make sure all debris is removed.

If using an underlayment, lay it out first and trim with a utility knife to make it fit. Duct tape can be used to make the underlayment material adhere to the subfloor. Next, start on a wall and put the spacers down that will help the bamboo when it expands and contracts according to the temperature. Lay one row, then the spacer, then the last prices of the flooring. If necessary, trim to fit. Keep following this pattern until the room is complete. Make sure to begin and end every row with spacers. The last row that is installed may be difficult to fit, if so, use a rubber mallet to make it fit.

Some bamboo floating floor requires glue to be put into the grooves for added strength. If this is the case, make sure to add the glue to the grooves as they are installed and to wipe any excess glue before it dries. If it is a glued floating installation the floor should be allowed to dry for at least twelve hours before walking.

Homeowners will appreciate the simplicity of installing a floating bamboo flooring installation. The most difficult part is likely to be cutting to fit around door areas or to make the last row fit properly. Enlist the help of a friend who is handy with a dovetail saw if this is the case. Bamboo floating flooring installations can typically be completed in one day.

-Sharon Chapman

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Bamboo flooring can be solid or engineered. The main difference being that engineered flooring has an added layer of wood underneath the bamboo planks which add a layer of strength to the floor. This doesn’t mean that solid bamboo flooring is not strong; it is quite strong and remarkably durable.

Bamboo Flooring

In actuality, bamboo is not a hardwood but actually a grassy plant whose stalks are very hard and durable. Bamboo has been used in China for hundreds of years for everything from floors to actual house walls. Over time, the uses for bamboo as a hardwood option spread beyond the Orient and it became recognized as a superior choice for flooring.

Bamboo has a green or environmentally friendly aspect that has made its popularity explode in recent years and that is its fast re-growth. Bamboo is mature enough to be harvested after four to five years whereas a hardwood tree can take from thirty to a hundred years or longer to be ready for harvest.

Solid bamboo floors are made strictly from bamboo stalks and because they don’t have the added support of the wood layer underneath are harder to install. Nails or glue are the installation options with a professional flooring person the preferred installer. Homeowners who choose to install a solid bamboo floor will find that it doesn’t nail easily and can split and crack from the force of the nail going into the bamboo. This is why professional installers typically do a solid floor installation. It is also worth noting that solid bamboo floors cannot be installed as a float or click-n-lock flooring.

Solid bamboo floors are the bamboo flooring option that is most like traditional bamboo flooring from China. During ancient times the idea of engineered bamboo flooring did not occur, they used the bamboo strictly as it was cut from the stalk. The end result remains the same today as it did hundreds of years ago, a solid, durable floor that is perfect in any room of the house and is able to withstand the rigors a family puts on it.

Bamboo, regardless of whether or not it is solid or engineered is a sound eco-friendly choice in flooring that will last many years and help to extend the life of the planet.

-Sharon Chapman

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Many woods require stain to be applied in order to get a different color variation. Bamboo, while naturally a light blond in color, can be altered using high heat for varying lengths of time to create a new color. The bamboo is boiled to bring about the color change. This process is similar to boiling sugar. The longer it cooks the darker it becomes. Carbonization of bamboo is done in various times to create varying shades of wood.

Modern Asian home with bamboo flooring

Consumers might be wandering what other changes carbonization adds to the wood. Natural bamboo is an extremely durable wood before carbonization and after undergoing carbonization is only somewhat softer. The amount that the wood softens is dependent on other factors and varies from one manufacturer to another. Because the variation can be extreme from one manufacturer to another, from 5% to 30% weaker in some cases, consumers need to find out what process is used and how much weaker the wood is after the process. Regardless of whether the wood is 5% or 30% weaker than un-carbonized bamboo, the floor is still strong and durable, more so than many other flooring options.

Carbonized bamboo flooring should not be much more expensive than traditional bamboo flooring. The process is not difficult and does not require added materials to create. Consumers and manufacturers believe that they cost of the flooring is offset by the range of colors available using the carbonization process.

Carbonization does not alter the green or eco-friendly aspect of the flooring, one of the traits that make bamboo flooring popular among so many people. Because bamboo matures in a short three to five years it is considered a sustainable material that is able to regenerate faster than other flooring materials like oak or cherry woods.

Traditional hardwood trees take up to a hundred years to mature which makes harvesting trees a project that takes years for nature to recover from. Deforestation is a major factor in the highly debated global warming argument. Regardless of global warming, the land that trees are taken from remains barren from many years during which time runoff can cause the land to drastically alter.

Carbonized bamboo flooring is an added option for consumers to factor in when deciding to install an eco friendly flooring system that adds both beauty and function to their home. The dark amber colorings that result from the process create works of beauty that fit into any home.

-Sharon Chapman

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Engineered bamboo flooring looks similar to solid bamboo flooring and can be purchased in many of the same colors however there is a structural difference which alters the strength and installation process of the bamboo flooring.

Solid bamboo flooring is made using bamboo strips that have been pressed together to create the flooring planks. This type of bamboo flooring is pure bamboo but can only be installed using nails or glue and must be put on a subfloor. Professional installers are typically needed to lay a solid bamboo floor in a home.

Modern Asian home with bamboo flooring

On the other hand, engineered bamboo flooring is typically made of bamboo strips laid over the top of the plank which is laid over other woods. For this reason, engineered bamboo flooring is stronger than solid bamboo floors and can be installed using more techniques than solid bamboo flooring, for example, it can be floated on subfloors. To understand the importance of this, it is important to understand the installation of the bamboo flooring.

Bamboo flooring is usually installed using glue, nails or a floating installation. Floating the flooring does not require nails or glue. The planks of the bamboo are cut using a tongue and groove system in which they interlock. This makes the installation easy enough for the typical homeowner, if they are certain they can cut the pieces to fit.

Solid bamboo floors that are going to be installed using nails must be installed by professionals as the nails tend to be hard to get through the wood without causing cracking. Solid bamboo flooring cannot be floated. It is for this reason that the average do-it-yourselfer will choose engineered bamboo flooring that has tongue-and-groove, or snap-lock pieces that are easy to install. The biggest factor involved in these systems is insuring that the boards have acclimated to the room enough to prevent a large amount of expansion after the installation. Installers must still leave some room for the boards to expand over time in order to prevent buckling and swelling which can damage the flooring.

Gluing is a popular installation option for many bamboo flooring installers. Any type or style of bamboo flooring can be installed using glue however it is typically solid flooring that is glued. Glue is often preferred over nailing so that there is less possibility of cracks in the wood. However, the best way to avoid this altogether is to use engineered bamboo flooring and a floating installation.

Engineered bamboo flooring offers added strength and durability to an already strong and durable wood flooring. Adding to this the reduced risk of cracks during the installation and homeowners and builders can rest assured that they are choosing a flooring that is beautiful and long lasting.

-Sharon Chapman

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