Asian décor has made its way into homes through a variety of flooring choices, one of which is bamboo. Bamboo has been used for hundreds of years in China, dating back to the time of ancient dynasties when it was used in many different ways. Bamboo is a hard, durable wood that is readily available and quickly replenishes itself. Although it is a green source of flooring because it replenishes, it is a hardwood flooring choice and might not be in the price range that everyone can afford, that is why there is bamboo laminate flooring.

Bamboo in laminate flooring choices is ideal for homes that can’t afford to install the true bamboo flooring. It is much less expensive to purchase and install; in fact, most homeowners can install it themselves with very little experience.

When searching for bamboo laminate it is easy to see why bamboo flooring has become so popular. Although it is not the actual bamboo, the laminate version also comes in many styles and the main colors that traditional bamboo flooring does. There are horizontal and vertical patterns, strand and woven and engineered bamboo flooring choices.

Laminate bamboo is available in the traditional blonds and ambers colors and in other colorizations that have had stains added. The stained bamboo laminates take liberties with bamboo flooring simply due to the fact that traditional bamboo is available only in blonds and ambers. The main color variations in bamboo are simply lighter or darker versions of amber that are determined by the carbonization process.

Light or dark, horizontal or vertical, the choices in bamboo laminate are the hardest decision that will have to be made. The initial decision to install bamboo laminate flooring is one that homebuilders and homeowners can be certain will enhance their décor with a natural, vibrant look that is close to what the real bamboo wood floors look like.

With bamboo laminate flooring the green or sustainable factor is not as important as it is with the natural wood. However, many people choose bamboo for simply its natural look and for the Zen inspiration that bamboo inspires. The Chinese people see bamboo as a symbol of luck which some people will relate to when they choose the look of bamboo laminate flooring.

Laminate or true bamboo flooring is often dictated by finances; however, regardless of the choice, the homeowner can be certain to have a floor that will bring years of enjoyment to their home.

-Sharon Chapman

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Strand woven bamboo flooring is different from the other bamboo floors in several different ways, including the way it is created and the types of processing involved to get it to the flooring stage. These are strikingly different from typical bamboo flooring.

Strand Woven Bamboo Floor available at EcoTimber.com

Typically, bamboo floors are made using a plank process in which the bamboo is cut into long, thin strips that are laid out beside each other and then pressed tightly together to form a strong bond. Strand woven bamboo, on the other hand, is created using shredded bamboo fibers that are made into a strong, dense material using a weaving type method. The woven bamboo is then processed using adhesives, high heat and pressure to create very strong and durable flooring.

Everyone is aware of the positive environmental impact that bamboo flooring has, it is quite simply amazing in its ability to mature into a usable material in a short five years. However, what might not be realized by many people is that woven bamboo flooring adds another eco-friendly aspect to the flooring. When the planks are cut after the weaving process, any leftover pieces are put back into the hopper to be woven in with the next batch. This insures that even the waste remnants are used and not trashed.

Strand woven bamboo flooring comes with a few installation considerations that need to be kept in mind. When installing it, nails can be very difficult and sometimes even impossible to use. Forcing nails can cause damage or cracks to the tongues of the wood. For this reason, a glue installation is recommended to prevent damage.

The only drawback that woven bamboo flooring has is that it is more vulnerable to damage from water and moisture. Mopping should be done with a damp mop and not a mop bucket. There are products today that are made specifically for dust and damp mopping that do not drench the floor and help protect it from water damage.

As with any wood floor, damage may be incurred should substantially heavy objects be dropped on it such as a cast iron pan or something as heavy as that. No wood floor is absolutely dent and scratch proof although some are more resistant to them than others.

Strand woven bamboo flooring is strong, eco-friendly and beautiful and an excellent choice for any home.

-Sharon Chapman

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There are differences in bamboo hardwood floors that are easy to spot and some that are not so easy to spot. One way to determine a quality product is to test the finish that has been applied to the wood. Using a coin, scrape the top of the flooring. The finish should not easily scrape off. If it does it will not hold up well under wear and tear in a home and will have to be refinished in a few short years compared to a quality flooring finish that will hold up for many years. Another way to test is to press a fingernail into the wood; it should not show a ding. Inferior bamboo hardwood floors will ding almost upon touching.

Condo dining room with bamboo floors

Bamboo hardwood floors are very durable. However, homeowners should be aware that nearly all hardwood floors will show some wear, such as high heel marks over time. This can be avoided by not wearing high heels or cleats on hardwood floors regardless of what type of wood they are made from. Bamboo is a very durable, strong wood, the strongest being the natural blond woods while the amber, carbonized bamboos are a little less hard. This is simply due to the carbonization process of heating the wood to reach the deeper, darker coloring.

Homeowners and builders should understand that although they are hard and durable, just like any other wood, bamboo has the potential to scratch. This doesn’t mean that it can’t be walked on and lived on; it simply means that it is not prefect and that no wood is going to be perfect. Bamboo hardwood floors should have rugs in high traffic areas to prevent them from daily scratching.

Quality bamboo flooring will have a nice, hard finish that helps to protect the wood from damage and prolong the time between installation and having to refinish it. Homeowners and builders should look for customer reviews to help guide them when picking their bamboo hardwood floors. While cost is a consideration when purchasing anything, it should not be the deciding factor. More often than not a cheap price is equivalent to a cheaply made product that costs more in the long run due to repair and replacement costs.

A professional flooring installer or company can help with the process of deciding on the brand of bamboo flooring to choose based on where it is going to be used and the budget that is being allowed for the floor.

-Sharon Chapman

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Bamboo is a grass that grows quickly and is able to replenish itself within a very short period of time. A harvested field of bamboo will grow to maturity in five years and be ready to create another beautiful floor. Traditional hardwoods, on the other hand can take from fifty to many hundreds of years to mature and be ready for harvest.

As people move to making purchases based on how their decisions affect the rest of the world and their future and the future of their children and generations to come, sustainable products are going to become more and more the choices that are made. A flooring choice that can replenish in five years keeps the trees in the forests from being destroyed and taking so many years to return to normal.

Bamboo wood flooring beats traditional hardwood in other areas as well. Bamboo is not as susceptible to scratching and marring as the traditional hardwoods which in turn make it last longer than traditional hardwood. Lasting longer and being more durable when combined with the low cost of bamboo floors compared to the high cost of maple, cherry or oak are just more reasons to choose bamboo wood flooring.

Bamboo flooring installations are easier than installing other hardwoods. This makes the installation cost less. Couple this with the ease of maintaining bamboo wood and the overall conclusion is simple to see. Bamboo is less expensive to purchase, install, and maintain and is more durable than traditional hardwoods and is the choice to make.

Bamboo wood flooring choices can be light and natural or deep and rich. Natural bamboo wood flooring is a blondish color that can be matched to any home’s décor without giving the home that stuffy, scared-to-walk on; pass me my smoking jacket look that many of the rich colored hardwoods have. The natural blond color is perfect for any room in the house, from the bedroom to the sun room it is able to blend in with any color scheme with its natural beauty.

On the other hand, a deeper color can be had by choosing bamboo that has been carbonized. This is a rich amber color without being so rich as to overpower the home. Carbonization is the process of smoking the bamboo to get bring out the deeper coloring. The process is similar to caramelizing sugar. Intense heat alters the bamboo giving it amber color that is beautifully unique. The carbonization process can be shortened or prolonged to vary the richness of the color. Carbonization also makes the flooring stronger than the natural blond bamboo.

-Sharon Chapman

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Families with children and pets need flooring that can stand up to the high traffic and intense stress that is placed on it. Bamboo is durable, strong flooring that is able to stand up to the rigors of an active family and all the rough and tumble activity that comes with children and pets. In high traffic areas bamboo flooring is tough enough to withstand pet toenails clacking across it or the occasional dropped can of soup – a definite no-no on some laminates and hardwoods.

Modern Asian home with bamboo flooring

Bamboo flooring is naturally warm and inviting flooring with its natural grain finish and the patterns that occur in the bamboo during its growing period. Unlike some hardwood floorings that can evoke the look of a commercial gymnasium or concert hall, bamboo flooring creates an inviting, warm feeling that welcomes people into your home.

The warm, inviting feeling that is created can be achieved by either choosing the natural blonde bamboo or choosing carbonized bamboo which has a richer, amber color. Blond bamboo allows the natural grain of the woods to shine through along with the ingrown patterns that are unique to every stalk. Blond bamboo is a perfect fit for most any décor.

Carbonized bamboo is a darker variety of bamboo. The color is achieved through a process called carbonization. In carbonization the bamboo is put through a smoking process that gives the wood a deeper amber color that is simply stunning.

These choices make bamboo hardwood flooring an easy decision when picking flooring. Its ability to match any décor combined with its durability and strength are enough reasons in themselves without looking anywhere else.

However, for those people who need persuading, environmental considerations should be enough to sway them. In today’s environmentally conscious world, sustainability is an important consideration when choosing wood products. It takes hundreds of years to replenish a wood forest. However, bamboo, which is actually considered a grass, reaches maturity in only five years. This makes bamboo a renewable source for hardwood flooring.

The final swaying factor is the wow factor. Homeowners who like to have the latest and greatest ideas in their homes will certainly be wowed with bamboo hardwood floors and their neighbors will be envious.

Bamboo hardwood flooring is one of the newest floors to join the hardwood flooring selection. Its beauty and durability make it the perfect flooring choice and its sustainability make it a decision for generations to come.

-Sharon Chapman

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Bamboo flooring is typically made from Chinese bamboo. Chinese bamboo is one of the hardest and most durable of bamboos grown. This makes the flooring created from bamboo as strong as if not stronger than flooring made from oak and other hardwoods. Bamboo flooring is not made using only bamboo. Laminate holds the bamboo strips together which increases the strength of the bamboo floor.

Bamboo Flooring

Another pro for bamboo flooring is its cost. The cost of bamboo flooring when compared to the cost of other hardwood floors is significantly less. In addition to the cost of the flooring being less, the installation cost is also less. Add to these savings the reduced cost of marinating the floors and bamboo wins the cost effectiveness comparison hands down.

Maintaining bamboo flooring is simple and easy. A dust mop to remove the dust and particles and an occasional damp mop are all that is needed. It couldn’t be much easier.

The environmental impact is another reason for choosing bamboo. Unlike hardwood floors that are created at the expense of forests that are unable to replenish themselves quickly, bamboo is mature and ready to harvest in five years, hardwood trees can take anywhere from fifty to several hundred years to mature.

Naturally, the beauty of bamboo has to be included in a list of the pros of bamboo flooring. From the stunning blonde bamboo to the rich ambers created during carbonization, bamboo flooring is perfect for any room in the house. It can be dressed up and elegant without being stuffy or causal and fun without being tacky.

It’s not easy to come up with the disadvantages to bamboo flooring because there aren’t any serious ones. There are reports from some consumers that the floors are brittle and chip when heavy objects are dropped on them but they neglect to say how heavy the objects are. No one can expect a flooring to stand up to a cement block being dropped on it. Even cement floors will crack under enough stress.

A common issue is can be the installation. Bamboo flooring can’t be floated like some other flooring types which means it isn’t acceptable for all locations, particularly if the flooring must be floated.

The pros and cons of bamboo flooring is more of a pros list than it is a comparison as there aren’t many cons and quite a few pros for using the eco-friendly floor choice in any room of the house.

-Sharon Chapman

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Teragren is in control of all aspects of the manufacturing of their bamboo floors, from using one source at harvest time all the way through to the distribution and customer service.

Since 1994 Teragren has been manufacturing top quality bamboo floors that exceed their competitors in many different ways, including using 11 checkpoints during the manufacturing process for quality control, having ISO certified factories and using state of the art equipment to add to the flooring’s durability.

There are three differences that stand out above the rest: Teragren bamboo floors can be installed over radiant heating, their flooring comes with detailed specifications and installation documents and they offer superior customer and technical service.

The Teragren Difference

Teragren bamboo flooring stands head and shoulder above the competition in quality construction. Teragren is so certain it is the best that it comes with a lifetime structural warranty and a 25-year residential/10-year heavy commercial finish warranty (with one exception and that is Spectrum flooring).

The finish used on Teragren bamboo flooring is another unique aspect that makes it the only choice in bamboo floors. Teragren prefinished bamboo floors are treated with a water-based solvent free seven-coat German finish to prevent scratching and damage.

The 7-Coat German finish is made up of four coats of sealer, each UV cured before proceeding to the next. The next coats of sealer with aluminum oxide for abrasion protection, these are followed by two coats of top quality polyurethane for scratch protection.

Teragren realizes that at some point in the future of all wood floors, refinishing might be desired. That is why they used two topcoats of polyurethane to make the refinishing process easier. This seven coat finish is guaranteed by the 25-year warranty for residential and 10-year for commercial.

Teragren is also unique for the hardness of its bamboo flooring. If a floor isn’t durable there’s no reason to install it. Flooring is an investment that should last a lifetime.

The hardness of bamboo depends on what type of bamboo is used and when it is harvested. Teragren bamboo floors are made only with Optimum 5.5 Moso bamboo that is not harvested until it reaches maturity at 5-6 years – this is the age that the density of the bamboo is at its peak, insuring a flooring product that is stronger than the competitions flooring.

Teragren bamboo floors are the strongest bamboo floors on the market, they are produced under the strictest of conditions using a consistent producing method and a consistent bamboo source.

Teragren bamboo products are readily available and are also the only bamboo flooring distributor to offer coordinating moldings, stair parts, vents and more. Check out the Teragren website for authorized resellers of Teragren bamboo floors.

-Sharon Chapman

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Stranded woven bamboo flooring is bamboo flooring made of bamboo strands that are woven together and then coated with an adhesive substance. Next, this material is compressed together until it has had time to form. Once it forms it is cut into flooring planks and sold for homeowners.

Most consumers don’t realize that stranded bamboo flooring is double green. First, it is green simply because it is made of bamboo. Bamboo matures in as short as five years which makes it able to replenish itself quickly.

Next, stranded bamboo flooring is made from the excess pieces of bamboo that are a part of the standard bamboo plank manufacturing process. This makes stranded bamboo flooring double green.

Why Use Stranded Bamboo Flooring

Strand Woven Bamboo Floor available at EcoTimber.com

The stability of stranded woven bamboo floors outranks most other wood floors. It is one of the most durable wood floors that can be installed which makes it especially suited for high traffic areas.

The weaving of the strands adds superior durability to the bamboo, making it stronger than standard bamboo planks. Weaving basically interlocks the strands which is where the strength comes from.

Stranded bamboo flooring is also very easy to clean. All that is basically required is a damp mop for the occasional spill and a broom or vacuum to remove the dirt accumulation on a daily basis.

For more thorough cleaning a solution of vinegar and water can be used as long as the floor is not soaked in the solution. Water accumulation should be avoided to prevent any damage to the floor.

Although all bamboo is moisture resistant and stranded bamboo flooring is even more moisture resistant. This does not mean that it should be mopped with a regular mopping solution, only that there is less chance of moisture causing a problem.

Stranded bamboo flooring can be sanded, finished and refinished as needed, just like with regular wood flooring. The good news is that due to its durability it will probably not need to be refinished very often.

Why is Stranded Bamboo Flooring Durable?

For starters, bamboo is inherently strong even before it is made into stranded woven flooring. However, when the weaving process is introduced, the interlocking of the strands creates a very strong basis for making wood planks for flooring.

After the weaving process, the adhesive is applied and the material is compressed, this is the second step in the process that makes the flooring so durable.

Now, having decided on stranded bamboo flooring the only thing left to decide on is whether to leave it natural or have it stained. Either way the floor will be a thing of beauty for the whole family to enjoy.

-Sharon V. Chapman

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The first thing to understand is that this is not a typical hardwood floor, the same recommendations that so often are ‘across the board’ don’t apply to bamboo. It is not difficult to clean and maintain, just different than other woods.

Water Be Gone

Water is not a friend to any hardwood and bamboo is no exception. Even though it is a water resistant material, that doesn’t mean puddles can accumulate for long periods of time without some visible damages. Wipe up spills as soon as possible.

If the spill is sticky liquid, like soda, use a damp sponge but don’t use a sponge that is dripping wet.

Do Away with Dust

Other than wiping up any spills that occur, the recommended cleaning for bamboo floors is simply to sweep or vacuum up the dust that accumulates on a daily basis.

A dust mop will help to add a special shine to the floor when it appears to need it. Do not use a wet mop on bamboo floors.

Above all else, it must be remembered that the same chemicals and wood cleaners that are recommended for other wood floors do not work on bamboo flooring. Bamboo does not react well to the chemicals that are used to make these cleansers. Waxes and polishes should also be avoided.

Maintenance

Maintaining bamboo flooring will help keep it beautiful for many years to come. Simple steps like not wearing stiletto heels to prevent excessive scratches are recommended.

High traffic areas should have rugs or runners to help collect dust and debris that accumulates from shoes. Don’t be excessive and cover up the beauty of the floor, but do consider placing them in doorways or hallways to help keep the dirt off the floor.

Furniture gliders or felt tips will help to prevent unnecessary marring when moving furniture around. Bamboo is not scratch proof and these protective coverings will help keep scratches to a minimum.

If there are animals in the home, keep their toenails trimmed to help prevent scratches as well.

Bamboo floors are highly durable and don’t dent easily; however, the finish that is applied to the floor will determine how scratch resistant the floor is.

As the floor ages it might need to have a fresh, clear finish applied to help keep scratches at bay. This is not a difficult task but should be done by a professional.

Simple steps to keep bamboo flooring looking beautiful from the day it is installed to twenty years down the road. Maintaining and cleaning the flooring is not a difficult task, the key is to keep spills wiped up and don’t used chemical cleaners.

-Sharon V. Chapman

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Bamboo is not a true hardwood; it is actually a grass with hollow, wood-like stalks. These stalks are harvested and processed into bamboo planks that are used for flooring. The processing makes the bamboo as strong as maple and stronger than oak floors.

Environmentally Friendly

Bamboo flooring is an environmentally smart choice. Bamboo is able to replenish itself in just five years after being harvested. It grows in areas that are not typically suited for growing, from fair to poor soils. It is the perfect alternative to the mass deforestation that is occurring when harvesting trees for other hardwood floors.

Value Adding

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo floors add value and beauty to the home. They are as durable as any of the other hardwood floors, which is what people look for when searching for a wood to use as flooring. The durability of bamboo floors makes it as good a choice as oak or maple.

Bamboo does not dent easily which increases its longevity. It does scratch, just as other hardwoods do; however, it can have a top coat applied to help prevent scratching and maintain its beauty.

Beauty

Bamboo is beautiful in its natural state. The coloring is light and complimenting to any room it is installed in. It is also available in colors like honey, amber, and darkwood.

If the bamboo has been carbonized the natural coloring will be altered. This process causes the natural lightness of the floors to become somewhat darker; however, this is not the same as staining the floor.

Carbonization creates a darker color but it also creates slightly softer flooring. Some people prefer to use a stain instead of opting for carbonization to avoid losing any of the inherent hardness.

The pattern of bamboo floors is dependent on the type of cut. Bamboo that has been cut on the horizontal will have a rougher cut look, a very striking effect when applied as flooring.

Bamboo that has been cut vertically will have less appearance of a grain and have cleaner, finer lines that make it slightly more elegant in appearance.

Bamboo floors are an excellent alternative to the hardwood floors that are typically thought of when remodeling. There is something to be said of a floor that is not only beautiful but also economical and a better choice for the environment.

Online distributors have more information and can help with instructions for installing and maintaining the floor, keeping it a thing of beauty for many years to come.

-Sharon V. Chapman

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