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.

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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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In many aspects installing bamboo flooring is similar to installing other types of wood flooring. However, the installation options depend on the type of bamboo flooring be installed as each one requires a different installation. Laminate bamboo floors are different solid bamboo and engineered bamboo and each one can be installed in different manners.

Solid bamboo flooring is installed using nails, staples, or glue. This type of bamboo flooring is best left to a professional installer in order to prevent having damaged floor planks from the wood splintering or buckling during the nailing process. Some installers prefer to use staples to secure the floor as they create a stronger bond.

Condo dining room with bamboo floors

Some installers use glue to install solid hardwood floors and it is possible for homeowners who do their own projects to install solid bamboo flooring using glue if they are certain to use the right adhesive. Using a water-based adhesive will cause problems with the floor and it will be ruined. Although high quality glue will be more costly, in the end the floor will last longer which saves money in repairs and replacement.

Homeowners who wish to install their own bamboo flooring should choose engineered bamboo flooring and a floating installation. Floating installation are click-n-lock type installations that may or may not require flue being applied to the joints as they are fitted together. Floating installations typically have an underlayment that adds cushioning and protects the bamboo from moisture.

Installing bamboo flooring requires prep work regardless of the type of installation and bamboo flooring chosen. The subfloor should be cleaned and any remnants of the old floor removed and discarded. If the floor is unlevel a professional should be consulted to have a leveler applied before the flooring is installed. An unlevel floor can have dramatic effects on bamboo flooring. The boards will be uneven and can bow and have a squeaky sound over time if they are not level.

Installation options vary as do the types of bamboo flooring that can be installed in homes. The installation chosen is a matter of individual tastes in flooring choice and in the ability of the homeowner’s ability and or desire to install the floor themselves or their wish to hire a professional installer.

Regardless of the type of bamboo flooring chosen or the type of installation used, bamboo is a durable, beautiful flooring choice that will enhance any home.

-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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Many people are taking extra steps to help save the planet by recycling, purchasing products that are made from recycled materials, turning off lights to conserve power and many other steps. What many people do not realize is that they can also go green using bamboo flooring.

Choosing bamboo flooring saves hundreds of trees from being harvested and made into hardwood flooring. In addition, it saves the environment from up to a hundred years of being without those same trees to protect the land from runoff that occurs when there are no trees to protect the ground.

The atmosphere suffers from the reduction in the carbon dioxide and nitrogen exchange that occurs during a trees lifetime. With bamboo, the harvest period is from four to five years. This means that the window of barren land is narrow, a four to five year period compared to a fifty to one hundred year period with traditional hardwoods.

In addition to the atmosphere and soil conditions changing when hardwood trees are harvested for flooring there are many different species of animals that are dislocated due to deforestation. Over time this dislocation can lead to the extinction of some species and an altering of the biodiversity of the planet. In some cases this could have repercussions, such as disease being carried to man that would not have been if the mosquito had been eaten by an animal that lived in the forest. Using bamboo to create green flooring systems helps to prevent scenarios like this from becoming reality.

Green bamboo flooring has been used in China for hundreds of years; in fact, bamboo has been used for much more than just flooring and has proven to be as strong and durable as traditional hardwoods. In addition to its beauty and green factor, bamboo is relatively inexpensive, when compared to solid hardwood floors made of oak or other hardwood.

Green bamboo flooring is not the answer to the entire sustainability and recycling issue. But it is a major step in the right direction and another piece of the overall picture that needs to be in place. Homeowners and developers should consider green bamboo flooring when making decisions on remodeling or building a new home. Bamboo is both beautiful and smart for the environment.

-Sharon Chapman

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Bamboo flooring will never be considered a cheap flooring but it is not as expensive as traditional hardwoods and should it need repaired or refinished in the future it will prove to be much less expensive than other woods. Being able to make repairs is important when considering any flooring because accidents do happen and when they do it is important to be able to afford these repairs.

As with any product, consumers will get what they pay for. Bamboo flooring comes in a range of prices and of course a range of qualities. There are companies who specialize in selling discounted, wholesale bamboo flooring. Typically these companies are purchasing the bamboo flooring planks that were considered seconds or not up to par for top quality manufacturers. This does not mean that the floor is not beautiful and strong. What it does mean is that there could be variations in color, blemishes or other imperfections that prevent it from being sold as top quality flooring.

Homeowners who want to spruce up but can’t afford a top quality bamboo floor may opt to go with a wholesale bamboo flooring product in order to get better bamboo flooring pricing. They will still have a beautiful floor and in the future may be able to simply replace any pieces that are not top quality with some that are top quality.

If the house is being outfitted with new flooring in more than one room, it may be possible to get top quality bamboo flooring at discounted prices because of purchasing in bulk. Talk to a flooring professional and find out if they offer a discount for large purchase. Even a small percentage off the full price can make a difference when making a large purchase.

In the end, doing a price comparison of the various flooring options will help show that bamboo flooring prices are not as out of reach as many people might believe they are. In addition to comparing prices with other materials, the actual bamboo itself should be shopped around to find the best price. Often, the Internet is the best place for flooring prices. The downside is that the flooring can’t be inspected before it is ordered and if there is a mistake or damaged pieces it has to be shipped back to the company. All of these are factors to consider when comparing.

Bamboo floor pricing, in a nutshell, or a bamboo shoot, so to speak, is not as high as most people think. In fact, it can be more economical than and just as beautiful as traditional wood floors.

-Sharon Chapman

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Interior decorators also know that the theme doesn’t have to be oriental to bring in the beauty of a bamboo floor vase. Often, bringing in one piece of beauty to a room is all that is needed to make it stand out. A bamboo floor vase could be used to pull together different aspects of a room and tie them to each other in a beautiful design scheme.

Bamboo floor vases are available in many sizes, shapes and color shades. Some are beautiful in their own right and need no flowers or arrangements to enhance them; they are the art piece in themselves. Others are beautiful as a container to be filled with eucalyptus, cat-tails and other tall, beautiful flowering plants, both real and artificial.

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Designers and crafters who want their bamboo vases used for flower arrangements are careful to line them with materials that are used for plants. This is important to prevent the wood from being damaged due to the watering of the plants. Other designers don’t make their bamboo floor vases to be used for plants and so don’t add this material. They intend their vases to be used simply for their beauty.

There is more to a bamboo vase than its exquisite beauty, there is the green factor. Bamboo is an environmentally friendly material due to the speed with which it is able to regenerate. Using bamboo to make vases and other decorative objects prevents other materials, such as wood which takes many years to regrow, from having to be used.

Bamboo vases can be purchased from many different retailers on the internet and in traditional stores. Consumers should ask if the bamboo floor vase they are looking at is made from real bamboo or is a simulated, man-made bamboo look-alike. Faux wood materials are abundant in the market place and unsuspecting consumers who think they are helping the environment by purchasing a green product could be easily fooled.

Consider a bamboo floor vase for enhancing any room in the house or for sending as a gift. Beautiful, useful and a better option for the environment than many options, bamboo floor vases fit every decorating taste.

-Sharon Chapman

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