Mar 11 2010
Hardwood Bamboo Floor
Hardwood bamboo floor is flooring manufactured from the quickly regenerating bamboo plant. It is actually created using the bamboo stalk which is ready for harvest in three to five years, compared to up to one hundred years for traditional hardwoods. The manufacturing process for a hardwood bamboo floor is part of what makes it such a strong wood for using as flooring.
Once the bamboo stalks are mature enough to be harvested, they are cut in to long strips in order to be prepared for processes. These strips are then cut to the approximate width that is seen in stacked horizontal bamboo floors.
If the hardwood bamboo floor choice is going to be the dark amber flooring, the next step is the carbonization process. This is the process that darkens the wood by steaming it under intense pressure. This process is similar to heating sugar; the hotter it gets the darker it gets. For deeper ambers, the bamboo is left in the heat longer. Natural blond bamboo is boiled to kill insects and eliminate any sugars in it.
Modern Asian home with bamboo flooring
It is difficult to know whether or not quality manufacturing processes have been followed during these processes as there are not any governing agencies overseeing the manufacturing of bamboo flooring. This is why some companies are able to sell hardwood bamboo floor installations at much lower prices than other companies. The floors look beautiful but the floors are of an inferior grade and the consumer will have to replace them in a short time period.
Quality manufacturers will follow the purifying process with an inspection process. The top grades will be kept and any pieces that are deemed to be lower grade are sold to discount companies that specialize in selling wholesale, lower-grade flooring.
After the grading and separating of the various grades of bamboo, the strips that are going to be used are placed in a kiln to dry until they reach acceptable moisture content. This step is important to insure that the moisture content is not so high as to cause warping later.
Once the strips are dried they are glued before having a final finish applied. The strips are either glued sided by side or face up, depending on whether or not the construction of the hardwood bamboo floor is horizontal or vertical.
Once the strips are glued together they are hot pressed with up to 1200 PSE to bind them together. This pressing adds strength and durability to the flooring.
The final two steps in creating bamboo hardwood floor systems are the milling and finishing. After the pressurized strengthening is complete, the pieces are milled similar to that of other hardwoods in a tongue and groove system for installation.
The finish that is applied varied from one manufacturer to another. High quality manufacturers will apply a thicker, tougher finish that is resistant to scratching and marring. Often, the sign of top quality flooring can be found in the finish.
Hardwood bamboo floor systems are beautiful installations in any home; however, the flooring installed should be a high quality flooring system that lasts for many years.
-Sharon Chapman
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