In today’s world there are so many flooring methods to choose. Each method has its own pros and cons and hence taking a decision to select which flooring method is right always make some confusion. Some people opt for wood floorings while others use tiles or marbles. Among the wood floorings, Bamboo Flooring has now got a significant position due its charming and elegant look even at a low price.

There are different varieties of bamboo floorings which are used for specific purposes. Another wood used for flooring is the cork flooring. There are significant price and quality differences among these two floorings. Each product is selected clearly looking the necessity and budget and a comparison should always be based on this aspect.

During the manufacture of bamboo floorings, preservative chemical called formaldehyde is used by almost all manufactures. The low quality bamboo floorings emit this formaldehyde at a later stage which is not good for our health. Reputed manufactures only use formaldehyde within the recommended range.

The warranty of the bamboo flooring is a strong deciding factor when doing a bamboo flooring comparison. Some cork flooring manufactures can only provide a warranty for a lesser period due to its decreased durability and life.

A notable benefit of bamboo floorings is their easy maintenance. However in case of high traffic, some low quality floorings may develop dents and scratches. The same is the case with humidity and moisture even though floorings like solid bamboo floorings are able to withstand moisture and humidity to a certain extent.

The usual maturity period of an average bamboo plant ranges from 4 to 6 years. This is because bamboo is not a tree but a grass. The price of the bamboo floorings is low due to this factor. Widespread cutting of the regular woods results in scarcity of quality timber for all purposes. This is compensated by using bamboo floorings which is a great success all over the world.

The bamboo floorings are factory made with physical and chemical processing. Therefore they are insect resistant and termite proof. The warranty of some quality bamboo floorings is very impressive and goes up to 25 years or even more. A study on bamboo flooring comparison should be based on all of these factors.

Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons

In recent years, bamboo flooring has come out to the public eye as an upcoming popular new choice for their homes’ floors. With its attractive design and widely acclaimed eco-friendliness, it’s a surprise that the spotlight hasn’t shined on this new hardwood flooring alternative sooner. However, before you set out to install bamboo floors in your home, it is important to examine the advantages and disadvantages of this stylish new home flooring option.

Durability and Hardness: Bamboo is said to be as tough and durable as many existing hardwood flooring options. Though in its natural form, bamboo is a hollow woody stalk, modern processing of the plant allows a flat durable flooring surface to be created.  Bamboo floors that are properly cared for will resist spilled liquids and humidity, making them ideal for moist places such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.

However, many with bamboo flooring in their homes have complained of it being extremely brittle, meaning that it could very well be a dent and scratch magnet in high traffic areas. Bamboo flooring may not be suitable for rooms where it will experience a lot of abuse- where it would be walked on in high heels, where heavy furniture would be frequently moved around on it, where pets are frequently allowed to roam- because you may find your new floor quickly destroyed with a multitude of scratches and dents.

Color: Because of the fact that bamboo flooring is so moisture resistant, it has also been noted as resistant to the color staining process that allows there to be such a wide array of different color options in traditional hardwood flooring. Chances are that you will only find a handful of different color options when you consider installing bamboo. It is important to determine whether these few color choices will work well for your home.

Cleaning: Bamboo floors are easy to clean, with a broom or a dust mop being all that’s needed for the regular cleaning process. Because they aren’t as susceptible to puckering and swelling as wood floors are, a homeowner with bamboo floors won’t have to worry about an occasional damp mopping with bamboo-appropriate cleaners.

Eco-friendliness: Bamboo is a rapid growing grass that reaches maturity as quickly as three years. When cut down, it will regenerate itself without any need to be replanted. Compare this to the average oak tree, which can take anywhere from 80 to 120 years to reach maturity and does not regenerate itself when cut down. As opposed to traditional hardwood flooring, bamboo is truly a sustainable flooring option for the eco-conscious.

Installation: Floor floating is the process of gluing or snapping together floor boards over a preexisting floor (concrete, wood, vinyl, tile, etc.) as opposed to the more difficult and time-consuming   task of nailing them down. In many instances, bamboo flooring is not suitable for floating over other floors, which may cause many difficulties for someone who wants to install bamboo over their current floors.

Overall, bamboo is a great flooring option for the homeowner who is eco-conscious and looking for a durable, attractive alternative to the traditional hardwood floor. However, it is important for those considering a new bamboo floor to determine whether the benefits truly outweigh the disadvantages to this interesting new  hardwood alternative.

Considering Bamboo Flooring Durability for Your Home

Homeowners continue to look for new ways to invest in their home or spruce it up a bit, particularly for those who are working on a budget.  While it is not the cheapest option on the market, bamboo flooring can save a homeowner a significant amount of money in other ways.

The installation process is typically offers more choices and does not require specialty installation, thereby saving money from having to hire specialists.  The three main methods that are offered include the nail-down method, floating method, or glue-down method.  The nail-down method is similar to a traditional method of stapling the strips down into the floor.  The floating method is where the strips are fitted together (no staples or glue).  The glue-down method is exactly as it sounds – the strips are put together and glued.

Regardless of the method of installation, there are many positive aspects of the quality of bamboo flooring durability.   The main one is its durability.  While other types of wood tend to show dents and nicks very easily, bamboo flooring tends to hold up very well to everyday household incidents.  Due to its durability, this makes it a prime choice to put in areas where there may be high-traffic, such as hallways.  For families with children, its ability to stand up to accidents makes it a great alternative to traditional wood flooring.  As a material that has been used in homes in Asia for a long time, it represents a material that is easily found in nature and a proven material for the home.

In addition to its strength, many builders and homeowners are starting to look at bamboo flooring because it can be considered more environmentally friendly.  Since the re-growth time for bamboo flooring is shorter than it is for more traditional materials like oak, it is more easily replaceable and reproduced after harvesting.

Bamboo Plank Flooring: Some Things to Consider

If you are looking for a new home improvement project and are hoping to replace an aging or deteriorating floor, it may be worth it to investigate the possibility of bamboo plank flooring.  Along the way, there are some important decisions that need to be made.

First, take a look at the size of the space where the new flooring would be installed.  Depending on the size of the floor, cost may be a factor.  Fortunately, bamboo flooring is considered very affordable and can work in both small and large spaces.  After determining the size of the area, consider what type of pattern you would like to establish in the floor.

Within bamboo flooring, there are two types of methods that are used to put the planks together – horizontal and vertical.  Using the horizontal technique, the bamboo strips are laid flat and can be layered on top of other types of materials.  Since the strips sit flat, then this means that the variation in the bamboo is more visible.  This may make a difference for some people, especially in larger areas.  Vertical bamboo flooring is created by taking the bamboo strips and laying them sideways.  The strips are put into bundles and held together using glue or staples and then laid across the floor.   This can create a more even look that some may prefer; the trade off is that this method is not conducive to layering.  As a result, it is possible that the floor may not be as hard as a floor using the horizontal technique.

When it comes to cleaning bamboo flooring, stay away from anything that you may use on wood floors.  Instead, look to cleaners that are water-based.  Bamboo floors tend to be fairly easy to maintain.  As long as you remove debris on a regular basis and keep puddles from sitting on top of the floor, a bamboo floor can last a long time.

How to Clean Bamboo Floors: Simple Things Go a Long Way

If you recently installed bamboo flooring or bought a home with bamboo flooring – congratulations!  There are several reasons as to why this type of flooring is now more popular than ever – it is environmentally friendly, affordable, durable, and most of all, provides a classic and clean look to any home.  As with any type of flooring, taking good care of your bamboo flooring will help lengthen its lifespan in good shape.  This is a quick guide on how to clean bamboo floors.

The first thing to remember is that this type of flooring is not the same as traditional wood flooring.  This is important when selecting materials to use to clean the floor, as many wood floor cleaners will not work on bamboo.  This is the same for waxes and other similar polishing materials.

As for everyday maintenance, it is fine to treat the floor like any other floor.  This means that you can use a simple broom for sweeping and cleaning up basic messes.  For larger (and dry) messes, a vacuum can take care of it and if there is debris that is caught in the crevices around edges and corners, then simply use a vacuum attachment to clean it up.  For messes that may be slightly wetter, it is fine to use a damp cloth to clean it up.  Avoid using anything that may be too wet, as lingering moisture may contribute to floor discoloration.  On a similar note, make sure not to leave any pools of water lying around for this same reason.

The other main things that would prevent your floor from looking new would be things that can easily dent or leave marks on your floor, like shoes and heavy furniture.  Women with high heels are advised to take off their shoes before walking across the floor, as it can leave small indentations on the floor.  Similarly, if you need to move any furniture, then it helps to place something below the feet of the furniture.  Otherwise, it has the capability to leave serious gouges in the floor.

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