Environmentally friendly products have been a growing trend in the market. Consumers are becoming more aware of the environment and many do not want to leave a negative impact on it. This trend has made bamboo flooring one of the most popular options in the flooring industry.
Bamboo fits the bill as an eco-friendly product due to the fact that it grows extremely fast compared to hardwoods. Bamboo is a very renewable resource as it is a grass and can be harvested over and over again from the same plant. Bamboo cane can be harvested in just 3-5 years compared to wood which takes 15-25 years to mature. This rapid growth can keep up with demand, making it a sustainable resource, while hardwood flooring has put pressure on wood.
Bamboo flooring shares some of the great attributes that drew consumers to hardwood flooring. One of them is its impressive appearance and the ability to provide you with a truly unique floor. Bamboo hardwood flooring comes in a wide variety of shades, from its light natural color to darker shades. The different shades are achieved through a manufacturing process that exposes the bamboo to steam and pressure. This process causes carbonization, which is the darkening of the sugar content in its fibers. Bamboo flooring can now be stained, resulting in many more colors available to suit your décor.
Accessories such as stair pieces, panels and wainscoting are available to further complement your floor. Bamboo flooring is available in various plank constructions to further enhance its appearance, such as vertical or horizontal solid construction, engineered construction, and woven braided construction.
Besides the beauty of bamboo, another great attribute is its durability. Bamboo has been given a higher hardness rating than many hardwoods and is 50% more stable and harder than red oak. High-strength bamboo flooring can withstand more impact than most hardwoods without denting. This is also great for your feet and back, as the floor gives a bit when you walk.
Because bamboo grows in the tropical region, it is naturally resistant to moisture. This strength is further enhanced as the manufacturing process includes lamination which increases its resistance to deformation. Therefore, bamboo flooring can be used in bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms where hardwood flooring is not recommended. This moisture resistance also makes bamboo flooring more resistant to spills and resistant to stains. Bamboo hardwood floors are an easy product to maintain.
Bamboo flooring has many great qualities with its striking natural beauty, hard-wearing properties, ease of maintenance and environmental benefits that make it clear why it has become such a popular trend.