In recent years hardwood floors have experienced a rapid growth in popularity. Hardwood floors are now the choice of many for new construction and also in remodeling. One of the newer types of hardwood flooring that has made quite a name for itself in the marketplace is bamboo. One the main selling points of Bamboo Flooring is that it is "green", as in good for the environment. Let's take a look at some of the interesting aspects of this popular choice of flooring alternatives.
Something that needs to be stated right up front is that Bamboo Flooring is not wood in the typical sense of the word. It is actually a grass that is processed basically by being cut into strips, boiled to remove decay, starch and pests (sometimes soaked in Borax), carbonized for coloring, kiln dried,, and assembled with gluing compound and sometimes fillers, then milled into different type planks. The hardness of the Bamboo Flooring is about medium and stands up relatively well to normal traffic and wear. It ranks a 1642 on the Janka Hardness Scale compared to Douglas Fir at 660 and the ever so expensive Brazilian Walnut at 3800.
I would like to make a point at this time about the issue of formaldehyde being used in the manufacturing process. In my opinion there is apparently little danger involved with this issue. The amount of formaldehyde gassing emissions from installed Bamboo Flooring is reported to be less than the percentage of naturally occurring amounts in the atmosphere. If you feel that it is a serious concern or don't feel easy about it at all, there are manufactures that guarantee their bamboo products do not use any formaldehyde in the manufacturing process.
As far as the "green" goes, it is more ecologically friendly in the sense that the bamboo crops renew in about 5 yrs. as compared to the decades that hardwood trees need to mature. But it's not perfect. For instance, sometimes hardwood stands are cleared away for bamboo farming. Still, consider how many trees would be lost to traditional harvesting if the bamboo farms weren't producing alternative wood products.
Like traditional hardwood flooring, there are different installation options.
Nail Down - the standard tongue and groove flooring planks and the planks are nailed or more common today, stapled down to the sub-floor.
Floating - panels of wood are locked together on top of a foam underlayment without the use of nails (staples) or glue.
Glue Down - strips or panels are locked together and glued to the sub-floor for stability. Each of these methods has their own pros and cons to be considered.
One of the more important aspects of Bamboo Flooring is the cost. It is approximately in the same range as red oak, making it a bit more cost-effective compared to most traditional hardwoods. You will usually find it ranging roughly between $1.99 to $4.50 psf (per square foot). Traditional hardwood will usually cost roughly $3.50 to $15.00 psf. Of course these figures depend on individual retailers, discount warehouses, local mills, or where ever you might find these products for sale. It is very wise to shop around for prices and quality. One way to save on the cost is to purchase unfinished flooring, but the cost of finishing and the inconvenience may not be worth it. Do some research to find what would be best for your particular situation.
Bamboo Flooring offers a durable, attractive and cost-effective solution for your home's flooring needs. It will project the same warm, inviting and aesthetic quality to a room like the traditional hardwoods, but is usually less expensive and probably better for the environment, making it more and more the popular choice. So I think it is safe to say that Bamboo Flooring is definitely a viable, if not the preferable alternative to traditional hardwood.
