Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons
Looking for a company that supplies top quality and affordable bamboo flooring products? Burrows Carpet and Floors are your bamboo flooring specialists in Canberra.
The Beauty of Bamboo Flooring
Without a doubt, bamboo has started to gain popularity as a flooring material because of its inherent beauty, durability, and sustainability. Although bamboo is not a wood, its versatility makes it a great alternative for hardwood and timber floors.
And since bamboo is a grass, it grows considerably quicker than trees, which is in fact, better for the environment. Similar to wood, bamboo floorings are available in a number of shapes and plank sizes that can either be solid or engineered.
Bamboo is an appealing natural material that has the ability to increase a home's real estate value. As a flooring material, bamboo has many of the advantages of hardwood flooring. However, it may also be susceptible to dents and cracking when humidity levels fluctuate significantly, just like wood.
If you are interested in using bamboo on your floors, it is important that you know the pros and cons of bamboo flooring so you can weigh them very carefully.
Types of Bamboo Flooring
Most bamboo flooring are all beautifully classic. However, they may not be the same in terms of their design and durability. Thus, if you are confused which one to get, here are the three types of bamboo flooring that you can choose from.
Vertical Bamboo Flooring
Vertical bamboo floorings are made from thin strips of bamboo bonded together to form a vertical pattern of bamboo stalks.
After which, bamboo tongue and groove are added and topped off with lacquer to protect and finish the bamboo floor planks.
Vertical bamboo flooring, as its name implies, has a visible pattern of vertical bamboo planks but with less grains, for a more modern look.
Horizontal Bamboo Flooring
Like vertical bamboo floorings, horizontal bamboo floorings are also made by cutting thin strips of bamboo fibres, drying them, and gluing them into alternating layers to form the bamboo planks.
Bamboo tongue and groove are also added and topped off with lacquer to protect and finish the solid bamboo floor.
Contrary to vertical bamboo, the finished product of horizontal bamboo floorings will show clear patterns of the bamboo stalk and grain, giving the bamboo flooring a more natural appearance.
Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring
Strand woven bamboo flooring is made by crushing bamboo fibers, compressing them with resin binders, and then fusing them under high heat and pressure.
Compared with traditional hardwood flooring, strand woven bamboo flooring is three times more durable, making it the perfect choice for covering high impact area of floors.
Because of its durability, this type of flooring is used by homeowners who have kids and pets in the house.
Pros of Bamboo Flooring
Eco-friendly
Unlike trees that may took too long to grow, bamboo is a renewable resource that can be produced far more quickly than other plants. Even on its maturity, bamboo can mature in as fast as three to five years while other trees can take twenty years to mature.
And because bamboo grows so quickly compared to other types of lumber, bamboo floors pose less risks in the environment. You won't even have to worry about the chopped bamboo stalks because they will just keep growing and replenishing as time goes by.
Although not all bamboo flooring undergo an all-natural manufacturing process, they can still be considered eco-friendly given that they are a more sustainable resource than wood.
Easy to Maintain
Most bamboo floorings are easy to maintain. All you need is a soft brush or a vacuum to wipe off their dust and dirt. You can also mop them occasionally with water and mild soap if you want your bamboo floor to last.
Durable
Significantly, top quality bamboo flooring is highly durable and structurally stable as it is made by processing uncarbonised bamboo flooring products. In fact, it is actually more durable than the traditional hardwood flooring.
With proper care and maintenance, most bamboo flooring can last for fifty years. But with normal wear and tear, you can expect them to only last for up to twenty five years.
If you are looking for high resistant materials for your flooring, bamboo flooring is one of the best options to choose from. Since bamboo flooring is durable and reliable, you can use it best in parts of the house where there are frequent interactions like living rooms and foyers.
Pest Resistant
Generally, bamboo flooring is non-allergenic and resistant to pests, which is why you're not required to use pesticides frequently to keep pests away from your flooring.
Even during harvest, pests do not lurk around in raw bamboo grass. More so, when bamboo flooring is already cured, because termites won't be able to digest the chemicals used to cure it.
In addition, bamboo is an excellent material for houses with allergy sufferers because it repels dust and pollen - making your house dust mite free.
Cons of Bamboo Flooring
Prone to scratches
Compared to hardwood floors and other flooring options, bamboo flooring is more prone to scratches despite its durability.
Various factors like furniture, pets, and even by just stepping on it can cause top layer damage to your bamboo floor. Dark carbonised bamboo flooring, in particular, is one type of bamboo flooring that is prone to visible scratches.
Nevertheless, you can minimise this by taking care of your flooring and refinishing it with wooden floor lacquer from time to time.
Susceptible to Water Damage
Although bamboo is water resistant than most hardwoods, it can still be susceptible to water damage and cause your bamboo floors to get warped, swollen, and even be discolored. Thus, it might not be suitable to use in bathrooms, basements, or in areas where there is very humid climate.
Can Emit Volatile Organic Compounds
Although bamboo is a natural material, the adhesive used to make the bamboo flooring may contain volatile organic compounds produced during heat treating which can affect our health and the environment.
Good to know, there are some engineered bamboo flooring products which do not use harmful chemicals that you can order specifically.
Limited shades and tones
While bamboo floors are a trendy flooring material, they can still have many style limitations. When it comes to appearance, bamboo flooring can adapt to numerous different styles, though it is not likely used in modern and Scandinavian design styles.
Bamboo floorings only offer limited shades and tones that may not be suitable for the interior of the entire house.
Where to Use Bamboo Flooring
With its durability, sustainability, adaptability, long-lasting features, and by weighing all the bamboo flooring pros and cons, bamboo flooring is undoubtedly a fantastic choice to use in almost any part of your home.
Not only does it offer chic designs with its natural colors but its bamboo flooring options offer various advantages that can't be acquired from wood flooring.
What's more, bamboo flooring products' installation method is easier than hardwood flooring. As long as they are ready to put up together, engineered bamboo floors can be installed pretty fast.
Canberra’s #1 Bamboo Flooring Supplier
Whether you're looking to spruce up your home by exploring flooring types or getting professional carpet installation for a business, know that our flooring specialists deliver exceptional services and durable products.
Burrows Carpet is Canberra’s #1 Bamboo Flooring Supplier and we offer high quality solid Bamboo Flooring products as well as Timber, Laminate, Vinyl Planks, Vinyl Tiles and Carpet.
If you are looking for the perfect alternative to timber, our bamboo flooring products are well suited to all uses ranging from homes, investment properties, retail, cafes, bars and dance floors.
Drop in our showroom so we can discuss or show you a wide range of options, bamboo flooring colours, styles, and more!
Burrows Carpet are Canberra’s flooring specialist for Timber, Laminate, Bamboo, Vinyl Planks, Vinyl Tiles and Carpet. We also offer Supply Only.
Burrows Carpet are Canberra’s flooring specialist for Timber, Laminate, Bamboo, Vinyl Planks, Vinyl Tiles and Carpet. We also offer Supply Only.
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