Bamboo Flooring Review: Pros and Cons

Bamboo flooring has many of the same benefits and drawbacks as hardwood flooring. While the bamboo plant is a type of grass, not a tree, bamboo flooring behaves much like wood flooring&#;they are both attractive natural materials that generally add real estate value to a home and bamboo can even be refinished in the same way as wood. Bamboo is as hard as most hardwoods and highly resistant to moisture. But like wood, bamboo scratches, and it's prone to cracking in environments with dramatic swings in humidity. However, it's important to understand other pros and cons of bamboo before making a final decision about your flooring.

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The Spruce / Margot Cavin

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Pros

• Renewable material

• Easy maintenance

• Can be refinished

• Adds real estate value

• Easy installation

• Resistant to pests

Cons

• Easily scratched

• Humidity swings can cause cracks

• Toxins present in adhesives

Types of Bamboo Flooring

There are several different types of bamboo flooring, each with its own manufacturing process.

• Stranded bamboo is made by shredding the bamboo stalks into small strands which are compressed into sheets using heat and resin binders, then cut into planks to use as building materials. This form of flooring is available both as tongue-and-groove planks that are nailed down, as well as planks that float over the underlayment. It is premium bamboo flooring and available in many colors.
• Horizontal bamboo flooring is manufactured by cutting the strands into thin strips which are then glued together to form planks. The long stalk fibers are visible which creates the flooring's "grain." This bamboo is not as hard or durable as stranded bamboo, but it has a striking appearance. It is available in nail-down planks and as floating floor planks.
• Engineered bamboo flooring is made by bonding a thin layer of bamboo onto a plywood or MDF core. This flooring compares to engineered hardwood and is installed in the same way&#;usually with click-lock planks that float over a foam underlayment. It is the least expensive (and least durable) form of bamboo flooring but it cannot be refinished.

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Most bamboo flooring has a natural blonde or amber color. Darker tones are available through a process called carbonizing which subjects planks to high temperatures. Carbonized bamboo is softer than uncarbonized forms and more susceptible to scratching.

Bamboo Flooring Cost

This material is priced at about the same level as most hardwood floors. You can find bamboo flooring products ranging from about $2 to $8 per square foot, with a national average of $3.84 per square foot. Installation costs for bamboo flooring are much the same as for hardwood flooring. On average, figure on adding about $4 per square foot for installation labor in addition to the cost of materials. You should be able to get a good-quality bamboo installed for less than $10 per square foot, including materials and labor.

If you are a DIYer, be aware that there is no independent system for rating the quality of bamboo materials in the same way that hardwood is graded. Retailers will often sort lots into grade A and grade B materials but that is an arbitrary system that means different things to different retailers. This makes it important to find a quality, reputable flooring dealer to ensure that you are getting top-quality material.

Eco-Friendliness

Benefits: Renewable Resource

Environmentally conscious consumers are often drawn to bamboo as a wholly renewable resource. Unlike the hardwood lumber industry, where trees can take decades to mature, bamboo stalks grow so fast that there is little environmental impact when harvesting the plant. Cut bamboo stalks simply continue growing and replenishing themselves for future harvesting.

Disadvantages: May Contain Toxins

But the manufacturing processes create other environmental concerns. Bamboo floor planks are manufactured by slicing or shredding the stalks of bamboo grass plants and then compressing the pulp back together using heat, pressure, and a resin-based adhesive identical to those used in many other flooring products. This adhesive often contains urea-formaldehyde that can outgas into the air.

The level of adhesive used and the amount of toxins emitted will vary, depending on how the bamboo planks are manufactured. Cheaper products may contain more formaldehyde, while more expensive products may use alternative materials in the resins. The amount of formaldehyde used in bamboo flooring is similar to that found in engineered hardwood flooring or MDF sheathing, and it tends to be a problem only for sensitive individuals. If you're concerned, look for bamboo products labeled as formaldehyde-free.

Maintenance and Repair

Cleaning

Bamboo is relatively easy to clean and maintain. Just sweep or vacuum it regularly to remove small particle debris. An occasional damp mop or a non-wax, non-alkaline, hardwood or bamboo floor cleanser works well, too.

Water Damage

When compared to hardwood, bamboo is slightly more resistant to water damage. However, a bamboo floor needs protection against standing water because as an organic material, bamboo can be affected by mold if water is present.

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Scratches

Bamboo is slightly harder than many hardwoods, giving it somewhat better resistance to scratches and dents. A scratched or marred bamboo floor can usually be refinished by sanding it down and then reapplying sealing coats. Engineered bamboo flooring, however, usually cannot be refinished.

Discoloration and Fading

Bamboo can be discolored if it gets too much direct sunlight, so it is best to use shades or blinds in rooms that get direct sunlight.

Swelling, Shrinking, and Cracking

Humidity affects bamboo somewhat more severely than it does hardwood flooring. If the flooring is installed in a very humid climate, the moisture in the air can cause the floor planks to swell and buckle. In a very dry environment, bamboo planks can shrink. In conditions of extremely high or extremely low humidity, bamboo flooring is more likely to crack than hardwood flooring.

Design

Bamboo is a trendy flooring material that can elevate the elegance of a space almost instantly. It has an appearance and a feel that is similar to hardwood yet with a distinctive aesthetic. Like cork flooring, bamboo is a good material for consumers who prefer something different or want to live with a renewable resource. Bamboo can work with almost any home and decor style, though it is best suited for contemporary settings.

Bamboo Flooring Installation

Bamboo flooring comes in several different types of products:

Solid Bamboo Planks

Solid bamboo planks are installed much the same way as solid hardwood. The tongue-and-groove boards are usually blind-nailed to the subfloor through the edge of the boards. Solid bamboo planks can also be glued down over an existing concrete floor. Installation of nail-down or glue-down bamboo planks is usually handled by professionals.

There are also thinner forms of solid bamboo designed for floating floor installation. Floating bamboo floors sometimes use a modified tongue-and-groove system known as "click-lock," in which the edges of the boards interlock mechanically. Or, the planks may have a standard tongue-and-groove design, where the edges of the boards are glued together. Either way, the entire floor rests over a thin layer of foam underlayment, with no permanent attachment to the subfloor. This installation method is easier for DIYers, and it also has the advantage of allowing the floor to expand and contract as humidity levels change.

Engineered Bamboo

Engineered bamboo is manufactured with a surface veneer bonded to a plywood or MDF core. These products always use the click-lock floating floor installation method. Engineered bamboo is less expensive than solid bamboo, and it is usually installed by DIYers.

Most bamboo flooring products are prefinished at the factory, but if not, the flooring needs to be sealed with a urethane product after installation. Raw bamboo planks can also be stained before top coating with a urethane sealer.

Bamboo vs. Hardwood Flooring

With bamboo and hardwood flooring having similar characteristics and costs, making a choice between the two is not always easy. Here are the differences to consider:

• Bamboo typically is lighter in color than most hardwoods, although you can also find darker versions that have been "carbonized."
• Bamboo also has a more uniform texture and grain, unlike hardwood, in which each board has a unique grain pattern.
• Bamboo is a more sustainable resource since it is harvested from living shoots that will regrow. No forests are harvested to make bamboo flooring.

There are also as many similarities between these two flooring materials:

• Both require sealing against water.
• Both are somewhat susceptible to scratching.
• Both are regarded as premium natural flooring materials that will add value to your home.

The Spruce / Luyi Wang

Top Brands of Bamboo Flooring

Most of the major hardwood flooring manufacturers also carry a selection of bamboo flooring products. For the best selection and product quality, however, it's a good idea to check out the manufacturers who specialize in bamboo:

• Plyboo: This company uses a soy-based resin that contains no formaldehyde. It is a more expensive product (as much as $6 per square foot) but these less toxic products are among the most beautiful of any bamboo flooring.
• Cali Bamboo Flooring: This company sells more than 30 bamboo flooring products, including solid bamboo and engineered bamboo in various colors and premium bamboo flooring designed for good performance in high-moisture situations.
• Teragren: This company is known for its sustainable farming and fair labor practices. Its bamboo flooring products are considered among the best in quality.
• Ambient Bamboo Floors: Ambient makes formaldehyde-free flooring, mostly from stranded bamboo which creates a very striking look.

Comfort and Convenience

In most ways, bamboo floors perform in much the same way as hardwood. For the most part, these floors are non-allergenic, although some people with chemical sensitivities can react to the small amounts of formaldehyde and VOCs that are present in the resins. If this is your situation, you'll find some very good bamboo flooring products that omit these chemicals.

Is Bamboo Flooring Right for You?

Bamboo works well anywhere in your home where hardwood flooring would also work. The main difference is in the aesthetics of bamboo flooring's uniform texture and grain along with its distinctive horizontal lines. You would also need to consider the humidity of your home and climate since bamboo flooring may not wear well in very high humidity, moisture-prone areas, or excessively dry conditions. Bamboo will be appealing to you if you're interested in using natural, renewable resources.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of ODM bamboo plywood machine. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.