Analyzing Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons
Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons
For years now, bamboo has come on the scene for many uses in the home building industry, including flooring. Although bamboo flooring is not for everyone, many people feel it is a outstanding way to 'go-green'.
There are many attributes related to the growth and use of bamboo as an eco-friendly flooring. Also, bamboo has some negative qualities that you should know about before you make a final choice in which flooring you ultimately use in your home.
If you want to determine if bamboo flooring is for you, read the following Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons.
Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons - The Advantages
Because of it's fast growth, bamboo is extremely renewable. Selected bamboo varieties can reach growth rates of up to twelve inches per day. When compared to typical hardwood trees that can take up to 120 years to reach maturity, you can understand why bamboo is considered a rapidly renewable resource.
Virtually bamboo tends to be very strong. It's in reality harder than many hardwoods that are ordinarily used for flooring. Certain species of bamboo have hardness ratings that nearly always exceed maple and approximately double that of red oak.
When looking at bamboo flooring pros and cons, it's also significant to note that bamboo is additionally rather resistant to moisture. Being basically a tropical grass, bamboo is exposed to vast amounts of moisture so it resists spills very well. Since bamboo has fantastic spill resistant properties, it can be a great option for kitchen and bath floors These are areas where traditional hardwoods typically have problems.
An additional pro is bamboo flooring is very simple to care for. To keep your bamboo floors looking like brand new, keep dirt and dust picked up by regular sweeping or vacuuming. Additionally, you should damp mop the floors at weekly intervals.
Finally, you will find that bamboo flooring is very easy under foot. Much more than some other flooring options. This is somewhat surprising because it is in fact stronger than some other hardwood flooring options.
Virtually bamboo tends to be very strong. It's in reality harder than many hardwoods that are ordinarily used for flooring. Certain species of bamboo have hardness ratings that nearly always exceed maple and approximately double that of red oak.
When looking at bamboo flooring pros and cons, it's also significant to note that bamboo is additionally rather resistant to moisture. Being basically a tropical grass, bamboo is exposed to vast amounts of moisture so it resists spills very well. Since bamboo has fantastic spill resistant properties, it can be a great option for kitchen and bath floors These are areas where traditional hardwoods typically have problems.
An additional pro is bamboo flooring is very simple to care for. To keep your bamboo floors looking like brand new, keep dirt and dust picked up by regular sweeping or vacuuming. Additionally, you should damp mop the floors at weekly intervals.
Finally, you will find that bamboo flooring is very easy under foot. Much more than some other flooring options. This is somewhat surprising because it is in fact stronger than some other hardwood flooring options.
Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons - The Disadvantages
Pros and Cons of Bamboo Flooring
Regrettably, there are some negative aspects to installing bamboo flooring as well. While we all enjoy talking about a products virtues, it is significant to realize some of the negative qualities of a product as well. Therefore in thinking about bamboo flooring pros and cons, we will discuss some of the cons below.
One of the biggest obstacles for those of us trying to live an eco-friendly lifestyle is that most bamboo is typically grown in China. This means that it needs to be shipped great distances to reach consumers outside the Asian Continent. Because of the negative aspect of shipping, this subtracts some of the green properties of the product. There have been more and more crops started in the USA and this may not be a concern for those of us living here in the very near future.
Be careful in the selection of bamboo manufacturers as well. Some of the bamboo on the market utilizes finishes and glues that have a high levels of VOC's. Volatile organic compounds or VOC's are very unhealthy for both the installing contractors, and even more unhealthy for the home occupants. Since VOC's off-gas for several years after the installation, it negatively affects the indoor air quality of the home. Being exposed to excessive VOC's has been documented to cause adverse health issues so avoid them whenever possible. Before purchasing your bamboo product, be sure to examine the MSDS sheets, which are the Material Safety and Data Sheets. They will list all of the VOC information.
There are some poor bamboo flooring products available to the consumer. Do your research to select quality products. You ought to search for bamboo that has been allowed to fully mature for about 5 years of growth. Bamboo that is harvested after 3 years is not nearly as long-lasting as mature bamboo. Cheaper usually means defective when it comes to bamboo flooring. Watch out for cheap products that are priced too good to be true. It usually is!
One final negative aspect of bamboo flooring is that the finish may fade. This is a common problem for all wood floors, and not just specific to bamboo. While there are new UV resistant finishes being applied to all floors, it is most beneficial to minimize exposure of your floor to prolonged direct sunlight
There are many bamboo flooring pros and cons and this is not the complete list. I still believe that for those looking for a eco-friendly flooring option, bamboo is a outstanding way to go and that the pros far outweigh the cons - but it's important to take the time to compare and discover before making a final decision. What may be perfect for one family, or one household may not work at all for another!
For more information visit the page: Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons.
One of the biggest obstacles for those of us trying to live an eco-friendly lifestyle is that most bamboo is typically grown in China. This means that it needs to be shipped great distances to reach consumers outside the Asian Continent. Because of the negative aspect of shipping, this subtracts some of the green properties of the product. There have been more and more crops started in the USA and this may not be a concern for those of us living here in the very near future.
Be careful in the selection of bamboo manufacturers as well. Some of the bamboo on the market utilizes finishes and glues that have a high levels of VOC's. Volatile organic compounds or VOC's are very unhealthy for both the installing contractors, and even more unhealthy for the home occupants. Since VOC's off-gas for several years after the installation, it negatively affects the indoor air quality of the home. Being exposed to excessive VOC's has been documented to cause adverse health issues so avoid them whenever possible. Before purchasing your bamboo product, be sure to examine the MSDS sheets, which are the Material Safety and Data Sheets. They will list all of the VOC information.
There are some poor bamboo flooring products available to the consumer. Do your research to select quality products. You ought to search for bamboo that has been allowed to fully mature for about 5 years of growth. Bamboo that is harvested after 3 years is not nearly as long-lasting as mature bamboo. Cheaper usually means defective when it comes to bamboo flooring. Watch out for cheap products that are priced too good to be true. It usually is!
One final negative aspect of bamboo flooring is that the finish may fade. This is a common problem for all wood floors, and not just specific to bamboo. While there are new UV resistant finishes being applied to all floors, it is most beneficial to minimize exposure of your floor to prolonged direct sunlight
There are many bamboo flooring pros and cons and this is not the complete list. I still believe that for those looking for a eco-friendly flooring option, bamboo is a outstanding way to go and that the pros far outweigh the cons - but it's important to take the time to compare and discover before making a final decision. What may be perfect for one family, or one household may not work at all for another!
For more information visit the page: Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons.
