Pros and Cons of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo floors are not uneven stripes of bamboo canes as believed by many, but are as smooth and flat as the normal wood floors. These floors are manufactured from the bamboo plant, mainly from the moso species of bamboo. The majority of the bamboo and bamboo flooring products are developed in China. Today, bamboo flooring has emerged as an alternative to the conventional hard wood flooring. Besides giving a fresh and natural look to your home, bamboo floors are also environment friendly. Let's have a look at some of the important pros and cons of bamboo flooring.

Pros and Cons of Bamboo Flooring

Pros of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring, which is available in a range of colors, is known for imparting an aesthetic look to your home. In addition to this, the dark bands at the nodes seem to further enhance the beauty of the bamboo floors. However, the greatest advantage of this flooring perhaps, lies in the fact that it is environmental friendly. The bamboo plants are known to mature quite faster than the hardwoods and therefore they are renewable. A bamboo plant typically takes about 5 to 6 years to reach maturity. On the other hand, hardwoods take several years to mature and the depletion of these can do irreversible damage to our environment. So, bamboo flooring can be an efficient alternative to hardwood flooring, without compromising on the style and beauty of your home.

Bamboos are resistant to moisture and are suitable for kitchen and bathroom flooring. They are also durable and resilient to shrinkage. The processed bamboos are even harder than oak. However, durability and hardness of bamboo floors also depend on the specific types. The engineered bamboo floors are highly durable, while the stranded bamboo floors, which are made from fibers, are the most durable. Bamboo floors do not capture allergens like dust and can be cleaned easily. Besides this, it is also resistance to insects and can be easily installed.

Cons of Bamboo Flooring

The biggest disadvantage of bamboo floors, are that they are easily dented or scratched. Therefore, heavy furniture can cause considerable damage to bamboo floors. Many are of the opinion, that they are not as durable as the conventional hardwood floors. Even the environmental friendliness of bamboo floors is being questioned, due to the absence of strict regulations on the production of bamboo floors in China, from where most of the bamboo floors are exported. In addition to this, production of bamboo floors is suspected to produce some toxic byproducts. It may even contain high levels of urea formaldehyde, as it is used in the processing of bamboo floors.

The color variation of bamboo floors depend on the extent of heating, and the lighter floors are usually the less heated ones in comparison to the darker floors. Overheating of bamboos, make them softer and more susceptible to scarring. Therefore, the lighter floors are stronger than the darker ones.

Bamboo flooring is more expensive than the other types of flooring and it needs proper care and maintenance. It should be properly swept and cleaned. For cleaning, use a damp mop and do not pour water directly on the floor. To prevent scratches on the floor, you can place plastic protectors under the legs of your furniture. Do not walk over bamboo floors with high heeled shoes. Sunlight can also soften and discolor bamboo floors and therefore, they should not be exposed to direct sunlight. If maintained properly, bamboo floors can last for several years and provide a long-lasting solution to your flooring problem.