Bamboo flooring: Should you give it a go?

Are you trying to turn your home into an eco-friendly dwelling? Apart from using LED bulbs instead of regular ones and reusing water, you should also look into using bamboo flooring.

What is bamboo flooring?

Bamboo flooring has slowly gained popularity because of its sustainability. Although it’s considered a type of hardwood flooring, it is, in fact, not made of wood. It’s made from bamboo, a type of grass that grows more rapidly than trees. It only takes four to five years before bamboo can be harvested— way faster than the time it takes for hardwood species to reach the optimum age for harvesting, which is around 60 to 70 years.

Although the most common installation method for bamboo flooring is tongue and groove (used to install bamboo floating floors), you can also have it glued or nailed down like other hardwood floors.

Advantages of bamboo flooring

Aside from being sustainable, bamboo floors also have these upsides:

• Durability
  Bamboo flooring is harder than other hardwood flooring, such as Red Oak and Brazilian Maple. That’s why it’s a great choice for high-traffic areas such as the living room, hallways, etc.
• Versatility
  There are many options to choose from. You can definitely find one that fits your taste and the current interior design of your home.
• Cost-effectiveness
  You won’t need to spend heaps of cash to have bamboo flooring installed in your home; it can be more affordable than other hardwood floors.

Disadvantages of bamboo flooring

Just like any other type of flooring, bamboo flooring also has its drawbacks:

• Damage because of moisture
  Because it’s made up of organic elements, bamboo flooring is still prone to warping and swelling. If there is excessive moisture in the area, it can even lead to mould growth.
• Fixing damage
  When a bamboo floor is dented or scratched, you only have two options: leave it like that or replace it, which can be costly.

Are you planning to use bamboo flooring in your home? Feel free to check out the list of flooring experts on our site.