Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons

In recent years, bamboo flooring has come out to the public eye as an upcoming popular new choice for their homes’ floors. With its attractive design and widely acclaimed eco-friendliness, it’s a surprise that the spotlight hasn’t shined on this new hardwood flooring alternative sooner. However, before you set out to install bamboo floors in your home, it is important to examine the advantages and disadvantages of this stylish new home flooring option.

Durability and Hardness: Bamboo is said to be as tough and durable as many existing hardwood flooring options. Though in its natural form, bamboo is a hollow woody stalk, modern processing of the plant allows a flat durable flooring surface to be created. Bamboo floors that are properly cared for will resist spilled liquids and humidity, making them ideal for moist places such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.

However, many with bamboo flooring in their homes have complained of it being extremely brittle, meaning that it could very well be a dent and scratch magnet in high traffic areas. Bamboo flooring may not be suitable for rooms where it will experience a lot of abuse- where it would be walked on in high heels, where heavy furniture would be frequently moved around on it, where pets are frequently allowed to roam- because you may find your new floor quickly destroyed with a multitude of scratches and dents.

Color: Because of the fact that bamboo flooring is so moisture resistant, it has also been noted as resistant to the color staining process that allows there to be such a wide array of different color options in traditional hardwood flooring. Chances are that you will only find a handful of different color options when you consider installing bamboo. It is important to determine whether these few color choices will work well for your home.

Cleaning: Bamboo floors are easy to clean, with a broom or a dust mop being all that’s needed for the regular cleaning process. Because they aren’t as susceptible to puckering and swelling as wood floors are, a homeowner with bamboo floors won’t have to worry about an occasional damp mopping with bamboo-appropriate cleaners.

Eco-friendliness: Bamboo is a rapid growing grass that reaches maturity as quickly as three years. When cut down, it will regenerate itself without any need to be replanted. Compare this to the average oak tree, which can take anywhere from 80 to 120 years to reach maturity and does not regenerate itself when cut down. As opposed to traditional hardwood flooring, bamboo is truly a sustainable flooring option for the eco-conscious.

Installation: Floor floating is the process of gluing or snapping together floor boards over a preexisting floor (concrete, wood, vinyl, tile, etc.) as opposed to the more difficult and time-consuming task of nailing them down. In many instances, bamboo flooring is not suitable for floating over other floors, which may cause many difficulties for someone who wants to install bamboo over their current floors.

Overall, bamboo is a great flooring option for the homeowner who is eco-conscious and looking for a durable, attractive alternative to the traditional hardwood floor. However, it is important for those considering a new bamboo floor to determine whether the benefits truly outweigh the disadvantages to this interesting new hardwood alternative.