Some homeowners love their bamboo floors while others hate them. It turns out that all bamboo flooring products are not the same. Use these important tips to avoid mistakes in choosing bamboo flooring for your next project.
In the same way you get low-quality carpeting or high-quality carpeting,
you
can get low or high quality bamboo flooring. All bamboo flooring is not the
same. How can you find high-quality, eco-friendly bamboo flooring for your next project? These seven tips will help you find bamboo flooring that you can be happy with for many years:
1. Which type of bamboo flooring would you like? There are 2 types of bamboo
flooring - traditional and strand woven. Traditional bamboo flooring comes in 2 different grain directions: horizontal and vertical. Traditional bamboo can also be solid (bamboo all the way though) or engineered (thin veneer layer on top with compressed particle board). Even though traditional bamboo flooring is about 25% harder than Oak and Maple, it still can be easily scratched or gouged by high heels, small pets and furniture movement. Any sort of pressure may result in dents, scratches and even cracks in the floor. For these reasons there are a lot of complaints from homeowners and business owners when working with traditional bamboo flooring.
A far better option is strand-woven bamboo flooring. Strand woven boards are
compressed in the same direction with adhesive under extreme pressure.
Eco-friendly companies use environmentally safe adhesives. This process fuses
the bamboo strands together, creating a solid plank that is nearly twice as
dense as regular bamboo flooring. This is what makes strand woven bamboo
flooring so strong and durable. Strand woven flooring is much harder than traditional bamboo flooring and cannot be easily scratched, dented or gouged by high heels, small pets and furniture movement.
2. How hard is the flooring? There is a hardness measurement called Janka
Hardness Test. Some bamboo flooring is soft and will easily dent and scratch.
Look for bamboo flooring with Janka Hardness rating over 2300. Order samples.
Once you get the samples, test them out. Bang on them, drop things on them, try
to scratch them. Which product holds up the best?
3. How eco-friendly is the manufacturing process?
Look for bamboo flooring that is formaldehyde free and is made with non-off
gassing adhesives. If your project is going to be LEED-certified, does the
flooring meet LEED Submittal Criteria?
4. Are you looking for nail-down or floating flooring?
Floating bamboo flooring can work well in certain situations. It snaps together and can be used over concrete and radiant heating. It can be used in projects that are
not suitable for nails or adhesives. It can also easily be uninstalled and taken with you when you move. When looking for floating flooring, be sure it is self-locking. The best way to be sure is to order samples and try them out.
5. Can the bamboo flooring be used for your particular situation?
Is it for residential use or commercial use? Can it be used in a high-traffic situation?
Can it be used where moisture is a concern? Is it made for below grade
installations?
6. Are matching accessories available?
An outstanding job will include matching accessories. Can you get matching
baseboard, base shoe, thresholds, stairs, stair nosing and flooring vents?
7. How good is the warranty?
The warranty is the confidence the manufacturer has in their product. Look for
a 25-year residential and 10-year commercial finish warranties and a 30-year
structural warranty.
By taking into consideration these seven important tips, you'll have a bamboo
flooring project you'll enjoy for years to come.
