[/media-credit]Bamboo is a wonderful material for sustainable living as well as an excellent choice for Eco-friendly flooring. With the durability of a hardwood and stability that is 50 percent greater than red oak, bamboo crushes the competition. It also grows up to a meter per day, making it a superior choice among renewable resources. Just a little research will help you find the perfect bamboo flooring option for your next project.Consider your budget and your needs for flooring and installation as well as these three questions:
Do you need a floor that will tolerate high traffic, in a room with many windows?
What Are Prices Like for Bamboo Flooring?
There is a wide price range available in this product. The differences in cost between lower-end bamboo flooring and upper-end bamboo flooring are most likely attributed to the different coatings that each company provides.
When choosing bamboo flooring, one of the largest differences in pricing is relative to these coatings. There are UV coatings to Super Aluminum Oxide finishes that all vary in price due to the brands. The upper-end flooring will have much longer warranties, and some may even have a lifetime warranty.
Installing Your New Eco-friendly Flooring Selection
Installation of bamboo flooring is very much like the installation process of hardwood. There are basically three options to choose from: floating, nail and gluing. You’ll want to do your research on the type of bamboo flooring you need to choose before your purchase, if you are planning to install it yourself.
Bamboo comes in a tongue and groove style boards, generally in lengths of 36 and 72 inches. It can either be nailed down or laid by floating it over a subfloor. It’s possible to use adhesives as well, although this option might be better left to professional installers. If you do choose to proceed with this method, be sure to use only 100% urethane for best results.
Caring For Your Bamboo Floor
Caring for bamboo flooring is much like caring for hardwood. Eliminating dust and dirt will help keep your floor from getting minor scratches. Wearing high heels on your new bamboo flooring is not recommended, as the large amount of pressure on such a small area can cause denting in your new floor’s surface.
Take precautions by choosing the correct rugs for hardwood or bamboo flooring to help reduce wear and fading. Although your floor may have a UV coating, it is always nice to add the security blanket of UV shades to your windows also.
Unlike other hardwoods, bamboo floors don’t require refinishing or waxing. Simply keep them dust-free and use a damp mop from time to time, and your new bamboo floor will look good as new for years to come.
When choosing a sustainable flooring option, bamboo flooring is an option that you should consider, especially if you are also looking into hardwood as a flooring option. The price of bamboo flooring is in the same range as hardwood flooring, as are the installation processes available and the care for each of the floorings. Bamboo is a great choice considering it’s cost-effective and definitely an eco-friendly flooring.
