There are a lot of hardwood flooring options, but Bamboo Hardwood flooring stands out among all. This is because Bamboo Hardwood is considered an environmentally friendly option for flooring. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing species of grass/tree. This is why it is considered a quickly renewable source of wood. Our moral duty is to look for renewable resources in everything, and there is a huge number of people who take it very seriously. If you are one of these people and you want a hardwood floor.
You should consider choosing Bamboo Hardwood flooring, not only is it an excellent choice, but it also falls under the category of biodegradable and renewable materials. Most people get confused about how bamboo can be used in flooring spaces. Because bamboo has no wood that can be converted into planks. That is true to some degree. Bamboo Hardwood does come in the shape of wooden planks that you normally see. But different methods help you convert the bamboo wood into flooring planks. These flooring planks can be used to beautify your floors. If you are still confused about the use of Bamboo Hardwood in flooring, read the article below to know more.
What is Bamboo Hardwood Flooring?
Bamboo is a grass plant that grows a very long and round stem. Unlike other tree species, it has no trunk that can be cut into flooring planks. Instead, the entire stem of this plant is shredded to create the threads of the bamboo. These threads then go through a complete transformation using industrial-scale machines. These processes convert the raw bamboo wood into hardwood. This engineered hardwood is used in the flooring. Most of the bamboo floors that you will see in different places are the ones that are engineered.
But in some places, you may have seen the original non processed Bamboo Hardwood floors as well. These are known as Solid Bamboo Hardwood floors. These solid Bamboo Hardwood floors are made by chopping and cutting the bamboo and creating slices. These sliced pieces of bamboo wood are used in the floor like weaving thread. This helps to create a strong and reliable floor. After placing these sliced bamboo wood planks on the floor. We use different methods to even the uneven edges of the Bamboo Hardwood flooring.
There are a lot of benefits of using Bamboo Hardwood on floors. These benefits include financial and environmental benefits. But there are also some drawbacks of using Bamboo Hardwood flooring. These drawbacks include being susceptible to water and moisture damages and denting in the floor planks. Read the pros and cons of using Bamboo Hardwood flooring to know more about these benefits and drawbacks.
Pros of using Bamboo Hardwood Flooring
Below are some of the pros of using Bamboo Hardwood flooring of any type.
- Renewable and eco-friendly Material
All Bamboo Hardwood floors are 100% eco-friendly. These hardwood floor planks have a long life. But once they have served their purpose for years, you can get them out of your floor. These floor planks would quickly disintegrate. This does not happen if you use other flooring materials such as plastic-based, and tile-based flooring but these are non-degradable flooring options. So, if you are using these floors, you will be causing permanent damage to the environment. Once you have used them for years and would want to replace them, all the material that you used on your floor would become rubble. People who are conscious about the climate and environment, want options that are eco-friendly and would not cause any damage to the future while being used or even after the use as well.
Bamboo Hardwood flooring is the perfect answer for that for a few reasons, first of all, bamboo is easy to grow and it only takes a few years to replace an entire bamboo jungle with a new one. So, even if you cut an entire bamboo jungle, you will be able to quickly replant and grow it to the same point. Meanwhile, other tree and plant species that are used for flooring purposes can take decades to centuries to reach potential growth status. Hence using the Bamboo Hardwood for flooring would have a very insignificant impact on the climate and environment, while using any other species would have a larger impact. For that reason, you should use Bamboo Hardwood for flooring.
- Easy Maintenance
Choosing a floor type that is easy to maintain can help you save a lot of money in the future. This is because if your floor needs more maintenance and maintenance costs for your floor type are higher, you will be spending more money on the maintenance work. Premium flooring types such as mahogany, walnut is considered a very good option for long-term flooring, but they cost a huge amount of money on maintenance. They change their color over time, and you will need to refinish them more often. Apart from refinishing, you will also need to spend a lot more money on cleaning them and keeping them shiny.
You can save all of these expenses and the labor required for the maintenance of the floor by switching to a floor type that is easy to maintain and requires less effort in maintenance. One of the few hardwood flooring types that need low maintenance and are easy to maintain also include the Bamboo Hardwood floor type. The hardwood floor of the bamboo would not change its color, would require less frequent refinishing, less often cleaning because it comes in both brighter and darker shades. You can choose the shade of your choice, but the dark one needs less refinishing and the brighter one needs less cleaning.
- Can Be Refinished
If you want your floor to last longer and want it to keep its shine till the end of its days, you should choose a hardwood floor type that can be refinished. Bamboo hardwood can be refinished. This makes it very suitable for anyone who wants to have a floor that would last long and will keep its sheen as well. Once installed, you can refinish the bamboo hardwood floors, again and again, to make them look new. This is the ability that you will only see in very premium floor types that can cost a lot more money in comparison to what bamboo hardwood flooring would cost. So, you will not only be able to save a lot of money but will also be getting a more premium look over the years. For this reason, you should choose bamboo hardwood flooring for your home.
- Adds To Real Estate Value
If you want to sell your property, and want a good value for your property, you should add a new floor. Adding a new floor to your property can help you get more value for your property. A new floor also helps you attract more buyers to your real estate and sell it quickly. So, if you are also a homeowner who is looking forward to selling his property and wants good money in return, you should add a new floor. Some flooring types bring more value to your property than others. For example, floor types such as mahogany, and walnut can increase the price of your property by a large sum.
But these flooring types also cost a lot of money and they are going out of trend as well. They do not provide that much profit over the investment. Now, the bamboo hardwood floors that are cheaper to purchase and install also add value to your property. Because these are eco-friendly and they are in trend these days. The bamboo hardwood floors add more value to your property than any other cheaper hardwood floor type. So, if you want to quickly sell your property, you should install a modern-looking bamboo hardwood floor that is not only cheaper and affordable but also offers much more value on your investment in the flooring.
- Multiple Options in Appearance
As you know that most of the bamboo hardwood floors are engineered bamboo hardwood floors, you get the opportunity to select from a wide range of colors, shades, grain, and overall appearance. On cheaper hardwood floors, you do get that many options. For that reason, among the cheaper hardwood floors, bamboo hardwood floors are the ones that are considered by most homeowners.
This increased variety of colors and grades of the floor can be seen in both the engineered and also solid bamboo hardwood floors as well. Solid bamboo hardwood floors are also beautiful and provide a distinct look. The contemporary look of the solid bamboo hardwood after the completion of finishing provides an amazing blend of modern and classic flooring. It works with all kinds of interior design and kitchen cabinets. This makes it a flooring choice for all homes.
- Very Affordable
If you are installing a new floor in your new home or upgrading your floor, one thing that is most important to consider is the price of the flooring species, cost of installation, and maintenance. If you are choosing a low-priced hardwood floor type, you may end up spending a lot of money on installation, maintenance, and repairs. For that reason, you should select a hardwood species that is not only affordable to purchase but is also affordable in terms of installation and maintenance costs as well.
Among the most popular hardwood species, the bamboo hardwood flooring species is one of the best hardwood flooring species in terms of pricing. Other hardwood species can cost more than 10$ per square foot, while the bamboo hardwood floor on average costs 4 to 5$ without installation. The cost to install a bamboo hardwood floor is also much less in comparison to the other stiffer hardwood species. This affordability factor of the bamboo hardwood flooring makes it an even more desirable hardwood flooring species for people who want an affordable hardwood floor.
- Low-Cost Repairs
People think of the Bamboo Hardwood as a weaker hardwood floor that would get quickly damaged and they will need to maintain and repair it more often. But no, Bamboo Hardwood floors are not weaker. They are strong and they can survive the harsh impacts over the years. But still, like all other floor types, Bamboo Hardwood floors can get damaged sometimes due to faster impact, or pointy objects. When this happens, you will need to repair your floor.
Repairing any other type of floor can sometimes require removing the damaged floor plank and replacing it with a new one. There are also a bunch of other solutions but each one can cost differently. These costs are much higher if you have a fancy hardwood floor like mahogany, walnut, or any other species. But if you have a bamboo hardwood floor, you will be able to fix serious damages to your floor easily and it would cost you only a fraction. It can help you save a lot of money in the future because hardwood floors tend to get damaged and dents because they are not stones.
- Easy Installation
You should always choose a floor that is easy to install. This would help you save your time and money on installation. A floor that is hard to install would significantly increase the amount that you would have to spend on your floor. For that reason, you should look for hardwood flooring species that are easier to install. The species of hardwood that are easier to install are also the ones that are cheaper to install because they do not require much effort in the installation and finishing process.
This helps you save money and other resources and also lowers the time needed for the floor to finish and you can move back in. bamboo hardwood flooring is one of those options that are easier to install and also the ones that are comparatively cheaper and affordable to install because they are easy to install. For that reason, it is highly recommended that you pick the bamboo hardwood floor if you want an easy-to-install floor in your home.
- Pest Resistance
Pests are one of the biggest problems for the hardwood floors. Most of the hardwood species have some protection against pests. But once this protection starts to wear off these pests can attack your floor and damage it internally. This can lead to dents and cracks in your floor and you may need to redo the entire floor if the attack reaches a severe level. If you want a floor that lasts longer, you should choose a hardwood flooring species that has resistance against pest attacks. But such species of hardwood flooring are very expensive. Only the bamboo hardwood flooring species is the one that has protection against these pests and is also an affordable option. So, if you want a pest-resistant, long-lasting hardwood floor, you should pick the bamboo hardwood floor.
- Moisture Resistance
Hardwood floors are made up of wood, and wood tends to absorb water and moisture. Once this moisture and water reach the core of your hardwood floor, it attracts a lot of pests that can destroy your floor. Apart from this, moisture can also cause your hardwood floor to swell as well. This swelling creates a problem while cleaning the floor. Not only this, these bumps on the floor do not look good on your floor and destroy its look. You may even have to remove the affected floor planks as a result of this.
So, it is very important to choose a hardwood floor that has moisture resistance to avoid these problems. Premium hardwood flooring species are the ones that can resist moisture intake and prevent the formation of bumps seeping the water to the core of the wood. But these species of hardwood can cost you a fortune. But some hardwood species have protection against moisture and they are affordable. The bamboo hardwood flooring species is one of those species that are affordable and yet provide better protection against damp conditions as well. You can install them in your bathrooms, and also in your basement as well.
- Scratch Resistance
For a hardwood floor, scratches are one of the biggest challenges that it will face over the years. Scratches can damage the look of your hardwood floors. They destroy the finish of your floor, damaging the stain on your floor as well. Scratches can also destroy the protective layer of polyurethane on your floor. Once this happens, your floor will become more susceptible to water-related and moisture-related damages. Also, scratches on the floor make it difficult to completely clean your floor. For these reasons, you should always choose a hardwood flooring species that can resist scratches. This not only helps your floor maintain its beauty but also protects it from a lot of damages as well. Bamboo hardwood flooring species is also one of those hardwood species that are comparatively better at resisting scratches on their surface. So, if you want an affordable hardwood floor that is also able to resist scratches, you should choose bamboo hardwood floors.
- Easy Cleaning
If you have a floor in your house that is hard to clean, it would be disastrous. To avoid this kind of problem, you should always select the floors that are easy to clean. Easy cleaning floors are the ones that have naturally smoother surfaces. A smooth surface helps ensure proper cleaning without leaving any dust or trash behind. Among other flooring species, the bamboo hardwood flooring species is also a species that is easy to clean. So, if you want a floor in your home that is easy to clean, you should consider the bamboo hardwood flooring species.
Cons of using Bamboo Hardwood Flooring
There are a number of benefits of the bamboo hardwood flooring species, but it also has some issues. In the few paragraphs below, I have mentioned all the cons/issues/problems of the bamboo hardwood flooring species that you may face.
- Scratches Easily
The bamboo hardwood is hard, but still, its surface is more susceptible to scratches. Bamboo hardwood floors that are of good quality get fewer scratches, but the floors that are not of good quality are more susceptible to scratches. The scratch resistance ability of the bamboo hardwood floors protects it from scratches, but if the damaging force is greater than the ability of the force to protect, your bamboo hardwood floor will get scratched.
Scratches in the darker shade become more and more obvious over the decades and can start to look bad. Although it is easy to repair these scratches and remove them from your bamboo hardwood floor, it is still worth knowing before installing it. It is also important to keep in mind that more scratches only appear in the bamboo hardwood floors that are not of good quality and the ones that are made properly, get fewer scratches over the decades.
- Dents Due To Pressure
Bamboo hardwood floors can resist dents due to pressure, but if the pressure is extremely high for the plank to resist, it will cause dents in that plank. Dent happens when sharp force is applied on one or more planks. Think of a heavy table that you have placed on your floor. This table, if it has more weight than your floor can resist, planks where the feet of the table are placed, will dent. The same goes for anything else that has a heavier weight. The bamboo hardwood would try to resist the pressure.
But if it is applied for long enough for the hardwood to return to its normal stage, it would become a permanent dent. This kind of dent will cause a lot of problems with your cleaning, and will also look bad as well. But there are techniques to avoid this. Still, if you want a floor that would not dent on putting some pressure, you should not choose the bamboo hardwood flooring as your floor.
- Water and Humidity
Bamboo hardwood floors can resist water and humidity-related issues. But as the floor ages, and the protective layer over the floor wood dissolves. This leaves your bamboo hardwood floor unprotected against the water and humidity. Moisture can reach the bottom layers of the hardwood and can damage it internally. For that reason, it is very important to not clean your bamboo hardwood floors with water. You can use other materials while cleaning, and only use the water when it is necessary. This will help you protect the sheen and keep your floor glowing for a long time.
Types of Options For Bamboo Hardwood Flooring
All types of bamboo hardwood floors are made with straws of bamboo. These bamboo grass straws are processed through different procedures. Each procedure produces a specific type of hardwood for the flooring. This creates multiple varieties and types of bamboo hardwood that you may see. All of these floor types of bamboo hardwood are divided into two basic groups. Details about each one is given below.
Solid Bamboo Hardwood Flooring
If you want to see the natural look of the bamboo hardwood on your floor, you should go for the solid bamboo hardwood flooring type. This is the type of flooring in which the properties of original bamboo hardwood are preserved. It is created using the straws of the bamboo hardwood that are dipped in the boric acid to clean them from any pathogens. These straws are later bound with an adhesive using heat and extreme pressure. The pressure and heat cause the stalks of bamboo to merge and create a hardwood floor plank. In this kind of hardwood floor plank creation, you have two different options that you can pick. Below are the names of these options.
- Flat Grain: Flat grain is a type of bamboo hardwood flooring in which the bamboo stalks are flat and are placed above one another. This creates unevenly unique lines and a beautiful hardwood floor plank. This plank is then finished using materials to make it look shiny and deepen the flat grain look. This is one of the most popular options in bamboo hardwood flooring. If you want a floor that has a lot of unique planks, you should choose the flat grain bamboo hardwood floor.
- Vertical Grain: Vertical grain is a type of bamboo hardwood flooring in which the bamboo stalks are arranged in a vertical formation. This creates an overlapping shape of the grain. After that, pressure and adhesive are used to make them bind together. Once the binding happens, you will get vertical-looking grain in your floor planks.
Below are some advantages and disadvantages of using solid bamboo hardwood.
Advantages
- Solid bamboo hardwood floors retain their original look and provide a beautiful blend between colors and grain of the look.
- Solid bamboo hardwood floors provide you more than one option when it comes to grain formation.
- These floors are stronger and can last for decades without the need for repair or maintenance.
- This is one of the ancient types of flooring, it has been used in East Asia for centuries.
- Solid bamboo hardwood flooring is more eco-friendly as compared to the engineered bamboo hardwood.
Disadvantages
- The solid bamboo hardwood floors have less protection against dents and scratches.
- It is also more susceptible to damage due to water and moisture.
- It will not work with modern interior designs and kitchen cabinet settings.
Engineered Bamboo Hardwood Flooring
Bamboo hardwood floors that you mostly see are the ones that are engineered. They are more common than solid bamboo hardwood floors because they provide better prot4ection and last longer. For these reasons, people who want their floors to last longer, choose this kind of flooring. Not only this, but the engineered bamboo hardwood floors are also better at resisting scratches and have a higher rating on Janka Scale. Below is a list of a few advantages and disadvantages of the engineered bamboo hardwood flooring that can help you decide if you should choose it or not?
Advantages
- It is much stronger and is less susceptible to damage.
- The engineered bamboo hardwood flooring comes with multiple options of color, grain, and shade.
- It works with all kinds of interior design because you can get the shade of your choice.
- It has more resistance against moisture and water-related damages.
- This type of floor is much more resistant to dents and other pressure-related issues.
Disadvantages
- Less eco-friendly. As this is a highly processed form of wood floor, it would not degrade easily. For that reason, it is considered a less eco-friendly option.
- Less attractive. The natural look of bamboo hardwood flooring is lost during the processing. For that reason, the engineered bamboo hardwood flooring no longer looks as beautiful as the solid bamboo hardwood floors.
Installation Process
If you have decided to use bamboo hardwood on your floor, you should know the process of installation as well. You must ask a professional to help you install your bamboo hardwood floor. Because if you tried this on your own, you may end up damaging a lot of floor planks and this can increase the overall floor installation cost. Below are some methods that can be used for the installation of Bamboo hardwood flooring.
- Floating the floor using tongue and groove joints to join the planks together on the wooden floor.
- Floating the floor using uniclic joints to lock the wooden floor planks in place.
- Secret nailing the floor down to a wood subfloor. These nails do not appear even if you are looking at the floor. This is because these nails become part of the wooden floor plank.
- Gluing the floor down to a concrete or wood subfloor. This method works for all kinds of bamboo hardwood floor planks and you can use it to make sure that your floor is permanently attached to the ground.
These are a few methods that you can use to install your bamboo hardwood floor in your homes.
Final Thoughts
As you know that the bamboo hardwood flooring is one of the best flooring options that you have and there are a few reasons for that. These reasons include the fact that bamboo hardwood flooring is one of the most affordable flooring types. Apart from being an affordable type of floor, it is also one of the very strong and hard types of hardwood species that you can use. This hardness and strength protect against scratches and damages. If you have a floor that is stronger and is better able at handling pressure, weight, and damages, it would cost you a lot less on repairs and maintenance as well.
This makes the bamboo hardwood floor an even more cost-effective solution. Apart from all this, your bamboo hardwood floor would also cost a lot less in terms of installation and repairs if your floor gets damaged in the future. With proper care, your bamboo hardwood floor can last for decades. So, it is also a very durable type of floor as well. Looking at all of these benefits of bamboo hardwood flooring, it should be easier for you to decide whether to choose it or not. If you choose it, you will be able to enjoy a premium quality floor at an affordable price. Still, the answer to the question if you choose it or not? Depends on what you expect from your floor. If you want all these benefits of the bamboo hardwood floor and also the cons of bamboo hardwood floor, you should choose it.
