Save The Tree - How Bamboo Flooring Is Helping The Environment
In the past few years, bamboo flooring has risen significantly in popularity. That’s because people are hearing that it’s longer lasting and more environmentally friendly than traditional hardwood. Bamboo is a smart choice for a number of sitations and has many advantages.
Of course, the benefits of bamboo don’t mean that it’s perfect for everyone. There are some reasons that hardwood is traditional, and in an antique home, it may work better. It takes longer to put in hardwood flooring, but for some, the look outweighs the trouble.
Bamboo is a spectacularly beautiful floor type, but it’s not the same as a traditional wood floor. Color variation in bamboo is minimal, so it tends to be more uniform than old fashioned wood.
This is considered a benefit by some, and for others, it’s a reason not to use bamboo. If you’re not sure, remember that bamboo flooring does eliminate the dust and much of the mess associated with installing a hardwood floor. It’s significantly more convenient, since the pieces arrive ready to install.
That means that while it’s great for installation in many homes, people restoring vintage buildings or those who love a very traditional look may be turned off by it. However, bamboo that more closely resembles hardwood is beginning to be developed, and may be an option for these people.
Traditional hardwoods include blackbutt, jarrah, karri, iron bark and others. These durable woods can develop problems over the years. Moisture and temperature changes have been known to cause damage, warping and splintering.
Many people also feel that hardwood flooring is too expensive and environmentally unfriendly for use in the majority of homes. Bamboo grows up to thirty centimeters a day, while hardwoods can take years or even decades to reach a size where they can be harvested. A bamboo grove that’s sustainably managed can be harvested every few years by comparison. Add into that the decrease in proper management of hardwood forests, and you have a serious concern.
Since bamboo grows quickly, and requires no fertilizers, it can be sustainably farmed. That doesn’t mean that every bamboo crop is environmentally responsible, however. Some bamboo plantations, despite the advantages of this plant, are planting only one species and using fertilizers and pesticides on their crops. These bamboo sources are a lot less friendly than well managed bamboo.
These types of practices occur mostly in countries that don’t regulate or enforce their regulations. All you have to do to find out if your bamboo is being grown sustainably is do a little research. There are plenty of products out there that are made with environmentally sustainable bamboo - just find out what you can to be sure you’re getting the product you’re paying for.
If durability is a serious concern, bamboo is the better choice over hardwood. Bamboo stands up well to daily wear, and there are a number of floors that come with a warranty. You should, however, be willing to spend the money for a quality product that will last out the years.
Where contraction and expansion due to weather are problems, bamboo holds up well. Compared to a hardwood veneer, it can be resurfaced more often, and needs no treatments or waxing to keep looking good. However, some products do contain environmentally unfriendly glues - look for nontoxic types when you buy your flooring.
Anyone who’s curious about how bamboo flooring holds up when compared to hardwood should take a look online. It’s easy to see the whole range of available products and find out more about this great type of floor. It could be right for your home.