Bamboo Flooring

Rainy Asian jungles, wild monkeys and exotic birds.  That’s probably what comes to mind when you think of bamboo, right?

The fact is that bamboo is a rapidly growing hollow grass (not wood) that can be harvested every 5-7 years, unlike tree wood, which can typically be harvested only every 15-100 years.  When bamboo shoots are cut, their roots remain intact and new sprouts grow in their place.

As a result, bamboo flooring is an environmentally friendly product that provides an excellent alternative to tree wood.  It will provide the same natural beauty and feel in your home as hardwood.

Don’t worry, bamboo flooring is panda friendly too.  The bamboo used for flooring (commonly called “moso” in Chinese) has no leaf growth on the first 16 feet of the stem therefore it is not a source of food for the panda.  The particular species of bamboo used for flooring is grown in select groves of Southern China.  It’s 27% harder than Northern Red Oak, 13% harder than hard maple and can be nailed-down or floated.  Not only is bamboo durable, it is frequently favored for its resistance to fire, insects and moisture.

Bamboo comes in different patterns and plank sizes to compliment a variety of decors, from casual to formal and contemporary to traditional.  Like hardwood flooring, bamboo flooring is offered in both solid and engineered construction. It is installed with the same type installation methods and guidelines as wood flooring. Also, bamboo flooring is comparable in price to wood as well, including the installation costs. Note, not all bamboo floors will be of the same quality so it's best to rely on your local flooring specialty store to be sure you get the right product and have it installed correctly.