Saturday, December 27, 2008

Why Use Bamboo Flooring?

By Walter Tunk

Bamboo flooring offers a first-class alternate to traditional hardwood flooring.

Rising in popularity as an alternative, bamboo flooring has a lot of features that make it stand out when compared to hardwood.

Though harvested primarily in China, bamboo flooring can now be found easily in both European and North American markets.

Many of those that started using bamboo flooring early on note its environmental friendliness.

The bamboo plant regrows very rapidly when compared with the amount of time it takes a forest to regrow.

In fact, the bamboo plant is considered a grass, as it grows much faster than any tree.

When done responsibly, bamboo plant harvesting can be done without causing any lasting damage.

How does bamboo flooring compare with traditional hardwoods? High quality bamboo flooring is harder and more durable than even the most expensive hardwood flooring.

Moisture does not affect bamboo in the way that hardwood suffers from water damage. Where traditional hardwood may cup and crown because of water exposure, bamboo flooring can absorb the moisture without a problem.

Bamboo flooring is processed as a laminate and treated under very high pressure with a high caliber adhesive.

This makes bamboo flooring very resistant to abrasions and scratches, where less hardened hardwood floors may show scratches after a while.

Bamboo flooring has become a great deal more affordable in recent times as well.

Best of all, bamboo flooring is simple enough to lay down without any professional help.

Like many of the newer hardwoods, bamboo flooring is made with a groove that allows the planks to interlock, making them considerably easier to install.

Before installing a bamboo floor, allow the planks to adjust to their new environment for no less than 72 hours.

While bamboo flooring does not suffer from water damage like hardwood, they do need some time to adjust to their new climate before installation.

Only a few steps need to be taken in order to provide upkeep for a bamboo floor? Upkeep requirements are fairly easy for bamboo flooring.

Be sure to clean the floor after installing it, using a mop with a small amount of water.

Regular dusting and sweeping should be done after installation. This will prevent a build up of dust that can dull the finish.

A rug should be located at the entryway to prevent dust and dirt from coming into the room.

Dirt and small rocks will end up damaging the finish, and a rug can do a great deal to prevent this problem. - 16732

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