Bamboo Flooring: An Eco-friendly and Stylish Upgrade to Your Home

Bamboo flooring is an eco-friendly and stylish upgrade for you home. While an oak tree takes 30 years to grow large enough to harvest, the same amount of bamboo can be harvested every 3-5 years. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet, growing one third faster than the fastest growing tree. Some species of bamboo grow as much as four feet a day. One bamboo clump can produce 200 poles in the five years that it takes one tree to reach maturity.

If you’re concerned about Bamboo’s strength and durability compared to hardwood, don’t be. Bamboo is harder than Red Oak, Ash, Maple or Beech - one of the strongest building materials, with a tensile strength that rivals steel and weight-to-strength ratio surpassing that of graphite. It withstands up to 52,000 pounds of pressure PSI. Because it regenerates through its root system, it can be harvested and is capable of regeneration without the need to replant. There is virtually no impact to the environment with bamboo and with a 3-5 year return on investment for a new bamboo plantation; it makes good economic sense as well. As durable as hardwood, Bamboo is installed the same as you would a hardwood floor. Bamboo is a great addition to any home. It is an eco-friendly, easy to maintain flooring material that can match any style you choose for your home.

Five reasons to choose bamboo flooring for your home:

1. Aesthetic Beauty

Contrary to popular belief, bamboo is actually a grass not a wood product. Because of this difference, bamboo has a different look than a typical hardwood floor. Color can be determined by the manufacturing process (length of time carbonized) and your typical order of bamboo flooring will be rather uniform in color and easy to match when installing. Also, staining is now possible for bamboo floors resulting in over thirty different styles and colors being available. With this many choices, you’re sure to find something to perfectly fit your style.

2. Durability

Bamboo is not only beautiful, it is also quite durable. Bamboo has received hardness (strength) ratings higher than many hardwoods. In addition to its hardness rating, bamboo is also resilient. This means it “bounces back” after most impacts and doesn’t dent as easily as other products. This resiliency is also better for your feet and back since the floor will tend to “give” slightly and not be so hard to walk on everyday.

3. The Environmental Benefits

Bamboo is a sustainable material. This means it can easily and quickly be re-grown in a reasonably short time. Bamboo is typically harvested every four to five years without actually destroying the plant. Also, because of its resiliency, bamboo doesn’t have to be refinished as often as hardwood. This cuts down on the chemicals necessary to maintain the floor.

4. Easy Cleaning

Bamboo floors, like most hard flooring materials, are easier to clean than carpet.  Vacuum and a swifter keep things nice and clean.