In fact, very few organic floors are though some claim otherwise. There are tons of great waterproof flooring options out there. Additionally, many of the best vinyl flooring options on the market are totally waterproof. Since many bamboo products—engineered flooring included—come from overseas, standards and regulations may differ from those in the United States.
One of the hottest issues in the bamboo flooring pros and cons debate is the use of adhesives that contain formaldehyde during manufacturing. These can release toxic volatile organic compounds VOCs , which are harmful to those who come in contact with them. The good news: not all bamboo flooring is made with these compounds.
Ask questions. Do your research. As previously mentioned, the Forestry Stewardship Council is a great resource to determine sustainable practices and manufacturing standards. And of course, we highly recommend you talk about bamboo flooring options with your local flooring retailer. In some cases, engineered bamboo is a bit less expensive than solid bamboo.
But depending on the product, it can also be more expensive. Want a more accurate price quote? Talk to a flooring dealer near you.
As cool as it is, engineered bamboo flooring has pros and cons to consider. That said, as far as we see it, the advantages of this amazing floor really do outweigh the disadvantages.
Best known as a therapeutic horseback riding instructor and mom to a 3-year old sassy dachshund, Kim enjoys writing and a good research project. She also loves a good DIY project—probably inspired by growing up in an old Connecticut colonial.
You are an excellent writer. These articles were clear, concise, organized, informative and fun to read! Thank you! Washington state residents will need to budget a bit extra for sales tax. Anywhere else in the country it is tax-free.
The company sells solid and engineered bamboo directly from their website and offers free samples with free shipping. Plyboo bamboo is offered in 4 lines and over 25 colors and tones. Stiletto is available in 6-foot lengths and installs as a floating floor with a click-lock system. Ambient BP has an excellent reputation both with homeowners and professional designers; their website has a lot of great bamboo floor design ideas.
All Ambient products come backed with a lifetime structural and finish warranty. Teragren bamboo flooring comes in both solid and engineered varieties. All Teragren floors are responsibly sourced and independently tested for health and safety compliance. The company offers a year structural warranty and a year guarantee on all commercial finishes.
You can find Ecofusion products in prestigious hotels and universities throughout the United States. The company sells several lines of strand-woven bamboo in engineered and solid varieties. You can purchase Ecofusion bamboo online or through your local flooring dealer. Tesoro Woods features easy-to-install, affordable strand-woven bamboo in 7 colors and patterns. However, what sets Tesoro apart is its patented Super-Strand collection.
These boards are designed and tested for maximum stability. If you invest in high-quality, un-carbonized bamboo flooring, you are getting wood floors that can be twice as durable as the hardest varieties of solid hardwood floors. But all wood floors have the potential to scratch.
If you drag something sharp enough or heavy enough across it, it will scratch. But one of the benefits of bamboo flooring is that it can be refinished or resurfaced. A refinishing wax pen can be used to buff away light scratched. Like hardwood floors, bamboo can also be resurfaced a number of times to deal with deeper scratches and gouges. Yes, bamboo floors are good if you are looking for something affordable, durable, and easy to install and maintain.
They also provide a sleek, contemporary look, and they are environmentally friendly. However, bamboo floors do not cope well with water, which can cause spotting, warping, and bacteria growth. Bamboo flooring should not be used in areas of the home such as bathrooms or basements. Bamboo flooring has a few significant benefits over hardwood. Namely, it is more durable, tends to be more affordable, is easier to install and maintain, and is significantly more environmentally friendly.
Bamboo grows 15x faster than most varieties of wood used for flooring. However, hardwood flooring is considered superior by the housing market, which means that it adds more value to your home. There is also significantly more selection in terms of tones and textures when it comes to hardwood, and it tends to have a more natural and rustic feel than bamboo.
Finally, while bamboo floors can be resurfaced once or twice, hardwood floors can be resurfaced several times. This makes the difference between a lifespan of 25 to 50 years and over for bamboo and hardwood respectively. Bamboo flooring and laminate flooring are comparable in terms of their durability and ease of maintenance, and good quality laminate flooring is comparable to bamboo in terms of cost. But where bamboo has the edge that it is a natural flooring, and so has that aesthetic appeal, laminate often looks artificial.
Also, laminate tends to have a lifespan of 10 to 25 years, whereas quality bamboo flooring could last 25 to 50 years. The main issues with bamboo flooring are: — While quality bamboo is hard and durable, it will scratch — It is easily damaged by both water and humidity, so it cannot be installed in damp areas and spills should be cleaned immediately — Bamboo lacks the graining of hardwood flooring, so it often looks contemporary rather than classic, and thus, adds less value to your home than hardwood floors of a similar cost.
As bamboo floors do not hold up well with water, never clean floors with a wet mop or steam mop. However, it is acceptable to use a lightly damp mop with an appropriate cleaning solution. Always check the details of your warranty to ensure that whatever cleaning method you are using will not void your warranty.
Good-quality bamboo flooring can last between 25 and 50 years, and can be resurfaced a number of times to refresh them and remove deep scratches.
But, as is the case with most floorings, cheap bamboo floors will have a much shorter lifespan. Always look for bamboo flooring that comes with a year residential warranty. It is best to choose a thicker board, as it means that it can be refinished, which extends the life of the flooring. Strand-woven bamboo is the thickest and most durable type of bamboo flooring available.
While bamboo flooring will not add as much to the value of your home as hardwood floors or tile, it certainly adds significantly more value to your home than most other types of flooring, such as vinyl plank or laminate.
Bamboo is a popular flooring option that can be used in several rooms in your home, including living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, kitchens, dining rooms, offices, and more. This flooring type is derived from the bamboo plant and comes in many styles, shades, and finishes. There are three types of bamboo flooring: horizontal, vertical, and strand woven. The strand woven bamboo is the most durable one, even more durable than other wood flooring types.
Vertical bamboo is made of strips that are glued vertically, while horizontal bamboo is made of strips that are glued horizontally. Before you decide to install your bamboo flooring, you have to ensure that the subfloor is clean, leveled, and completely dry. Next, you have to learn all the steps and installation rules of the bamboo you bought. This is a natural material that is generally waterproof, but only up to around 30 hours. This applies only when the bamboo flooring is high-quality and well-made.
So leaving a puddle of water on your gorgeous bamboo floors for a long time is not a great idea and can easily cause damage. Bamboo flooring is straightforward to clean. As a part of the regular maintenance, you should clean them with a soft-bristled broom several times a week.
For regular maintenance, you should also use a damp cloth with a cleaning solution for hardwood floors. Yes, bamboo is wood, and like almost all other types of wood flooring, it can be refinished.
In time, you can expect to see these floors look a little dull compared to when you first installed them. Once the sanding is done, you can refinish the floors, and they will look as good as new. You can either do the procedure yourself or hire a professional. This flooring type is durable; however, not all bamboo floors are created equally. All high-quality options are highly durable, especially un-carbonized flooring types.
Most manufacturers point out a time frame of the durability of their products, so you should opt for a brand that promises your bamboo floors will last for more than 20 years. This depends on the style you choose, quality, type of bamboo, installation, and materials.
The installation cost is something that is not included in this average price range. Bamboo flooring is an excellent flooring option that is becoming increasingly popular and available. It has an attractive hardwood look but at a slightly more affordable price. It is easy to both install and maintain, and it is versatile — for example, many bamboo flooring options can be used in combination with underfloor heating.
Bamboo has a lifespan of 25 years or more, and can be refinished. It is possible to buff away small scratches, and better-quality bamboo floors can be resurfaced a number of times. Bamboo flooring is also one of the most environmentally-friendly flooring options on the market.
Drawn from a natural source, it grows and renews 15x faster than most of the other wood used for flooring. But bamboo is certainly not a perfect floor. It scratches, just like hardwood, and has a shorter lifespan and adds less value to your home than traditional hardwood floors. It also does not deal well with water or humidity, so it should not be installed in bathrooms or basements. Also, while there are cheap bamboo floors out there, they are often less durable than they seem and can come with VOCs, which can result in serious medical issues.
But the right bamboo flooring can offer an attractive and affordable flooring solution that you can enjoy for years to come. Has anyone had experience with the Cali Engineered Bamboo? I understand the solid bamboo is quite susceptible to warping and shrinking, but what about the Engineered?
Also, is there one installation method that seems to reduce the amount of issues? Thank you for all this valuable information! I do wish, however, that some of the questions asked were answered. I am curious if anyone has tried the Reward Bamboo floor?
I was going to install bamboo in almost my entire home and I am so glad I read the reviews but again I am back to square 1. Any suggestions? I have Cali bamboo throughout the house except for bathrooms. It can be resurfaced up to 10 times and has a 50 year guarantee.
I absolutely love it. We have 7 animals. We put Cali Bamboo on the second level of our three story home. We could not be more impressed. The flooring has been in for two years and shows no wear. Let me elaborate. The dogs are at an age where they at times use the floor as a bathroom. Our basement level walkout was done with a laminate and has radiant heat under it. It has not held up and gaps with expansion and contraction.
The edges are a problem as they are not water resistant. I will never put laminate in my house again. I cant believe Shaw does not do more to make their product more water resistant at the edges.
That brings me to the Cali Bamboo floor. Here are some tips for installing a floating bamboo floor. Choosing an engineered bamboo floor is a great way to get the look and feel of hardwood without the expense, environmental impact, and other downsides associated with oak, maple, and other hardwoods.
The BuildDirect Product Expert Team is here to support any questions you may have regarding your home improvement project. You might also like…. Types of Counter Tops. Classy Halloween Dinner Party Ideas. Color Palette of the Week: Old Leather. Order Samples For Free Get 5 free samples. No credit card required.
Samples shipped straight to your door. Related Posts. October 13, - by BuildDirect. October 8, - by BuildDirect. October 6, - by BuildDirect. October 4, - by BuildDirect. September 24, - by BuildDirect. Since they are not all running in the same direction they have a natural tendency to pull against one another.
Being cross directional helps the engineered flooring to maintain stability. While the bamboo and engineered floor is more stable in this respect, equilibrium moisture content still remains critical. The moisture content of wood and bamboo that is in storage or installed at a point below its fiber saturation point has a natural tendency to fluctuate.
This fluctuation is a result of changes in the relative humidity and air temperature within the environment in which the material is stored or installed. Bamboo flooring and engineered flooring are indeed your better choices for bathrooms, kitchens and over concrete as they are more stable for these areas than a solid wood floor.
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