What is interesting about bamboo is that it is not actually a wood, it is a fast-growing grass that has been used for centuries in building. Bamboo reaches maturity in 3 to 5 years and cutting the stalks after 3 does not harm the rest of the plant which makes bamboo a great renewable resource. Most other hardwoods take 50 to 100 years, bamboo never more than 5. Bamboo flooring is similar to oak in dent resistance with much more dimensional stability than other wood flooring types.
Bamboo flooring comes with both horizontal and vertical grain, it has a slightly different appearance than typical hardwood. Usually it is either a light golden color or a darker amber shade depending on the finish. The first is the bamboos natural color, the second is natural looking but achieved using a process called carbonization. Both are very attractive.
The installation of bamboo wood flooring is similar to traditional wood flooring. It can be nailed using a nail gun, glued to sub flooring, or floated, installed over plywood, OSB, particleboard, or over a properly installed radiant floor heating system. Bamboo flooring is manufactured at 6 to 9 percent moisture content so moisture equilibration is typically not required. Some installers report problems using regular floor nailers and instead use pneumatic nail guns.
If you're looking for something different from your hardwood flooring, give bamboo a shot. The wood is rich and smooth and looks great in every type of home. Let your home start a new tradition with bamboo instead of oak or pine, go for something less common and stand out.
Best Wood For Flooring
Manufacturers of wooden products have started using a scientific approach to produce flooring solutions that are durable and yet economical, engineered wood flooring is one such example. Once installed properly engineered wood flooring can last for a very long time. Thus, durability and higher quality of engineered wood flooring has helped it become very popular within a very short period of time.
The Basics of Engineered Wood Flooring
The introduction of engineered wood in flooring has come as a boon to wooden floor lovers. Installing authentic hardwood flooring has always been a very expensive and risky affair. Although, hardwood flooring looks very elegant, it easily gets damaged when it comes in contact with water or moisture, so maintaining it has always been a very difficult and expensive task. Technology has made it possible to manufacture flooring that is extremely durable and has the elegance of natural wood. One can now easily install engineered wood flooring in the place of their choice without worrying about the location and atmosphere.
One has to consider certain factors before installing wooden flooring in their homes, temperature, being one of the important factors. Changing temperature has adverse effects on the material used in your wood flooring. Wood responds to changing temperature by expanding and contracting, this develops cracks and reduces its strength, which can easily damage the flooring. One the other hand engineered wood can with stand any type of temperature or climatic condition due to its manufacturing process. The process of compressing many layers together to form one board provides that extra strength and resistance, which helps your engineered wood flooring, last for a longer period.
It's a known fact that when exposed to heat, wood tends to dry out and shrink, this leads to cracks being developed which results in the damage of wooden articles. This is the reason why wooden floorings are not recommended in warm areas of your home, like the kitchen. However, the use of engineered wood for flooring has changed this forever. The technology and the process used to manufacture engineered wood makes it much more tough and heat resistant and hence is suitable for any rooms, no matter what the temperature of environment of the room is.
If you live in a region that has high humidity, like areas near to the sea, you need to think twice before deciding to install hardwood flooring for your home. Humidity tends to damage the wood easily, as moisture in the air seeps in through the joints and causes the wood to expand and contract and thus results in cracks and ultimately decay of wood. But engineered wood is resistant to all kinds of weather and temperature; its manufacturing process leaves very little chance for moisture to enter, thus protecting it from decay. This quality of engineered wood, along with its beauty and low cost makes it the ultimate choice for flooring products.
Both Jackie Kent & Adam Peters are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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