Bamboo flooring is a grass, not a wood, flooring. The speed with which bamboo grows means harvested bamboo is replaced far more quickly than harvested trees, that the production of bamboo flooring has no adverse effects on the environment. And bamboo offers you the choice of either a flat or vertical grain.

Its single drawback is that it is most often available only light ?honey? shade, or a darker amber shade achieved when it is pressure steamed and carbonization occurs. Carbonized bamboo flooring, however, is about 20% softer than natural bamboo flooring. Some manufacturers offer the option of factory-dyed or stained bamboo flooring as an alternative.

The Process

The process of turning bamboo into flooring entails cutting the harvested hollow bamboo canes into strips, boiling them in a mixture of water and preservative, pressing the softened strips flat, and using a urea-based resin to form them into laminated boards. Even with its light weight, bamboo is, surprisingly, almost as dent and shrink-proof as oak.

Bamboo flooring, in fact, is as hard as maple, and because it is not a true wood, can be used in areas where exposure to water makes wood flooring impossible. It is stain and scuff, as well as water, resistant, and ideal for heavily-trafficked areas.

Unfinished Vs. Finished

Bamboo flooring is available either unfinished or finished. When left unfinished, the planks of bamboo have squared edges which allow them to fit together almost perfectly; they can then be finished by the homeowner with a protective stain or sealant to improve their durability.

Beveled-edged finished bamboo flooring is sealed with polyurethane. Its beveling creates a floor with a planked look, and because of its polyurethane sealant, will not accept staining. For more info see http://homeflooringhelp.com/ on Home Flooring.

Most of the bamboo used in bamboo flooring comes from forests in China's Hunan province; and the completed bamboo flooring sold in the US has been imported from a Pacific Rim manufacturer. But it is readily available all over the US.

Questions To Ask Before Purchasing Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring, depending on whether or not it is finished and on its length and width, costs between $3.00 and $8.00 per square foot. If you are considering it, there are some questions you should ask your flooring retailer. In order to be dent resistant, bamboo flooring should b e harvested from mature stands of bamboo, at least six years old. It takes that long for the bamboo stalk to develop a woody texture.

Processed bamboo, as long as it is not made from the tip or base of the bamboo stalk, really is harder than oak. Ask if the flooring you want is made from the heart of the bamboo stalk. And before installing your bamboo flooring, let it acclimatize to your house for about a week. Your bamboo flooring's moisture content should be within two to four percent of that of your sub-flooring.