Monthly Archives: October 2019

How well does bamboo flooring hold up?

If bamboo flooring is on your radar for your home, you’re not alone. Even though it has been around for years, lately, bamboo flooring all the buzz in magazines, showrooms, and on television. We used to see bamboo as nothing more than grass. Today, we realize that bamboo is a versatile material. It can reach a height up to 80 feet with a diameter up to 8 inches within 7 years.

As a flooring material, manufacturers offer a structural warranty for a lifetime. The factory finish for bamboo flooring typically comes with a 25-year guarantee. Because it has a high Janka hardness rating, this makes it a great product for any household, with or without children and busy foot traffic.  

Is bamboo flooring better than laminate?

We often confuse bamboo to be a hardwood, when in fact, it is a grass. Because it can regenerate within 7 years versus the 30 to 100 years, it takes a tree to grow, bamboo is more renewable.  Bamboo grass stalks are broken down then cut into strips that are fused together with high heat. It is this process that gives bamboo flooring a different look every time.

Laminate flooring is entirely synthetic, glued together material. It has many fiberboard layers that are then compressed after being glued and then topped with a melamine coating. Laminate won’t provide the natural warmth that bamboo flooring does.

Is bamboo flooring waterproof?

Homeowners are always concerned about bamboo flooring and water before making a final decision, understandably so. Compared to hardwoods, yes, bamboo flooring is more water-resistant, typically. What we mean by that is if you have high-quality bamboo flooring, it can provide a level of protection against water for up to20 hours. So, when we look at that fact, we’d have to say that bamboo flooring isn’t waterproof. Bamboo is a 100% natural material, thus when exposed to moisture for an extended time, it will warp.

Do bamboo floors scratch easily?

Bamboo flooring is three times harder than oak flooring, but scratches will happen. However, this doesn’t mean an active, busy household with children can’t have the beauty that bamboo flooring offers. Choose the thicker bamboo flooring product, a strand-woven style. Go with a manufacturer that features their flooring’s durability and a 25-year warranty.

What are the benefits of bamboo flooring?

There are several benefits to having bamboo flooring, and we have narrowed down the main ones for you:

1. Easy to Maintain: For light cleaning your bamboo floors, a soft-bristled broom will do the job. Or you can vacuum if you choose, using the setting for hard floors to keep from scratching your bamboo flooring. Weekly, clean these beautiful floors warm water and a hardwood floor cleaner with a mop – do not over-saturate, remember, excessive water for over 20 minutes can buckle and warp them. For those spills that will happen, soak them up with a sponge, then clean with a clean damp rag and dry immediately. You can remove scuff marks with warm water and a wood cleaner.
2. A Renewable Resource: As we’ve mentioned already, bamboo is renewable with a thick stalk up to 8 inches and a height of 80 feet within 7 years. Bamboo can be re-harvested every 3 years by the farmers and not damage any existing plant that is growing. Bamboo is the answer to avoiding deforestation because it is the fastest-growing grass/plant on earth.
3. Durable: The densest bamboo flooring is a strand weave that goes through a heating process using adhesives and resin that bond the strands tightly.  The light natural tone bamboo flooring is the most durable.
4. Can Be Re-finished: As we mentioned earlier, you can cover minor scratches with a crayon or refinishing pen. For gouges and imperfections, combine those inexpensive blending items with wax. These aren’t permanent repairs, and you must refresh them every 3 months. For excessively worn bamboo flooring, it will take time, but a light sanding and then apply a finish. Most homeowners opt to hire a professional flooring refinisher because of the tedious care it takes.
5. Stylish: Bamboo flooring is contemporary and sleek with clean lines that lend to modern design. It has unique characteristics with the natural pattern that add depth and creates interest to any room.
6. Less Expensive: Bamboo flooring is less expensive than traditional hardwood flooring. Bamboo planks come in various levels of quality, with the lesser quality being the least expensive.
7. Radiant Heating Ready: Bamboo flooring and radiant heating work well together in most cases.  The bamboo flooring planks need to be allowed to acclimate before installing for a minimum of 5 days. If you’re buying bamboo flooring intending to install radiant heating, check the manufacturer’s guidelines first.
8. Termite Resistant: Bamboo flooring is chemically treated, which termites cannot digest.
9. Allergenic:
10. Bamboo flooring is perfect for those who suffer from allergies. It repels dust, dust mites, and pollen, as well as mildew and mold. The VOCs are low in bamboo flooring and it is formaldehyde-free, all part of making it safer for anyone with allergy and respiratory illnesses.

Bamboo flooring is definitely the way to go if you ‘re looking to update your home. It is attractive, clean, safe, and easy to maintain. It is a flooring style here to stay and will give you a strong ROI if you sell your home. For bamboo flooring in Pantego and Arlington, TX, call 817.861.3737 today!