Bamboo Floor Covering

Many people desire to decorate with green materials whenever possible. Buying environmentally friendly products is not always easy. Bamboo flooring is one of many green flooring options. Bamboo is sustainable, high quality, and continues to look good as it wears and ages.

Strength

Bamboo comes from Asia; it is both a traditional food plant and a building material. Because it is a grass it is more sustainable and quick growing than traditional hard woods from trees. Many people are surprised to find out that it is 10% stronger than Red Wood. Besides being used as a flooring material, bamboo serves many decorative and functional purposes. Bamboo screens to divide rooms are an especially popular décor item. This popularity and versatility extends to bamboo being used for kitchen work surfaces, and even to make kitchen utensils. Besides looking good, being green, and strong, bamboo has one other practical quality. All floors, especially hardwood, expand and contract with changes in temperature. Bamboo, however, does this to a much lesser extent than traditional hardwood materials, which means it often looks better longer after installation than other types of flooring.

Color

When choosing a bamboo floor you have two color options. The treated, or "carbonized bamboo" is amber in color, and the natural material tends to be lighter in color -- almost blond.

Grain

Besides color, you can personalize your floor by selecting the cut. If you tend to like simpler patterns and high modern styling, then you may decide on a vertical cut. If "country chic" is more your style, you may choose the more complex horizontal cut, because the cuts tend to show up the nodes. Be sure to shop around and look at samples before buying, this will ensure you pick out a floor that best suits your decorative tastes.

Installation

Installing bamboo flooring is about the same degree of hassle as putting in other types of floors. If you decide to forego professional installation, it may be easier for you to install the "click and lock" type of flooring. This type has pieces that snap together to form a sort of floating floor without the need for messy glues or adhesives.

When choosing a green, sustainable, and long-lasting floor for your home, bamboo is one of the best options out there. Bamboo has a wide appeal and can increase the beauty and resale value of your property. It also tends to wear very well over time so if you have a large family and/or pets creating high traffic throughout your home, you can still decorate in a stylish and sustainable way.