For an attractive alternative to traditional hard wood flooring, many people decide to go with bamboo flooring. Growing in popularity, bamboo flooring has many attractive features that make it a viable option for modern homeowners. Bamboo flooring is cultivated mainly in South Asia and is available to consumers through out Europe and North America. It has grown in admiration due to the extensive amount of versatility it has to offer in helping our environment. Certain species of the Bamboo plant can reproduce itself rapidly and can grow up to 2 inches per day. Commonly mistaken as a member of the tree family, Bamboo is in the grass category and grows much faster than trees. Today, Bamboo is cultivated and harvested much more responsibly and environmentally friendly than in past years.

How does bamboo flooring compare with traditional hardwoods? High quality bamboo flooring products are harder and more durable than even the most expensive hardwood flooring. Moisture is also less of a problem for bamboo flooring. Where traditional hardwood may buckle and crack because of water exposure, bamboo flooring can absorb the moisture without a problem. Bamboo flooring is processed as a laminate and treated under extremely high pressure with a high quality glue. This type of processing enables bamboo flooring to be more resistant to scratches and markings, which tends to be a problem with traditional hardwood flooring. In today’s economy, bamboo flooring is increasing in popularity because it is one of the more affordable natural flooring products available.

One of the best aspects to bamboo flooring is that it can be installed easily by homeowners themselves. Similar to other natural wood flooring products today, bamboo is produced in a manner where pieces can be joined together by snapping them in place without using any glue. Before installing a bamboo floor, let the planks sit in their new environment for no less than 72 hours. Many experts advise this adjustment period when bamboo is shipped to a new climate as a precautionary measure.

How do you keep up with bamboo flooring maintenance? Maintenance requirements are fairly simple for bamboo flooring. Routine cleaning involves a cloth wetted with water or a wood cleaner formulated for pre-finished hardwood or laminate floors, and you need to wipe up foods and other spills immediately. Long term cleaning will depend on the amount of wear on the floor, because once it begins to take on a dull appearance you will need to recoat the Urethane finish. Some tips for keeping it looking great include: never waxing your bamboo floor because the urethane-based finish is designed to protect your floor for years. Beware of high heels; the average size woman in high heels can exert as much as 2,000 pounds per square inch of pressure on the floor and this can damage even the toughest flooring material. Make sure to always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation, as a properly maintained floor significantly increases the likelihood of the longevity of your bamboo flooring.