Home Ideas

With the campaign of using and doing everything that is eco-friendly, the use of bamboo flooring flooring for homes has constantly grown in popularity. Bamboo as flooring material is used as a substitute to hardwood flooring. Besides being cheaper than the conventional hardwood flooring, it also has a unique natural beauty.  When you say bamboo flooring, it does not mean that you will be using strips of bamboo slats or canes as your flooring material. Bamboo flooring is flat and smooth just like normal wood floors and is made from the bamboo plant. Majority of the bamboo flooring and bamboo products nowadays are made in China. The color of the bamboo flooring depends on the degree of heat applied. The lighter ones are the result of less heat used while darker ones will be produced if they are heated more. Overheated bamboos will make a soft floor and therefore more prone to scarring. Therefore, the lighter floors are stronger than the darker ones.

Bamboo flooring will lend your home a unique natural beauty and it is available in a range of colors with the dark bands of the bamboo nodes adding to the natural artistic look. The biggest advantage of bamboo flooring is that it is very eco-friendly. They are eco-friendly in the sense that they are made from natural material and bamboos grow and mature faster than hardwoods. A bamboo plant takes about five years to mature while hardwoods take more years to mature and reduction in number of hardwood plants will do more damage to the ecological balance of the environment.  Bamboo flooring is resistant to moisture and can be safely used in the kitchen and even in the bathroom. They are hard-wearing and resistant to shrinkage. They are even harder than oak. Engineered bamboo flooring is very durable but the stranded ones are the most durable. This kind of flooring does not capture allergens like dust , it can be cleaned easily, it is insect resistant and its installation is very easy.

The biggest downside of bamboo flooring is that they are easily dented and scratched. If you have this type of flooring, always make sure that you lift your furniture if you want to move them otherwise, you will make an irreparable damage to your bamboo flooring if you drag your furniture. Due to the process used in the production of bamboo flooring, some toxic byproducts are suspected to be produced.

Proper care and maintenance should be observed if you want your bamboo flooring to be beautiful always and last a long time. You can use a damp mop to clean your bamboo floor. Don’t pour water directly into it. To minimize scratching of the bamboo floor, stick some rubber or felt protectors under the legs of your furniture. It is not advisable to walk on your bamboo floor with high heeled shoes as it is cause indentations on the floor. Sunlight can also soften and discolor bamboo floors and therefore, they should not be exposed to direct sunlight. In case of liquid or food spills on the floor, attend to it immediately with a soft cloth dampened with water.  Use only cleaners that are made specifically for bamboo floors. It is recommended to cover areas of the floor that are prone to heavy traffic. You can use mats or rugs witch are of non-scratch variety and change their position regularly so that your floor will still be of the same shade. If the same area of the floor is covered for long it tends to retain its original shade whereas the other uncovered areas may become lighter in color. Using a humidifier will help manage humidity levels in the room. It is advisable to maintain a 30 to 50% humidity level, as excess humidity may crack the planks, while low humidity can shrink the planks.

Bamboo flooring needs more care and maintenance but if you follow the simple care instructions, you will have a beautiful and unique flooring for a long time.