Bamboo Flooring Guide E-Flooring

Bamboo Flooring Guide

All you need to know about bamboo flooring A bamboo floor is a type of flooring manufactured from the bamboo plant. Bamboo is an attractive alternative for flooring because of its physical similarities to hardwoods. Bamboo floor is strong, durable as well as resistant to insects and moisture whil

Overview

A bamboo floor is a type of flooring manufactured from the bamboo plant.  Bamboo is an attractive alternative for flooring because of its physical similarities to hardwoods. Bamboo floor is strong, durable as well as resistant to insects and moisture while having the added benefit of being eco friendly.

Construction
Typically Bamboo is manufactured by harvesting plants only at maturity, which is 5-6 years from a well managed sustainable forests.  The boards are manufactured using controlled processes to achieve the extremely dense, durable and quality finish. The finished result is a product that has the feel of a hardwood but is from a renewable resource!

After harvesting it is rough cut to length, then the outer edge is removed, knots are sanded flat and it is machine shredded. After insect repellent treatment the strands dried in the open air or carbonised to produce darker colours. The strands are coated in low VOC adhesive, and then are compressed into blocks within heated pressing machines under tremendous pressure. This is followed by the drying process which has the added benefit of controlled humidity within the drying kilns to ensure moisture is controlled.

The boards are then precision milled and cut with either a tongue and grooved or Lockedge edges.  Bamboo is usually covered in multiple layers of UV finish before being inspected and packed.

Solid Bamboo
Solid strand woven bamboo resembles a timber floor with the boards being tongue and groove system. Ideal for refurbishment because it arrives as a pre-finished product already coated so there is no unnecessary mess or unpleasant fumes normally associated with onsite sanding and polishing. All solid and most engineered bamboo can be sanded and refinished if needed over the years. Solid hardwood is not recommended for installation below ground level or in bathrooms.

Engineered Bamboo
Engineered wood flooring is built up of layers of bamboo and sometimes wood. It usually consists of three to six layers, called plies, that are glued together. This multi-ply structure gives engineered bamboo superior stability, greater than solid bamboo, which reduces concerns associated with shrinking and expanding when temperature and humidity change. Engineered bamboo can be installed below ground level making it a great choice for finished basements.

Design

Color
Bamboo is a relitively new alternative to other traditional floors but already has a great range of finishes.  These can include anything from the subtle yet distinct natural colour to other choices using stains, coatings and manufacturing processes.  Just as with hardwood, bamboo has a tendency to lighten or darken subtly with age and sun exposure. Home lighting is a factor in how your finished floor will look, too. Request samples to view in your home via our website or contact form.

Widths
Bamboo flooring usually comes as planks but board width can vary.  Board width can dramatically affect the installed look of a floor. Wide width hardwood planks are lovely in a large room, but can overwhelm a small one. Select what works with the style and size of your room.

Edge Detail
The way the edges and the ends of the boards are cut is called edge/end detail. Options include square, microbeveled, eased and beveled. For a dramatic effect, select a beveled edge/end detail that emphasizes the definition of individual boards. Square edges/ends create a smooth and nearly seamless appearance.

Gloss
Whether you choose high-gloss or low-gloss, neither will affect the durability or performance of bamboo flooring. Low-gloss and light-colored floors can hide the minor scratches that can accumulate over time. Higher gloss floors don’t hide scratches as well.

Style
Whether your tastes run to hand-sculpted, traditional or exotic, you’ll find a look you’ll love on the E-flooring website. Explore the many looks available from a smooth surface that enhances a sleek, sophisticated, more contemporary décor to a hand-scraped surface that creates a more casual look.

Lifestyle

Room
Bamboo floors are versatile and beautiful, but they’re not the best material for every room. In bathrooms, humidity and the potential for pooling water can create problems. Solid or engineered bamboo in half-bath with no shower or tub are at less risk from moisture.

Installation Area
With the exception of bathrooms and laundry rooms, solid bamboo flooring is great in any room on the ground floor or above. Below ground, in basements where air and moisture issues can be factors, only engineered bamboo, laminate or vinyl flooring are recommended.


Kids, Pets and Durability
Bamboo flooring can be durable and hard as nails, but sports shoes with cleats, a stone in a sneaker tread or pet claws are examples of things that can leave significant scratches. For bamboo flooring areas with high traffic, or in rooms off foyers, a please-remove-shoes-at-the-door policy is a helpful rule to institute.

Warranty
Due to the toughness of factory-applied finishes, prefinished bamboo floors are typically warranted to last 5 to 35 years, versus just 3 to 5 years for site-finished floors.

Floor Care
Part of the beauty of bamboo floors is just how easy they are to maintain. Simply sweep and clean with a suitable Floor Cleaner and a microfiber mop.

Budget

Hardwood Visual Quality
Board to board color variations can occur due to it being a natural product but in general is more consistant to hardwood.  As prices increase, the bamboo may consist of extra coatings or manufactoring processes like the hand-scraped look. Expect to pay more for engineered bamboo however it is less prone to humidity and temperature changes.

Specialty Visuals
At the high end of the price range, you'll find higher janka ratings and lower VOC levels due to extra processes like curing.  Specialty visuals like color-washing, hand-sculpting, and finishes that produce deeper, richer colors may also increase the price.

Engineered Products
With engineered bamboo, the number of layers in the core is the primary performance and cost driver. At the lower cost range, expect to see fewer layersin comparison to the high end.  Thickness of the top layer or face of the product provides you with the ability to sand and refinish if you ever need to, just as with solid bamboo and hardwood.


Floor Removal
Don’t forget to factor-in the cost of removing and disposing of your old floor.  Depending upon where you live, the floor you are removing and your installer, budget around AU$25.00 per square metre to have it removed and hauled away but it can be more or less depending on the floor type and labour costs in your area.

Installation

Construction & Installation Options
The installation options available to you will vary depending on the width, thickness, and construction of the bamboo you choose and where you are going to install it. Products with a Lockedge technology are the fastest and easiest to install without glue, staples or nails and are perfect for DIY bamboo flooring.  Bamboo can typically be stapled, glued, or floated (product attaches to itself, not the subfloor) the options will vary depending on product chosen.

Concrete and Moisture
Installing a Bamboo floor over concrete that has too much moisture is a common mistake. This occurs frequently in new construction where the concrete has been power washed and/or when new concrete hasn't sufficiently dried. Refer to the installation instructions for more information.

Expansion Space
Be sure to leave sufficient room for expansion around the perimeter of the room. This is necessary to accommodate for the expansion and contraction in the wood due to temperature and humidity changes

Access to Installers
We know how important it is to get the best installation to not only make your flooring look great but to give it the best chance to last.  We also know how hard it is to find great quality installers,  that is why we have created a tool for so you can access our database of professional installers.



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